- Our Good Housekeeping Institute cleaning expert recommends using your dryer’s Delicate cycle to smooth fabrics and avoid wrinkles.
- For more specific directions on wrinkle-free drying, consult your clothing’s care label.
- The ideal cycle will depend on your clothing’s fabric, construction and how long it will be in the dryer after the cycle is finished.
As crisp and clean as an iron may be at removing wrinkles and imperfections, it’s not always a feasible option. Whether it comes down to time, energy or equipment, sometimes, it’s up to the dryer to fix creases.
For these instances, we decided to tap our in-house expert, Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director, for her opinion on the best dryer cycle to avoid wrinkles.
That way, you’re not left with crumpled clothing before a big event.
The best dryer cycle to remove wrinkles
According to Forté, there’s no one-size-fits-all for wrinkle-free drying. The best thing you can do is “check and follow the care label [on your clothing] first to see what dryer cycle and temperature it recommends.”
However, if you’re ever in doubt and need a quick fix, Forté recommends using your dryer’s preset Delicate cycle. It’s a gentle dry setting that’s great at smoothing fabrics and common on most machines.
“It’s always best to select the automatic cycles over just timed dry,” says Forté. “Auto cycles use sensors to monitor the moisture level of the clothes and end the cycle when it senses they are dry. This prevents over-drying and fabric damage and saves energy. Timed cycles just run for the length of time you have selected.”
Other cycle recommendations
Besides Delicate, Forté also recommends using these three other cycles, depending on the items’ fabric type, construction and how quickly they can be removed from the dryer once the cycle is complete.
Tumble Dry Low
“The main difference between Tumble Dry Low Heat and Delicates is primarily the length of the cycle,” says Forté. “Tumble Dry Low is a longer cycle with low heat, while Delicates is shorter, also with low heat.” Tumble Dry Low is great for sturdier items that can withstand more time in the machine, such as sheets and bedding, casual clothing and jeans.
Refresh
“Sometimes, dryers have a refresh cycle that uses steam to freshen and remove wrinkles and odors from worn garments or those packed in a bag or stuffed in a closet,” says Forté. This is a great setting for clean clothes that need a little pick-me-up.
WrinkleGuard
Also referred to as WrinkleShield or Wrinkle Away, this setting is used after the regular dry cycle is over. “The dryer intermittently tumbles the load for one, two, even up to three hours to keep wrinkles from setting in. This is great if you can’t take the load out right away. It’s usually something the consumer needs to select.”
So there you have it. The next time you want your clothes to come out as wrinkle-free as possible, you know what to do.
Kate Franke (she/her) is an editorial assistant in the Hearst Lifestyle Group, covering for Woman’s Day and Good Housekeeping. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
