Choosing the right drying cycle Modern tumble dryers offer various cycles to suit different fabric types and drying needs. The cotton cycle uses high heat and is perfect for towels, bedding, and sturdy cotton items. For polyester and mixed fabrics, use the synthetics cycle, which operates at medium heat.
- Use a low heat or delicate setting. High heat can cause shrinkage, especially for cotton and other natural fibers. - Choose the delicate or gentle cycle if your dryer has this option. This cycle uses lower temperatures and is more gentle on fabrics. - Avoid over-drying.
As a general rule, higher temperatures are best used for heavy items, like towels, jeans and jackets. Low to medium heat settings are ideal for sheets, blouses and undergarments, while no-heat settings are designed for heat-sensitive fabrics or garments containing rubber or plastic.
Any setting you can select on a dryer is considered a tumble dry setting. Most dryers allow you to select a time, heat level or dryness level, and sometimes you can choose a cycle where settings are predetermined, like Normal, Delicate, Heavy Duty or Quick Dry.
A square with a circle inside it and 1 dot – means you can dry the garment on a low heat setting. A square with a circle inside it and 2 dots – means you can dry the garment on a high heat setting. A square with a circle inside it that's crossed through – means you cannot tumble dry this garment.
Any clothing with the tumble dry symbol, a square with a large circle inscribed in it, can go in the dryer, but some garments require a certain heat setting (the more small black dots inside the circle, the higher the heat).
Load the dryer: Don't overload – clothes need room to tumble freely. Select the appropriate cycle: Use the right setting for your clothes. Start the cycle: Close the door and press start. Remove clothes promptly: This reduces wrinkles and makes ironing easier.
Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage. Use delicate cycles instead, and place delicate clothes in a mesh laundry bag for added protection. When drying, consider a low-heat or air dry setting. When in doubt, always follow the instructions on your garment's care tag.
Tumble dry is when you put your laundry items into the dryer instead of air-drying them. Every setting you choose when using your dryer is considered a tumble dry setting.
Recent research shows that new dryers use significantly less energy to dry most typical loads on low heat than on high heat, even though the dryer runs longer. If you aren't in a rush, let the clothes run longer on low heat. This will save energy and is gentler on clothes.
A dryer Delicate cycle is typically a tumble dry cycle that uses low heat. Low heat helps protect heat-sensitive fabrics from fraying, fading, shrinking, stretching and warping. Depending on the make and model of your dryer, the cycle may be labeled Delicate, Gentle or Tumble Dry Low.
When you put jeans in the dryer, always use a low heat setting. High temperatures can cause shrinkage, damage the fabric, and lead to faster fading. Take your jeans out of the dryer while they're still slightly damp. This helps prevent over-drying and makes it easier to smooth out any wrinkles.
The regular cycle is your go-to cycle for towels, sheets, sweats, and jeans. Whether you choose automatic dry, which uses a moisture sensor to determine if your clothes are dry, or select the amount of time you feel the clothes need, the regular cycle is going to use the highest heat setting available on your dryer.
The “permanent press” or “wrinkle-resistant” setting is a great choice for many of your everyday clothing items — from slacks and dresses to outerwear and jackets. This setting generates a medium heat. It will dry your clothes without inflicting the damage high heat can cause.
Iron Dry – This setting will leave your clothes slightly damp, to allow better ironing. Cupboard Dry – This setting should allow you to put your clothes away without the need to hang out. Extra Dry – A longer setting usually used for thick fabrics such as towels, bed sheets and duvet covers.
Use Automatic Dry for best drying results. Use Timed Dry for the occasional damp load that needs more drying time.
The square with a circle inside is the general symbol for tumble drying. If you see it on a laundry label, your item can be tumble-dried, and it's safe to put it in the dryer.
Next, we have the acrylic synthetic button. This feature is for reducing the heat level whenever you're drying synthetics, acrylics or any other delicate items you don't want to suffer heat damage. When you press this button, the red light above will light up to show that the tumble dryer is in a low-heat setting.
If the label indicates that the garment isn't suitable for tumble drying, it's not worth risking it. However, if it indicates that the item can be tumble dried, make sure you choose the right temperature setting. Drying clothes which require a low heat on a high heat setting is likely to result in shrinkage.
Tumble dryer in A class will drain 90 % of water from clothes and store it in condensation unit.
Air flow blockages
One of the most common reasons for a dryer getting too hot is insufficient airflow. If air can't escape from the dryer, it becomes trapped in the drum, raising the temperature and potentially starting a fire. The first thing to check is the lint filter and make sure it's completely empty.
Other suggestions for keeping clothes smelling fresh in the tumble dryer included using scent boosters, washing pods, dryer sheets, laundry conditioner soaked into a cloth and emptying the tumble dryer regularly. Sandra Armstrong suggested: “Scent boosters that you put in the washer are brilliant, especially Lenor.”