In our last blog post, we outlined the most common washing machine settings and their uses. This time, we’re going to do the same thing for dryer settings.

With the exception of the self-explanatory “regular” or “normal” setting, it may not be immediately evident which dryer setting you should use for a given load of laundry. That’s why we’ve decided to quickly break down the most common dryer settings and when you should use them. Keep reading for more details!

1. Delicate/Gentle

Using low to medium heat, the “delicate” or “gentle” dryer setting is meant for the same articles you washed with the “delicate” or “gentle” washing machine cycle. In other words, it’s for lightweight or sheer fabrics, sweaters, blouses, dress pants, activewear, embellished and/or embroidered fabrics, and so on. 

2. Permanent Press

Using medium heat, the “permanent press” setting is great for your everyday, casual clothing–the items you wouldn’t want to wrinkle, but also would never want to whip out the iron for. The secret to “permanent press” is that it switches off the heat a few minutes before the cycle finishes, so the clothes can cool down and better resist wrinkles. 

3. Timed Dry

When you use the “timed dry” setting, you get to manually select how long the dryer will run for and, usually, at what temperature. However, unlike the pre-determined dryer settings, it will not use dryness sensors and will remain at one consistent temperature the whole time. 

4. Heavy Duty

Using the highest heat, your dryer’s “heavy duty” setting is intended for sheets, towels, and other thick, durable linens that require extra heat to dry thoroughly.  

5. Air Dry

This setting is unique in that it uses no heat at all. Therefore, it should only be used for articles that are already completely dry. Ideal for blankets, pillows, and coats that have just been taken out of storage, it tumbles your articles in room-temperature air with the primary purpose of freshening or fluffing them up. 

6. Steam

If you have a few dry items that are wrinkled or musty, use your dryer’s steam setting to revitalize them. Instead of using dry heat, this setting will produce steam that releases wrinkles and refreshes stale clothes.