The front panel on most consumer dryers contains handfuls of buttons and dials. Many of us pay these controls no mind, defaulting to the “Regular” or “Energy Save” modes. But in doing so, we risk ruining our clothes. Not just with wrinkles, but by shrinking or fading the material.

Always check the manufacture’s tag for cleaning instructions. When in doubt, remember the intended use for the following dryer settings.

Regular

This mode produces high heat and spins the laundry quickly. Items washed in hot water may shrink using this setting.

Permanent Press

Typically for coloured clothing, permanent press protects against fading and wrinkling. It is more energy efficient because it uses medium heat and introduces cool air in the final cycle.

Damp Dry

For non-wrinkle apparel, damp dry ends its cycle before the clothes are ready to be worn. You must hang to dry after this setting.

Delicates

This setting uses the most energy. It uses low heat and a slow tumble to stop fragile items from fading, tearing, and weakening.

Air Fluff

“Dry clean only” clothes should never enter the dryer unless for an air fluff cycle. Air fluff simply softens stiff clothing—it’s not meant for drying. It works like the extended tumble setting on some dryers, which uses no heat to prevent wrinkles after normal cycles finish.