The Extra Setting Your Dryer May Have (And How To Use It)
From permanent press to quick dry, all the dryer settings serve their own purpose in helping simplify laundry day. The permanent press and quick dry settings are among the most commonly used, but there is one dryer option that you might not be aware of. Many dryers — specifically, steam dryers — also feature a steam setting that has a variety of different benefits. If your machine has one, you should be able to locate the steam setting on your dryer's button panel, but the exact location will depend on your dryer model. Refer to your user manual for more information on your specific machine. Although steam dryers offer this special feature, they also tend to include the typical settings, including delicate, permanent press, air dry, and more.
As you may have guessed, this often-overlooked setting distributes steam into the dryer drum. This can help your clothes remain free of wrinkles. However, it also helps to fight odor. Further, if you are looking to cut back on dryer sheets to help save money or reduce waste, you might be happy to find out that the steam setting even helps reduce static. Some steam dryers can be used to sanitize clothes, too.
How the steam setting works
Failing to use the dryer's steam setting properly is something pretty much everyone gets wrong when doing laundry. Luckily, mastering this setting is easy. If you own a dryer with this feature, simply locate the steam button and use it for those loads that require extra wrinkle protection. It is also a good idea to use this feature when you know that you will not be able to unload your clothes as soon as your dryer stops.
Your steam dryer might have a wrinkle-prevention cycle that tosses clothes in steam after drying is complete until you are able to retrieve them. You might choose to use the steam setting on a small load of clothes that have already been dried to give them a quick refresh. You may even opt to steam clothes so that you do not have to take on the additional task of ironing.