What the Delicates Setting on a Washer Actually Means

What Does Delicates Mean on Your Washer?

The delicates setting on a washer is a gentle cycle made for sensitive fabrics. It helps protect fragile garments by using:

• Lower agitation to reduce fabric stress and friction

• Cooler water temperatures to prevent shrinking or warping

• Shorter spin cycles to minimize stretching or damage

• Ideal for items like silk, lace, lingerie, and other light fabrics

This setting helps maintain the integrity, shape, and softness of delicate clothing during the wash.

What Does the Delicate / Gentle Laundry Symbol Look Like?

When looking for the delicate or gentle wash symbol on clothing labels or washers, look for a washtub icon with a wavy water line at the top and two horizontal lines underneath (see below).

This indicates that the item should be washed using a reduced spin and low agitation—perfect for protecting fragile fabrics.

Can I Use the Delicate Cycle for Hand-Wash Items?

Yes—but it depends on your washing machine and the item’s care label. Some washers have a dedicated hand wash cycle, which is specifically designed to be even gentler than the delicate cycle. If your machine offers this setting and your garment is labeled “hand wash only,” it's best to use the hand wash cycle to reduce stress on the fabric.

If your washer doesn't have a hand wash option, the delicate wash setting is your next best choice. It uses low agitation and a slow spin cycle, which makes it suitable for many delicate items. To be extra safe, place delicate laundry in a mesh bag and use cold water during the wash cycle.

Always check the care tag before washing delicate garments—using the right cycle helps extend their life and maintain their quality.

How to Know If Your Clothes Are Considered Delicates

When it comes to laundry, a lot of people are uncertain about delicates. But keeping your delicates in tip-top shape doesn't have to be hard or scary! You just have to know a few things.

Delicates often require special handling and may also require special laundry soap. To better understand how to wash delicates, let's first look at how "delicate" is defined. 

What does delicate mean when it comes to laundry?

You really never have to guess how to wash delicate laundry items. Clothing and other items that go into a washing machine come with tags that tell you how to wash them. If you follow the washing instructions and use a little common sense, you will protect delicates from damage.

How to Check the Laundry Tag for Wash Instructions

Anything you buy that is considered laundry comes with wash instructions. The instructions are usually found on a tag that is sewn into a seam of the garment. For most clothing, you can find the label sewn into the side or back of the item. 

How to Clean an Item Based on Its Care Label

Before cleaning any garment or household textile, always check the laundry tag—it gives specific instructions tailored to the fabric type. For items like bedding, you’ll typically find the care label tucked into an inside corner or seam.

The tag will usually indicate one of the following cleaning methods:

• Machine wash – Safe to clean in a washing machine, often specifying a delicate wash cycle or normal cycle depending on fabric durability

• Hand wash – Intended for fragile materials that need gentle care; use your washing machine’s hand wash cycle if available, or wash by hand

• Do not wash – These items shouldn’t be submerged in water and require spot cleaning or professional care

• Dry clean only – Best handled by professionals, especially for structured fabrics or items that can't tolerate moisture

• Do not dry clean – Meant to be washed using water, not solvent-based methods

If the item is heavily soiled, you may need a longer wash cycle, but always balance cleaning power with fabric sensitivity—especially when dealing with delicate wash items. When in doubt, go gentle.

Wash Cycle Settings: What They Mean

Care labels often tell you which wash cycle to use, and this matters just as much as water temperature. Choosing the right cycle helps prevent wear and tear, especially on delicate laundry. Here are the most common options:

• Normal cycle – Best for durable fabrics like cotton, jeans, and towels

• Permanent press – Ideal for synthetics and wrinkle-resistant clothing

• Gentle / delicate wash cycle – Use for delicate items like lace, silk, or lightweight knits

• Hand wash cycle – For garments labeled “hand wash only” or extremely fragile pieces

When in doubt, opt for a gentler setting to protect washing delicate fabrics.

Water Temperature: Why It Matters

The water temperature setting affects how well clothes are cleaned—and how much stress they undergo in the washing machine. Here's a quick guide:

• Cold water (60–80°F / 15–27°C): Best for delicate garments, dark colors, or items prone to shrinking

• Warm water (90–110°F / 32–43°C): Good for moderate soil and most everyday loads

• Hot water (120°F+ / 49°C+): Reserved for heavily soiled items, whites, and linens (but not for delicates)

For most delicate laundry, cold water combined with a delicate cycle or hand wash cycle is the safest approach.

How to Dry Your Laundry the Right Way

Care labels don’t just guide washing—they also tell you how to dry your laundry safely. Drying instructions are essential, especially when handling delicate items that can shrink, lose shape, or become damaged from heat or agitation.

Common drying instructions you might see include:

• Tumble dry – Safe to dry in a dryer, usually with a recommended heat setting

• Do not tumble dry – Air drying is required to prevent damage

• Hang to dry – Best for items that need to retain their shape or avoid creases

• Dry flat – Ideal for knits or delicate fabrics that stretch easily

• Do not wring – Gently press out water instead of twisting the fabric

Drying Temperature and Dryer Cycles

The label will also indicate which dryer temperature and cycle type to use if machine drying is allowed. Common settings include:

• Normal cycle – For sturdy fabrics that can handle higher heat

• Permanent press cycle – Uses medium heat with a cool-down period to reduce wrinkles

• Delicate or gentle cycle – Low heat and minimal tumbling, ideal for delicate laundry

Typical Items Considered Delicate Laundry

Sometimes, care labels are difficult to read, have been cut away, or are a pain to find. In these cases, it's good to have a general idea of which items are considered delicate garments and should be washed on the delicate wash cycle.

What types of items are considered to be delicates, that need delicate handling? Delicates include items in several categories, including:

• Lingerie and bras – especially those with lace, underwires, or padding

• Silk garments – blouses, dresses, or scarves made from silk or satin

• Lace clothing – anything with intricate lace that can snag or tear easily

• Sheer or mesh fabrics – lightweight items that stretch or distort in regular cycles

• Embellished pieces – garments with sequins, beads, embroidery, or appliqués

• Wool sweaters – especially lightweight or fine knits prone to shrinking

• Cashmere – soft, delicate fibers that require low agitation and cold water

• Tights and hosiery – prone to runs or snags in regular wash cycles

• Swimwear – especially pieces with elastic or delicate fabrics

• Undergarments – including shapewear and delicate cotton blends

• Sleepwear – particularly silk, satin, or lace-trimmed pajamas

• Delicate baby clothes – small, soft garments with fine stitching or detailing

Anything that would be damaged, degraded, discolored, or would shrink without careful treatment.

Are Delicate Cycle and Gentle Cycle the Same Thing?

Depending on the model of your washing machine, "hand wash cycle," "gentle cycle," and "delicate cycle" are often the same thing. These cycles designate the duration, spin, and temperature of each wash cycle. To be sure, check the owner's manual that came with your washing machine. 

Delicates do better when washed gently, in cooler temperatures, and with safe detergents. For the laundry that has a "hand wash only" label, it's best to use the "hand wash cycle" if you do not plan to actually wash the item by hand.

Wash Delicates with Like Colors and Fabric Textures

When prepping your laundry for washing, you get better results when you sort your laundry into categories, like dark or light colors, similar textures, delicates, and hand wash only. This sorting prevents color seepage and damage from delicate fabric getting caught on textured fabrics, hooks, or buttons.

Use Detergent Formulated for Delicates Like Blissy Wash

When washing delicates, you'll get the best results using a detergent designed for delicate fabrics like silk.

Detergents, like Blissy Wash Laundry Detergent, have a lower pH level so they won't damage silk or other delicates. These detergents don't have harsh chemicals or fragrances that can strip delicate fabrics like linen or silk of natural proteins, and can also irritate delicate skin.

Use Mesh Laundry Bags to Protect Delicate Fabrics

You can lengthen the lifespan of your delicate clothing and bedding by using mesh laundry bags. To use mesh bags when washing delicate items:

• Separate your delicate items into like fabrics and colors
• Turn any laundry with zippers or buttons inside out
• Place delicate laundry into a mesh bag big enough for the gentle cycle to clean (don't bunch them up)
• Wash delicates by hand washing or on the washing machine's gentle cycle

Can Delicate Silk Go into the Dryer?

Using the delicate cycle when machine washing silk clothing or pillowcases will keep delicate silk in good condition. However, you should also consider whether to dry them in your dryer.

One issue is that silk can shrink in the dryer. To prevent the chance of shrinkage, put your dryer on the lowest heat (or no heat) setting and limit the time it spends in the dryer to 20 minutes.

To further protect silk's fibers, dry it in a mesh bag. And don't mix different fibers together in the dryer. To learn more about Blissy's silk pillowcases and how they can improve your sleep, visit our website.

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