Whitegoods Help article

Laundry comes out of washing machine creased

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Quick Answer

Badly creased laundry after washing is almost always caused by one of four things: overloading the drum, spinning at too high a speed for the fabric type, leaving laundry sitting in the drum after the cycle ends, or – less commonly – rinsing in hot water because the fill hoses are connected the wrong way round. Work through each cause systematically.

Cause 1: Overloading the Drum

Drum capacity ratings apply to cotton loads only. For other fabric types, the maximum recommended load is significantly lower. An overloaded drum cannot allow laundry to move freely during the wash, resulting in compressed fabric that emerges heavily creased.

Fabric type Maximum load (6kg drum)
Cottons 6 kg
Minimum iron / easy care 3 kg
Delicates 2 kg
Woollens 2 kg
Silks 1 kg

These figures are illustrative – check the instruction manual for the specific machine being used, as maximum loads vary between models. Silks and delicates are lightweight fabrics, so the weight limit still allows a reasonable number of items – but it is lower than many users expect. See our guide on how to load a washing machine correctly.

Cause 2: Spinning at Too High a Speed

Many wash programmes automatically select an appropriate spin speed. If the spin speed is set manually, or if laundry is spun on the wrong programme, spinning fabric types above their recommended maximum speed causes significant creasing.

Fabric type Typical maximum spin speed
Cottons 1400 rpm
Minimum iron / easy care 1200 rpm
Woollens 1200 rpm
Denim 900 rpm
Delicates / shirts 600 rpm
Silks 400 rpm

Confirm the correct spin speed for the fabric type in the machine’s instruction manual – these figures are typical but vary between models. See our guide on washing machine spin speeds for more detail.

Cause 3: Leaving Laundry in the Drum

Laundry left sitting in the drum after a cycle ends – particularly after a high spin – sets into the creased position it ends up in after spinning. The longer it sits, the harder the creases become to remove.

Remove laundry from the drum as soon as the cycle ends, especially for items prone to creasing. Many washing machines include an anti-crease function that continues to turn the drum gently after the spin cycle until the door is opened – this helps but does not fully substitute for prompt removal. Delicates programmes on many machines also include an anti-crease soak phase that holds items in water rather than spinning, until the user is ready to complete the cycle.

Cause 4: Washing at Too High a Temperature

Washing at a temperature higher than the care label recommends – particularly for synthetic, delicate, and minimum-iron fabrics – can cause significant creasing as the fibres are stressed beyond their tolerance. Always check the care label before selecting a wash temperature. If the fabric can only tolerate 30 or 40 degrees, washing at 60 degrees will crease it regardless of programme or spin speed.

Cause 5: Rinsing in Hot Water

A less common but severe cause of creasing is the fill hoses being connected the wrong way round, resulting in the machine rinsing in hot rather than cold water. Hot water rinsing causes significant creasing across all fabric types, and will also be expensive in terms of hot water wastage.

  • ✅
    Check during a rinse cycle. Open the soap drawer slightly while water is flowing in during rinsing. Rinse water should be cold – the same temperature as the cold tap. If it is warm or hot, the supply is connected incorrectly.
  • ✅
    Allow for pipework delay. Hot water sitting in cooled pipework will initially feel cold. Allow 20 to 30 seconds for the water temperature to stabilise before checking.
  • ✅
    Check the hose connections at both ends. Misconnection can occur at the machine, at the tap, or in the plumbing behind the tap. Red taps or levers indicate hot; blue indicate cold – but these colour markings can be incorrectly fitted. Trace the hose and confirm which pipe it is actually connected to.

See our guide on laundry coming out of the machine warm or hot for full diagnosis of this issue.


Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my clothes come out of the washing machine badly creased?

The most common causes are overloading the drum (which prevents clothes moving freely), spinning at too high a speed for the fabric type, or leaving laundry sitting in the drum after the cycle ends. Less commonly, washing at too high a temperature or rinsing in hot water (caused by incorrectly connected hoses) can cause severe creasing across all fabric types.

Does spin speed affect creasing?

Yes significantly. Different fabric types have maximum recommended spin speeds. Spinning delicates, silks, or shirts above their recommended maximum causes the fabric to crease heavily as fibres are compressed under centrifugal force at a speed they cannot tolerate. Always check the instruction manual or care label for the correct spin speed for the fabric being washed.

Can I reduce creasing without ironing?

Taking laundry out of the drum immediately after the cycle ends significantly reduces the severity of post-wash creasing. Using the correct programme and spin speed for the fabric type prevents most programme-caused creasing. For stubborn creasing, hanging items to dry under their own weight (rather than tumble drying) can help certain fabric types relax after washing.

Last reviewed: April 2026. Maximum load and spin speed figures are illustrative based on a typical 6kg 1400rpm machine. Always refer to the specific machine’s instruction manual for correct values.

Discussion

71 Comments

Grouped into 50 comment threads.

Alan Falkner 4 replies I have been using an elderly Candy Eclypsa CE430 washing machine for more than 5 years and never had to iron a shirt. For the last month every shirt comes out very wrinkled and, as a mere male, I am no good at ironing. I use setting 7 (acrylics) 40C and 1300 spin. There have been no changes in my routine, detergent etc. or of external plumbing. Can you suggest a cause?

I have been using an elderly Candy Eclypsa CE430 washing machine for more than 5 years and never had to iron a shirt. For the last month every shirt comes out very wrinkled and, as a mere male, I am no good at ironing. I use setting 7 (acrylics) 40C and 1300 spin. There have been no changes in my routine, detergent etc. or of external plumbing. Can you suggest a cause?

Andy Trigg

Likely replying to Alan Falkner

Hi Alan. Have you checked the wash labels on the items in case it says hand wash only, do not spin, or do not tumble dry? 1300 spin seems fast unless they are cotton.

Alan Falkner

Likely replying to Andy Trigg

Hello Andy, I live on my own now so no heavy loads. The items I wash are the same, same shirts etc.which never needed ironing before. They went straight from the tumble dryer to the wardrobe. This was an overnight change from no creasing to totally wrinkled every time. The first time I though it might be a one-off. The first step was to eliminate the tumble dryer. The next was to take shirts from the washing machine with minimum spin and hang them up to dry – still very wrinkled.
Alan

Andy Trigg

Likely replying to Alan Falkner

Hello Alan. Yes it’s a strange case if nothing has changed – not even the shirts. Creasing is usually caused by excessive spinning, too much heat, or being left in the drum for a long time after washing. If the washer was overheating it should cause an error and abort or if it’s old enough to not have error systems in place it should stick and get obviously too hot.

Is it possible the washer is connected up to hot all along but some recent change has meant you now have hotter water or more of it in the system? Just thinking laterally now :) I would definitely examine the wash labels and make sure you wash as recommended, you never know they might have withstood something when new and are showing the stresses now. Again, just thinking out of the box, when all obvious causes are accounted for you have to think of more elaborate ones :)

Alan Falkner

Thanks, Andy, for your ideas. I had more or less covered them. The hot water cylinder thermostat hasn’t changed but in any case the washing machine thermostat is the important one. The front glass is the same warm touch to the hand as before. I have lost a largish button in the wash somewhere! Examination in the drum with torch and mirror doesn’t show anything unusual.
I will call a local repair company that says “no repair – no fee” and see what happens.
Thanks again
Alan

Andy Trigg 2 replies Thanks for the update Alan. If the thermostat goes faulty it would normally seriously over heat the water on an old machine so maybe the controller wasn't responding properly when the stat closed.

Thanks for the update Alan. If the thermostat goes faulty it would normally seriously over heat the water on an old machine so maybe the controller wasn’t responding properly when the stat closed.

Chris Stoker-Jones

Likely replying to Andy Trigg

Hi Andy
We have just purchased an integrated Indesit washer/dryer IDWE126 (as Jean Henry did above). We previously had a vented standalone dryer which was excellent. This new one creases the hell out of everything we put in and the clothes are scalding hot when we go to take them out after a drying cycle. Can you advise on how we can reduce these creases. There doesn’t seem to be a temperature dial for the dryer and only 2 programmes (cottons and delicates), and damp to the touch the touch (which I’ve read is normal for a condenser dryer?)
Thanks Chris

Whitegoodshelp (Andy Trigg)

Likely replying to Chris Stoker-Jones

Hi Chris. There should be a 10 minute cooling down period at the end of a dry cycle where the heating element is turned off. Lots of cycles have automatic temperature control now. Clothes shouldn’t be “scalding hot”, so if they are (which will clearly crease them) there’s a fault stopping the heater being turned off for the last 10 mins or it’s overheating so an engineer needs to check it out. Never stop a dry cycle without letting it run through the last 10 min cooling down section.

Washerhelp 2 replies Trish: When the washing machine has finished spinning does it tumble back and forth a while to unstick the washing from the drum, or does it leave them plastered to the side?

Trish: When the washing machine has finished spinning does it tumble back and forth a while to unstick the washing from the drum, or does it leave them plastered to the side?

Trish

Likely replying to Washerhelp

Hi Washerhelp
Thanks so much for your reply. I tested the machine last night using Synthetics 40c at 800 spin and NO the drum did not spin back and forth on final spin. I then put a pair of wet jeans back in on a 1200 SPIN ONLY and YES the drum did go back and forth on finish spin. It also went back and forth after a wash using the cotton setting. Even towels need to be ironed. Over the last 3 weeks I have tried a lot of combinations and have found that really the best way to wash is by using half loads which makes a mockery of the A rating. My poor bedlinen, after experimenting I’m using 400 spin speed. Also using more electricity and labour by so much ironing.
Thanks for help

Washerhelp

Likely replying to Trish

Hello Trish: I presume it only needs to distribute the laundry after a spin on cottons wash as other fabrics don’t stick to the sides of the drum like cottons. If you’ve read all the possible causes of excessive creasing in this article and know it’s nothing to do with any of them then I agree that if the washing machine is excessively creasing laundry you have a right to find it unacceptable.

We have found that 2 AEG – Electrolux washing machines we’ve tested do seem to leave laundry excessively creased.

Pamela Ladyman 1 reply I've had a John Lewis Inverter 9kg JLWM1607 washing machine for the past few years. It was highly recommended by Which? and it's the worst machine I have ever used. I've used many different machines over the years both at home and abroad and without exception this is the worst ever. The element of creasing is horrendous even on a cold wash. The only way I can overcome the problem. although clothes suffer some creasing, is to use a very slow spin so that sometimes the clothes are actually dripping wet. I complained to John Lewis soon after the machine was delivered and I had several visits from engineers, who were horrified to see the state of my clothes and agreed there was a problem. I actually had to throw some garments away because the creases were so bad they just would iron out. The degree of heat and steam I was having to apply wasn't doing the fabric any favours and still it didn't achieve anything. A long battle with John Lewis achieved absolutely nothing they just weren't interested. I even complained to Which because I believe that the creasing factor should be part of their assessment. The person I spoke to agreed that it wasn't something they looked at but thought that maybe they should in the future. I've persisted and struggled along with it because it's expensive to replace but I'm now throughly fed up and looking to buy a new one. I've looked briefly at Which and Good Housekeeping but I can't see any reference to creasing in their performance reviews. I can't risk making the same mistake again and would appreciate your opinion.

I’ve had a John Lewis Inverter 9kg JLWM1607 washing machine for the past few years. It was highly recommended by Which? and it’s the worst machine I have ever used.

I’ve used many different machines over the years both at home and abroad and without exception this is the worst ever.

The element of creasing is horrendous even on a cold wash. The only way I can overcome the problem. although clothes suffer some creasing, is to use a very slow spin so that sometimes the clothes are actually dripping wet.

I complained to John Lewis soon after the machine was delivered and I had several visits from engineers, who were horrified to see the state of my clothes and agreed there was a problem. I actually had to throw some garments away because the creases were so bad they just would iron out. The degree of heat and steam I was having to apply wasn’t doing the fabric any favours and still it didn’t achieve anything. A long battle with John Lewis achieved absolutely nothing they just weren’t interested.
I even complained to Which because I believe that the creasing factor should be part of their assessment. The person I spoke to agreed that it wasn’t something they looked at but thought that maybe they should in the future.

I’ve persisted and struggled along with it because it’s expensive to replace but I’m now throughly fed up and looking to buy a new one. I’ve looked briefly at Which and Good Housekeeping but I can’t see any reference to creasing in their performance reviews.

I can’t risk making the same mistake again and would appreciate your opinion.

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Pamela. Have you gone through all of the possible causes of excessive creasing in my article to make sure it isn’t something that can be fixed? Especially rinsing in hot water due to misconnection of the plumbing. Also, do you have crease guard activated if you don’t remove the finished laundry pretty soon after they have spun because leaving them in the drum causes creasing too.

It is hard to imagine a cause of a specific washing machine creasing laundry that doesn’t have one of the issues mentioned in my article.

Beth 1 reply New machine washing now comes out hot even though I only have a cold inlet hose/pipe. How is this possible. I got it replaced engineer said it must be a faulty thermostat! Did not actually check it just believed me and confirmed only a cold water inlet. New machine same problem. Didn't happen with old machine

New machine washing now comes out hot even though I only have a cold inlet hose/pipe. How is this possible. I got it replaced engineer said it must be a faulty thermostat! Did not actually check it just believed me and confirmed only a cold water inlet. New machine same problem. Didn’t happen with old machine

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Beth. I honestly don’t know how it would be possible for laundry to come out of a washing machine hot unless it’s being rinsed in hot water, or it has aborted the cycle before reaching the cold rinses and the hot water is from the wash section.

When you say you only have a cold inlet hose pipe, are you 100% sure that this pipe is only providing cold water? Things like the colour of the tap or fill hose (ie. Red for hot – blue for cold) can’t be relied upon. People can connect the hose to the wrong tap, or fit a tap with a blue handle on the hot tap by mistake. The best way to be 100% sure is to carefully open the soap dispenser drawer whilst the washing machine is filling up on one of the rinses to ensure that the water is stone-cold.

Having said that, if this problem has only occurred after the new washing machine, then it would imply that there was nothing wrong with your plumbing. Could the new washing machine have been connected up differently somehow to your previous one? Read my article on the subject here – Should washing come out hot or cold?

The reason I focus on this is that it seems highly unlikely that 2 brand-new washing machines would do the same thing. It seems more likely that it is a plumbing issue. A faulty washing machine can’t be totally ruled out, although I struggle to think what the issue could be.

This is because it should be impossible for a washing machine to heat up the water on the final rinse. And even if it did, it would take half an hour to 45 minutes to get the water “hot”. Don’t forget, there is twice as much water in the drum on rinses as there is on the wash cycle.

So if your washing machine was heating up the rinse water, the wash cycle should take absolutely ages. If your washing machine is going through the wash cycle at roughly the amount of time stated in the instruction book, and laundry is coming out clean (not soapy) then it would indicate the washing machine is working okay and the only source of heat for the laundry is if the rinse water was hot.

But again, having said all of that, it should be extremely simple to check. Just watch the washing machine when it is on its rinsing cycles. It should fill up with cold water, then rinse the laundry for several minutes before emptying it out. It should do this 3 or 4 times. Each time it fills up on the rinses, just pull the dispenser drawer out and see if the water is hot or cold. If it is cold, then the washing inside the drum should not be able to become hot unless the heating element is somehow energised. But each rinse shouldn’t last anywhere near long enough to allow the heating element to warm rinse water up.

Joan mckinstry 1 reply My daughter had a whirlpool washing machine and most clothes never needed ironing, she got a hoover washing machine when the whirlpool broke and all clothes come out very wrinkled. We can't understand why

My daughter had a whirlpool washing machine and most clothes never needed ironing, she got a hoover washing machine when the whirlpool broke and all clothes come out very wrinkled. We can’t understand why

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Joan. Every possible cause of excessive creasing is listed in this article. If you read carefully though it all and discount things one by one you should find the reason, even if the reason is the washing machine is rubbish.

Emma Hoggins 1 reply Hello, I think our Bosch washing machine may be connected wrongly. We replaced an indecit machine two years ago because the clothes were always creased. We have the same problem with the new machine. We have a combo boiler and I *think* this fires up when it’s on. The clothes are usually warm when I take them out but I haven’t really thought about it until I used the machine at my parents over Christmas. How would we check if this is the case?

Hello, I think our Bosch washing machine may be connected wrongly. We replaced an indecit machine two years ago because the clothes were always creased. We have the same problem with the new machine. We have a combo boiler and I *think* this fires up when it’s on. The clothes are usually warm when I take them out but I haven’t really thought about it until I used the machine at my parents over Christmas. How would we check if this is the case?

Jan Amor 1 reply Well I wish i read these comments before buying my new "all singing all dancing" Hoover two weeks ago - it is awful! My old machine finally went to machine heaven but gave me perfect non-creased washing every time. As for this new Hoover, what can i say??? Creased washing so bad that they won't come out even by ironing. All you lovely people, how have you got theses stubborn creases out? I'm at my wits end and unfortunately it seems as though i'm now stuck with this monstrosity! I look forward to reading your tips and advice. Thank you in advance!

Well I wish i read these comments before buying my new “all singing all dancing” Hoover two weeks ago – it is awful! My old machine finally went to machine heaven but gave me perfect non-creased washing every time. As for this new Hoover, what can i say??? Creased washing so bad that they won’t come out even by ironing. All you lovely people, how have you got theses stubborn creases out? I’m at my wits end and unfortunately it seems as though i’m now stuck with this monstrosity! I look forward to reading your tips and advice. Thank you in advance!

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Jan Amor

Hello Jan. It’s very unlikely that a washing machine would be designed and sold that causes severe creases. Have you made sure that none of the causes explained in my article are to blame?

Susan wyatt 1 reply Hello please help I have a Bosch classic when washing on 40 it over heats terribly then stops mid cycle there is steam coming from it and won't finish washing but not all the time please help its ruining my clothes

Hello please help I have a Bosch classic when washing on 40 it over heats terribly then stops mid cycle there is steam coming from it and won’t finish washing but not all the time please help its ruining my clothes

George May 1 reply I am just fizzing, bought a Hotpoint WDL754 washer/dryer a few months ago to replace my old Hotpoint WD420 and ruined 3 super pairs of jeans they came out creased and would not iron out not with steam nothing. I've had to completely change my washing routine, no drying. My old machine was so good chuck everything in dirty switch on go back and hey presto all nice, clean and dry. My old machine when drying went onto low heat by default and was a hundred times better a machine than this piece of junk I am lumbered with, I hate it, it's a thought to wash my clothes now. Eco my backside this thing is using more electric and I'm having to use electricity to do ironing now. Grrrr. I have read all your reports from other folk on this forum and they are all saying the same, I never thought things could be so bad if I had known what I know now I would have got my repair man to fix my old machine no expense spared!! I am going out tomorrow and just ruined two more shirts tonight. Not Happy.

I am just fizzing, bought a Hotpoint WDL754 washer/dryer a few months ago to replace my old Hotpoint WD420 and ruined 3 super pairs of jeans they came out creased and would not iron out not with steam nothing. I’ve had to completely change my washing routine, no drying. My old machine was so good chuck everything in dirty switch on go back and hey presto all nice, clean and dry. My old machine when drying went onto low heat by default and was a hundred times better a machine than this piece of junk I am lumbered with, I hate it, it’s a thought to wash my clothes now. Eco my backside this thing is using more electric and I’m having to use electricity to do ironing now. Grrrr. I have read all your reports from other folk on this forum and they are all saying the same, I never thought things could be so bad if I had known what I know now I would have got my repair man to fix my old machine no expense spared!! I am going out tomorrow and just ruined two more shirts tonight. Not Happy.

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to George May

Hello George. If the washer dryer is faulty you need to get them to fix it whilst under guarantee and hopefully get them to give compensation for the damage clothes. It would be weird if the washer dryer creases clothes by default. In other words there must be a reason why your jeans came out so badly creased, and it’s unlikely to just simply be that the washing machine is rubbish. It may be different from your old one and needs using differently, which I can see why that would be annoying but the machine must have been tested during design and they’d have surely noticed if it just creased everything?

To try and determine if the washing machine has a fault or not you need to eliminate all other possibilities such as it being connected up to the hot water supply by mistake, overloading, setting the wrong program, not looking at the wash label on the items etc. I cover all of the possibilities I could think of in this article above. Also is there are Reduced Creases setting on your machine? I can see that this feature is on another model very similar to yours.

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