Iron dry - usefull?

My AEG dryer as an "iron dry" setting but rarely use for several reasons.

First when spun either in the Lavamat at speeds >1000 rpms or in the spin drier (3200 rpms) things are dry enough already that it confuses the machine. Soon as one starts the Lavatherm it shuts off a few seconds later as it "senses" the load is already dry enough. So that is me for you.

Iron dry is a hold over from when washing machines or extractors did not leave things as "dry" as many can today. The idea was to evaporate much of the moisture via the tumble dryer leaving things with just damp enough for ironing. This in turn took some of the work off the ironers or person doing the ironing as neither had to cope with attempting to "dry" items that were too damp. Indeed in commercial settings the saying is "ironers are not dryers". That is while they can and do dry material there are limits.

Once extractors or washing machines with spin cycles capable of leaving things "damp dry" enough for ironing many laundries and or households found and welcomed being able to skip the step of having to dry (by line or machine) items before ironing. This saved energy as well as time.

OTOH some home and commercial laundry persons feel sending things through the dryer first speeds ironing. Wrinkles are largely removed along with good amounts of dust, lint, hair, and other "stuff" that survived the washing machines.

This comes down to the type of textile; light weight percale or such thin fabrics can often go from washing machine to ironing (by hand or machine). Thicker weaves such as heavy muslin, satin weave and others often do benefit from a quick trip through the dryer before ironing.


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Post# 823083 5/12/2015 at 13:19 (3,264 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))
Checkrate/Likes So, I went on a small school trip over the weekend. That ment I had to do my laundry on monday. I only have enough T-Shirts right now for about 1 1/2 weeks, so, as my mum would iron on monday evening as usual, I put about 9 T-Shirts in the dryer and selected the Cottons\Normal cycle with Iron Dry selected (in the US probably more known as less dry or damp dry) at low temp. The load came out damp as supposed. I layered them in a seperate basket, so the moisture could spread evenly. My mum mentioned to me that she threw them in the dryer again after she ironed 2 of them as they just would not get dry. Of course, she ironed them with a high steam setting. So, long story short: Do you use the Damp\Iron\Less dry feature on your dryer? Do you think it is nescessary in the time of steam irons? Would you think about using that feature? My point is it is usefull at some occasions. You can use it to damp dry really delicate items and then finish them of on a line. You could use it as just a wrinkle smoother so stuff thats usually line dried dosen't need ironing any more. And you could use it as a simple energy saveing measure. But I think it is a slight bit outdated by now. Really interested in your points. Best wishes Henrik

Post# 823096 , Reply# 1 5/12/2015 at 14:58 (3,264 days old) by BoschExxcel ()
Checkrate/Likes Hi Henrik :) I've never used Iron Dry on either of my Bosch dryers, no real reason for me to do so. My mum rarely irons and the stuff she does iron has already been in the dryer!! Chris

Post# 823124 , Reply# 2 5/12/2015 at 18:41 (3,263 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes My AEG dryer as an "iron dry" setting but rarely use for several reasons. First when spun either in the Lavamat at speeds >1000 rpms or in the spin drier (3200 rpms) things are dry enough already that it confuses the machine. Soon as one starts the Lavatherm it shuts off a few seconds later as it "senses" the load is already dry enough. So that is me for you. Iron dry is a hold over from when washing machines or extractors did not leave things as "dry" as many can today. The idea was to evaporate much of the moisture via the tumble dryer leaving things with just damp enough for ironing. This in turn took some of the work off the ironers or person doing the ironing as neither had to cope with attempting to "dry" items that were too damp. Indeed in commercial settings the saying is "ironers are not dryers". That is while they can and do dry material there are limits. Once extractors or washing machines with spin cycles capable of leaving things "damp dry" enough for ironing many laundries and or households found and welcomed being able to skip the step of having to dry (by line or machine) items before ironing. This saved energy as well as time. OTOH some home and commercial laundry persons feel sending things through the dryer first speeds ironing. Wrinkles are largely removed along with good amounts of dust, lint, hair, and other "stuff" that survived the washing machines. This comes down to the type of textile; light weight percale or such thin fabrics can often go from washing machine to ironing (by hand or machine). Thicker weaves such as heavy muslin, satin weave and others often do benefit from a quick trip through the dryer before ironing.

Post# 823134 , Reply# 3 5/12/2015 at 20:12 (3,263 days old) by richnz (New Zealand)
Checkrate/Likes *Why is Mother doing the ironing?* You are lucky. Mine refused to iron my clothes once I turned 12. (Many years ago). My dryer has a hand-iron and machine-iron settings. I have given up on that because for it to be useful, ironing has to be done once it comes out. I find it better to dry on a line (or clothes horse), put it away until Sunday night and iron them all in one go. In New Zealand there are plenty of opportunities to use a clothes line. If things are too dry then spray with water until they end up damp.

Post# 823157 , Reply# 4 5/13/2015 at 01:07 (3,263 days old) by Haxisfan (Europe - UK / Italy)
Checkrate/Likes *I do :)* I always use the sensor cycles in my Hoover condenser... out of the 4 dryness levels, Iron Dry is the lowest... but I usually use the second lowest which is called Hang Dry. The reason why I like to use these low drying cycles is because I run the dryer again on a 'Relax' cycle when I'm ready to take the clothes out (I usually set the dryer on delay start at night and re-run it in the morning). I find that folding the clothes while still warm, they will get a similar effect to when they've been ironed... I also make sure that the dryer is never packed full so my clothes never need ironing. Sorry it sounds like I'm blowing my own horn here... but you asked :P

Post# 823476 , Reply# 5 5/15/2015 at 00:32 (3,261 days old) by spiraclean (UK)
Checkrate/Likes Really I think it's intended for those who get all their washing, drying and ironing done in one session from start to finish. If you have the free time and self discipline to be ready and waiting with iron in hand when the dryer stops, I can see that it would be a useful feature. Doesn't work like that for me. I do my washing and drying whenever I happen to be around and can fit it in, then fold or hang anything that doesn't need ironing the moment it comes out of the dryer. Items that do need ironing go into a basket, and will usually be ironed a day or two later when I next have the opportunity to set aside some time. One use I do have for it is when drying more delicate fabrics such as knits, that shrink or feel rough if over dried. Partially dry them on the Iron Dry setting, hang up and reshape, then leave to finish drying off naturally.

Post# 823478 , Reply# 6 5/15/2015 at 00:58 (3,261 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)
Checkrate/Likes The Miele dryer's have Machine Iron (Very Wet) and Hand Iron which is slightly damp. (Light fabrics Only) If its a load of light fabrics like dress shirts, Hand Iron works quite well, its damp enough to dry iron and the finish is very smooth and crisp. The shirts cycle on the Miele dryer's dries to just the slightest touch of moisture that is perfect for ironing, but you need to hang as soon as it comes out of the dryer. If you use it on anything heavier the load is far to wet to hand iron. For a mixed load of polo's etc, I use normal dry and then iron with steam. Anything that needs more drying from there goes back in on Normal + for the perfect finish.