Q: ‘Tumble dry’ and ‘Do not tumble dry’

Tumble dry normal The symbol meaning ‘Tumble dry’ is a circle inside a square. This means the item is safe to tumble dry, but it doesn’t tell you a specific temperature or setting. Do not tumble dry The symbol for ‘Do not tumble dry’ is a crossed-out square with a circle in it. There should be more instructions on the item about how to dry it.

Question 1

‘Tumble dry’ and ‘Do not tumble dry’

Accepted Answer

Tumble dry normal

The symbol meaning ‘Tumble dry’ is a circle inside a square. This means the item is safe to tumble dry, but it doesn’t tell you a specific temperature or setting.

Do not tumble dry

The symbol for ‘Do not tumble dry’ is a crossed-out square with a circle in it. There should be more instructions on the item about how to dry it.

Question 2

Drying temperatures

Accepted Answer

Drying temperatures are represented by the tumble dryer symbol with different numbers of dots inside it. The more dots, the higher the temperature.

Cold or low heat

One dot inside the tumble dryer symbol means a maximum temperature of 60°C.

Warm or medium heat

Two dots inside the tumble dryer symbol means you can dry at up to 80°C.

Hot or high heat

Three dots inside the tumble dryer symbol means you should use the highest temperature on your appliance.

Question 3

Tumble dry with no heat

Accepted Answer

The symbol for tumble drying with no heat is a black circle inside a square. This means you should only use an unheated setting on the tumble dryer.

Question 4

Air dry

Accepted Answer

An empty square (with no circle in it) refers to air drying. This symbol tells you whether to hang it on a line or dry it flat, in the sun or shade.

Dry in shade

A square with two diagonal lines in the left corner means ‘Dry in shade’. You should not expose these items to direct sunlight when they’re drying.

Line dry and drip dry

A square with a vertical line in the middle means you should use a clothesline. Two vertical lines mean the clothing should be dripping wet when you hang it on the line.

Line dry in shade and drip dry in shade

A square with a vertical line in the middle and a triangle in the top left means ‘Dry on a clothesline in the shade’. The same symbol but with two lines means the clothes should also be dripping wet when you hang them out.

Dry flat

A horizontal line in a square means you should lay the clothes on a flat surface, like a table. Two horizontal lines means the clothes should be dripping wet when you lay them out.

Dry flat in shade

This symbol is a square with a horizontal line and a triangle in the top left corner. The same symbol but with two horizontal lines means you should lay the clothes out when they’re dripping wet.

Question 5

Dry clean

Accepted Answer

The basic symbol for dry cleaning is a circle. You can see these variations:

Do not dry clean

A crossed out circle with nothing inside it.

Dry clean only

An empty circle.

Dry clean with any solvent

A circle with the letter A inside it.

Dry clean with petroleum solvent only

A circle with the letter F inside it.

Dry clean with any solvent except trichloroethylene

A circle with the letter P inside it.

Tumble dryer symbols explained

Decoding clothing care symbols

Tumble dryer symbols

Tumble dryer programme and setting symbols

About the author

Josh Allen

Our blog is loaded with more related articles

How to clean a tumble dryer filter

How to use a tumble dryer correctly

Cost of running a tumble dryer