Drying symbols: tumble, line and flat
Drying symbols are squares. A circle inside the square is the tumble dryer, with dots for the heat. Lines inside an empty square tell you how to dry it naturally: hanging, dripping or flat.
Not sure which one is on your tag? Point the laundry symbol scanner at it and it reads every symbol for you.
All drying symbols at a glance
Tumble dry, normal heat
Tumble drying is fine at any heat setting.
What to do: Use the normal or high setting. Bars under the square mean the permanent press (one) or delicate (two) cycle.
Tumble dry, low heat
Tumble dry on low heat only: one dot.
What to do: Pick low or delicate heat. Take the item out while it is still slightly damp to avoid shrinking.
Tumble dry, medium heat
Tumble dry on medium heat: two dots.
What to do: Use the medium or normal setting. Most cotton and blends are fine here.
Tumble dry, high heat
Tumble dry on high heat: three dots.
What to do: Use the high or cotton setting. Mostly for towels and heavy cotton.
Tumble dry, no heat
Tumble with cool air only: a filled circle.
What to do: Use the air fluff or no-heat setting. Good for down and items that melt or shrink.
Do not tumble dry
Do not use a tumble dryer.
What to do: Hang it up or lay it flat. Heat and tumbling would shrink, warp or damage it.
Dry
The item can be dried. On its own, an empty square leaves the method to you.
What to do: Any drying method works. Look at the other symbols for limits.
Line dry
Hang on a line or rack to dry. US tags draw a curved line at the top; European tags a vertical line.
What to do: Hang it after the spin cycle, ideally outside or near an open window.
Line dry in the shade
Hang to dry out of direct sunlight. The diagonal lines in the corner mean shade.
What to do: Dry it indoors or in the shade so bright colors and dark fabrics do not fade.
Drip dry
Hang up soaking wet, without spinning or wringing.
What to do: Skip the spin cycle and hang it straight from the water. Shirts dry with fewer creases this way.
Drip dry in the shade
Hang up wet, without spinning, out of direct sunlight.
What to do: Hang it indoors over a tub or outside in the shade.
Dry flat
Lay the item flat to dry. Hanging would stretch it.
What to do: Lay it on a towel or a flat rack and shape it while damp. Common on knitwear.
Dry flat in the shade
Lay flat to dry, out of direct sunlight.
What to do: Lay it on a rack indoors, away from windows and radiators.
Dry in the shade
Dry away from direct sunlight, by any method.
What to do: Sun bleaches colors and weakens some fibres. Dry indoors or in the shade.
Do not dry
Do not dry it at home. Mostly seen next to professional cleaning symbols.
What to do: Leave drying to the cleaner.
Tumble dryer or natural drying?
A square with a circle is about the tumble dryer. A square without a circle is about drying in the air. Many tags carry both: a crossed tumble dryer next to a line dry symbol means hang it up, do not put it in the dryer.
| Inside the square | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Circle, one dot | Tumble dry low |
| Circle, two dots | Tumble dry medium |
| Circle, three dots | Tumble dry high |
| Filled circle | Tumble dry, no heat |
| Curved line at the top, or one vertical line | Line dry |
| Three vertical lines (US) or two (Europe) | Drip dry |
| One horizontal line | Dry flat |
| Two diagonal lines in the corner | In the shade |
How to stop clothes shrinking in the dryer
Heat and tumbling together shrink cotton and felt wool. If the tag allows tumble drying, use the lowest heat that gets the job done, and take clothes out while still a little damp. Anything with a crossed tumble dryer should be hung or laid flat.
Other care symbols
The laundry symbols chart has every symbol on one page. Or read the guides to washing, bleach, ironing and dry cleaning symbols.
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