The Delicate cycle is typically a tumble dry cycle that uses low heat. Depending on the make and model of your dryer, the cycle may be labeled Delicate, Gentle or Tumble Dry Low.
Delicates: Low heat, so drying time will be longer. It is best to use this setting to use for delicate fabrics. Permanent Press: Medium heat while drying and is best used for colored fabrics.
The low heat setting can be used after washing a down comforter or to tumble dry a duvet (but do check the tags on the items to make sure this doesn't conflict with the manufacturers' recommendations). Low is around 120 to 122°F (49 to 50ºC) on Samsung tumble dryers, as an example.
Low heat tumble dry symbol
One dot inside the circle indicates that the item should be dried on a low heat setting. This is ideal for delicate fabrics or items prone to shrinkage.
Normal and timed dry are probably both high heat and will dry clothes faster. Delicate cycle is low heat. Air dry is no heat and will take a very long time to dry.
Drying Symbols
A square with a large, empty circle inside indicates tumble dry normal. A square with a large circle inside that is crossed out means do not tumble dry. A square with circle inside symbol and a single dot indicates normal machine drying on a low setting.
The cool down feature is when the timer shuts off the heating and allows the dryer to continue to tumble without heat so that the clothing can cool down and have a few less wrinkles when it shuts off. If you look at your dryer, you may find a cycle that only has a five minute cool down portion.
Tumble dry low (or Delicate/Gentle cycle) is ideal for loosely woven fabrics or anything with embellishment, like beading, sequins and iron-on decals (sports jerseys). It's especially important to dry spandex/exercise clothing on low heat because it helps retain the garment's fit and performance.
“Tumble dry no heat” means to dry in the dryer with zero heat. This setting may also be labeled “air only” on your dryer. It's meant for very delicate items that cannot withstand any heat, but is most often used to freshen, fluff or remove hair and other debris from dry items between washes.
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.
On Candy dryers Sport is usually the lowest temperature.
Low-temperature drying may be defined as the dehydration process carried out at temperatures below standard room conditions, for example, below 20 or 25°C.
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.
Delicates or Less Dry
This dryer setting uses a low temperature to dry and help prevent your clothes from shrinking. This is best used for lightweight shirts and pants, delicates and athletic wear.
Opting for a lower heat setting, such as “delicate” or “low heat,” can help reduce the likelihood of shrinkage. Partial Drying: Instead of fully drying your clothes in the tumble dryer, you can remove them slightly damp and allow them to air dry the rest of the way.
What is Tumble Dry Low? This setting is commonly known as the delicate/gentle option. It's a low temperature that's safest for delicate clothes, or items like wool and nylon. Keep in mind, this setting will increase your drying time.
Cold/low heat
A dryer symbol with a dot inside the circle means that you should only dry your item at low temperatures up to 60°C.
Air Dry or Air Fluff
Air drying or air fluffing helps to remove dust and fluff up your garments when they've lost their volume from hanging in the closet or lying folded in a drawer. Since the dryer doesn't produce any heat for this setting, you should use it for items that are already dry.
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.
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.
You can tumble dry laundry with low, medium, high, or no heat depending on the type of fabric. Washing and drying your clothes according to their care instructions is essential to avoid shrinkage, damage, and color bleeding.
Your dryer uses heat to warm the water in your clothes and turn it into vapor. On average, most dryers can get around 125 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. It's important to note that water doesn't need to reach a boiling point to start steaming and evaporating.
As a result, here are our professional recommendations to dry your natural down insulated jacket: "Dry on low to no heat, this might take a few cycles, but high heat can damage the feathers or the fabric. To help restore the fluffiness of the down, add two or three clean tennis balls to your dryer.
Use Automatic Dry for best drying results. Use Timed Dry for the occasional damp load that needs more drying time.