We are all creatures of habit. We set the controls on our washer and dryer and leave them there for every load. "Set it and forget it" is easy, but it isn't the best use of your appliances, nor is it ideal for your clothes. There are probably a few buttons you've never touched because you're so set in your routine.

Familiarising yourself with these features could improve laundry day — resulting in shorter cycles and cleaner clothes. Here are five laundry settings you probably aren't using but should be.

1. Permanent Press Cycles

Unless your clothes are heavily soiled or you have kids who enjoy playing in the mud, the permanent press cycle is the best choice for most fabrics. In the washer, it uses a lower water temperature, slower agitation speed, and a cooldown period before a slower final spin — all to reduce wrinkling. In the dryer, the permanent press cycle uses medium-high heat for most of the cycle before lowering the temperature in the final minutes to help prevent wrinkles.

If you don't have "permanent press" on your control panel, look for: Colours, Casual, Wrinkle Control, or Wrinkle Release.

2. Quick or Speed Wash

While not the best for a large load or heavily soiled items, the quick wash cycle is ideal for washing one or two items you need quickly. Most washers take up to an hour to complete a cycle. The quick wash setting cuts that in half by reducing the length of the agitation stage — the time fabric spends in the detergent and water solution.

Best for: Small loads, lightly soiled items, or when you need something ready fast.

3. Pre-Soak or Pre-Wash

Stained or heavily soiled items need extra care. You can pretreat stains and wait 15 minutes before washing, or use the pre-soak/pre-wash setting, which soaks your laundry in water and detergent before the main wash begins. This setting typically adds 15 to 30 minutes to a regular cycle. Once soaking is complete, the washer automatically drains the dirty water and transitions directly into the main wash.

Best for: Heavily stained items, muddy clothes, or items with stubborn odours.

4. Air-Only

This is one of the best features of a dryer. The air-only setting tumbles items, but the dryer does not heat up. Use it to remove dust and pet hair from throw pillows, freshen guest room bedspreads, or clean curtains that aren't soiled but are dusty.

How to use: Set the timer for about 15 minutes, add a couple of wool dryer balls, and avoid overloading the drum. You'll be shocked at how much lint is collected.

5. Washer Cleaning Cycle

If you want clean clothes, you need a clean washer. Today's washers use much less water during the rinse cycle, which can leave detergent and laundry additive residue — trapping soil and bacteria. Most washers have a cleaning cycle that should be used once a month (or about every 30 loads). This setting uses the optimal water temperature and agitation time to remove detergent buildup, mildew, and odour-causing bacteria from the drum and hoses.

How to use: Follow the manufacturer's instructions and use chlorine bleach or a commercial washing machine cleaner (powder or tablet).

Quick reference guide

The bottom line: Taking a few minutes to learn your machine's settings can make a real difference. Use permanent press for everyday loads, quick wash for small batches, pre-soak for stains, air-only for freshening, and run the cleaning cycle monthly. Your clothes — and your washer — will thank you.