What Is The Anti-Crease Programme On Washing Machines?

Many modern washing machines have an “anti-crease” function but do you know what this is? And how does it Work? If not, keep reading, because in this article we look into this function and explain exactly what it’s for.

Anti-Crease Function On A Washing machine

Most modern washing machines have an anti-crease function that runs for anywhere between 2 to 8 hours depending on the make and model of appliance you own.

The anti-crease function keeps the drum tumbling intermittently during whatever time period yours is set for (2-8 hours) after the current programme has completed.

The idea is that this intermittent spinning prevents the clothes in the drum from becoming creased or wrinkled. As it rotates at a slow speed, it ensures that the fabrics relax which means they will form less wrinkles or creases.

The anti-crease function begins once the wash programme has completed and you can cancel it simply by opening the door to remove your laundry. It’s designed for those times when you’re not able to remove the laundry as soon as it finishes.

What Are The Benefits Of The Anti-Crease Feature On A Washing Machine?

The main benefit of using the anti-crease function on your washing machine is less creases in your laundry. But that’s not the only benefit, using the anti-crease function on your washer will also mean;

• Reduced Laundry Times
  As the anti-crease function reduces the time the spin cycle runs for, your washing will be done in a shorter time than normal.
• Lower Energy Costs
  The anti-crease function uses water at lower temperatures to wash your clothes which means less energy usage to heat the water and lower energy costs.
• Longer Lasting Clothes
  By using the anti-crease option on your washer, you will be washing your clothes in what is effectively a gentle or delicate wash cycle. This along with washing them in colder water, will ensure your clothes last for longer. They are less likely to suffer from colour bleed, damage to the fabric or any loss of buttons etc.

The anti-crease function is also good for using with clothes that cannot be ironed.

When Should You Not Use The Anti-Crease Function?

There are times when the anti-crease function should not be used, these include;

• When Washing Heavy Fabrics
  The anti-crease function is primarily designed for washing those items of clothing that are likely to get wrinkled or creased, clothes made from synthetic fabrics for instance. 
• When Washing Clothes With Stubborn Stains
  As the anti-crease function tends to wash clothes using lower temperatures and a gentler wash cycle, stubborn stains are unlikely to be removed.
• When Washing Clothes That Need hot Water
  The anti-crease function tends to use cool water temperatures to wash clothes. This means it’s not going to be much good for heavily soiled items or those clothes that need sanitising.

You need to take care when using the anti-crease function because it’s not as gentle as the delicate cycle. This means delicate items like lace, silk etc are more likely to get damaged when using the anti-crease cycle.

What Causes Clothes To Become Creased In The Washing Machine?

Clothes get creased in the washing machine mainly in the rinse and spin cycles. It’s the rough and tumble action of the spinning drum that’s necessary for the removal of water, that causes clothes to get creased.

This is especially true for cotton garments which are spun at higher speeds to remove even more moisture. However, the spin cycle is not the only reason why clothes get so creased and wrinkled. They can also get creased when they’re left sitting in the washing machine’s drum for extended periods.

The anti-crease function spins the clothes slowly after the cycle has finished to help prevent creases and wrinkles from forming.

Are There Any Other Ways To Prevent Creases In The Washer?

It is possible to help prevent creases forming on clothes in the washing machine. You could start by not cramming so many items in the drum at one time.

It’s tempting when you have lots of similar types of clothes that need washing. You just cram as many as you can fit into the drum and get them all washed at once.

The problem is, if the clothes don’t have enough room to move freely in the drum, they’re more likely to form creases and wrinkles.

We recommend not filling your washer’s drum to any more than ¾ full.

SEE ALSO: How Much Should You Fill A Washing Machine? (easy guide)

It’s also a good idea to lower the spin speed as well. We understand that you want your laundry to all get washed and dried as soon as possible. However, spinning clothes at high speeds can increase the risk of creases and wrinkles.

Is It Good To Use The Anti-Crease Function On The Washing Machine?

If your washing machine has an anti-crease function, it’s definitely a good idea to use it to help prevent wrinkles and creases in your laundry. But that doesn’t mean you should cram as much laundry in the drum as possible or run the fastest spin cycle available.

If your machine doesn’t have an anti-crease function, you should never overload the drum (experts agree that the drum should only ever be ½ to ¾ full of laundry. Plus you should resist using the highest spin speed available if you want to prevent too many creases.

If you’re looking to replace your washing machine in the near future, there are plenty of options when it comes to the anti-crease function. You will find models made by the following manufacturers all feature the anti-crease function:

• Beko
• Hoover
• Hotpoint
• LG
• Hisense
• Candy
• Haier
• AEG
• Smeg
• Indesit
• Whirlpool
• Miele
• Samsung
• And many more

We hope this article has been helpful for you to understand the functionality of the anti-crease feature. If you have any questions feel free to ask them below.

SEE ALSO: Is It Bad To Underload Your Washing Machine?

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