WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TUMBLE DRY SETTINGS?

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.

When you see “tumble dry low” in drying instructions, the “low” refers to heat. See below to learn more about tumble dry heat settings.

TUMBLE DRY HIGH

If your laundry care label has instructions that read “tumble dry high,” you can dry using the high heat setting or the Heavy Duty/Sanitize cycle to dry your garments. Depending on the model, these cycles can reach temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit to dry items that may take longer to dry.

USE HIGH HEAT FOR¹:

• Sweatshirts

• Beach towels

• Jeans

• Heavy work clothes

TUMBLE DRY MEDIUM

When you see “tumble dry medium” on drying instructions, it means to machine dry the item on medium heat, which is usually around 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Medium heat is ideal for permanent press or wrinkle-prone fabrics like professional clothing made of synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon.

Light, thin cotton clothes like t-shirts can also benefit from moderate heat to help reduce shrinkage. Medium heat will dry fabrics slower and gentler than high heat, helping prevent wrinkles from setting while protecting synthetic fibers which can ripple under high heat.

PICK A MEDIUM HEAT FOR CLOTHES LIKE THESE:

• Button-up work shirts

• Trousers or slacks

• Light cotton items like t-shirts

TUMBLE DRY LOW

“Tumble dry low” means to dry your item in the dryer on a low heat setting or Delicate cycle. Low heat is usually around 125 degrees Fahrenheit and is designed for delicate items like knitwear or sheer fabrics, as well as workout clothes made of high-performance fabric like spandex and lycra. 

Low heat helps protect heat-sensitive fabrics from fraying, fading, wrinkling, stretching and warping.

PICK A LOW HEAT SETTING FOR CLOTHES LIKE THESE:

• Knit sweaters

• Clothing with sheer fabric

• Embellished fabrics

• Lingerie

• Workout clothes

• Winter down coats and jacket shells

TUMBLE DRY NO HEAT

“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. 

Keep in mind that tumble dry no heat will take a while, though not as long as line drying since the air movement in the dryer tends to speed things up.

PICK A NO HEAT SETTING IN THESE SCENARIOS:

• Drying very delicate items that are not wrinkle-prone

• Fluffing pillows and blankets

• Fluffing winter coats

• Refreshing clothes that have hair, dust or other debris stuck on them

IS AIR DRY THE SAME AS TUMBLE DRY?

Air dry is not the same as tumble dry. Some tumble dry settings use heat ranging from low to high temperatures, while air drying is a method that uses no heat. However, some dryers offer a No Heat tumble dry setting that can be used for heat-sensitive materials.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TUMBLE DRY VS. DELICATE?

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.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TUMBLE DRY VS. SPIN DRY?

The spin dry cycle is often found on washing machines, while tumble dry is a dryer setting. Spin dry cycles remove excess water from your laundry without heat by quickly spinning the items in the washer drum to extract water. 

Spin dry cycles do not completely remove water from your clothes. These cycles are designed to leave clothes damp but not soaked so you can lay them out to air dry. Unless a No Heat setting is available and has been selected, tumble dry cycles use heat to dry your clothes.

CAN I TUMBLE DRY ANY TYPE OF CLOTHING?

No. Some fabrics simply can’t handle the heat or movement of a dryer. You can hang these items or lay them flat to dry. Some clothes that should typically not be dried in the dryer would be anything made with wool, cashmere, silk, lace, leather or suede. 

Of course, anything labeled “dry clean only” should be taken to a professional cleaner.

CAN I TUMBLE DRY CLOTHES LABELED “DO NOT TUMBLE DRY” ON A NO HEAT SETTING?

No. If your item’s label says not to tumble dry, it’s best not to, even with zero heat. The tumbling movement could create wrinkles which will be hard to remove without heat. Tumbling without heat could also cause shrinkage after washing.

If your clothes are stiff after air drying them, try shaking them out or adding fabric softener to the wash next time. Line drying on a windy day will also help the fabric move as it dries without damaging it, reducing stiffness.