Does tumble dry mean dryer?

Author: Verla Pfeffer  |  Last update: Saturday, July 5, 2025

Tumble drying is simply machine drying rather than line drying or laying flat to dry. This method is called “Tumble Dry” because clothes tumble in the dryer drum where airflow, along with heat, dries clothes quickly. But not all fabrics are made to be tumble dried—always check the care tag first.

Can I line dry if it says tumble dry?

Read the Tags

"First, check the tags. Anything that says 'line dry' or 'lay flat to dry' can't tolerate the heat or the tumbling action of the dryer—or both," she says.

What setting is tumble dry?

Anytime you put your clothes in the dryer, you are tumble drying them. This can be on any heat setting. If you don't tumble dry you clothes, you will line dry the clothes. If the washing instructions on a garment reads tumble dry low heat, do just that.

Does "do not tumble dry" mean "no dryer"?

A tag that says "No Tumble Dry" means don't use a dryer but instead follow other directions, such as hanging the item to dry. There is also a big difference between wash and spin cycle settings and which temperature to use for specific clothing items.

What is the equivalent to tumble dry?

You can still dry your wet laundry without a tumble drier, though it may be more time consuming. To dry your clothes without a conventional dryer, you can use an extra spin cycle in your washer to wring out excess water, then hang your laundry on a clothing line or drying rack to air dry.

Spin Dry vs. Tumble Dry – Differences and When to Use Each

Is tumble dry the same as using a dryer?

Tumble drying is simply machine drying rather than line drying or laying flat to dry. This method is called “Tumble Dry” because clothes tumble in the dryer drum where airflow, along with heat, dries clothes quickly. But not all fabrics are made to be tumble dried—always check the care tag first.

How to dry something that can't be tumble dried?

If the item is a sweater or other knitwear, lay it flat on a towel in a dry place out of the sun. Turn it over onto a fresh towel when partly dried. Other types of clothing and household linens can be hung to dry on a clothesline or a drying rack - again, out of direct sunlight if there's a chance of color damage.

What does the tumble dry symbol mean?

A square with a circle inside means that the item can be safely tumble dried, while the number of dots inside the tumble dry symbol indicates what temperature setting to use: one dot stands for low heat, two dots for medium, and three for high heat setting.

Can you dry clothes without a tumble dryer?

The first option is to dry your clothes indoors on airers, which makes the task completely free. Try drying them in the kitchen, which is often the warmest room in the house thanks to residual heat from cooking, or place your airer next to a radiator. If you have a dehumidifier, this will help to dry them faster.

What setting do I use if my dryer doesn't have tumble dry?

Most dryers have a setting listed as "air dry," "air fluff," or "no-heat," which indicates the program adds no additional heat while spinning your garments. Instead of adding hot air, this cycle blows room-temperature air onto your clothes as it tumbles them.

What is the symbol for tumble dry at low temperature?

A square with a large circle inside that is crossed out means do not tumble dry. A square with circle inside symbol and a single dot indicates normal machine drying on a low setting. A square with three vertical lines inside indicates to drip dry, usually by hanging a dripping wet garment on a line.

What do the settings on a tumble dryer mean?

Iron Dry – This setting will leave your clothes slightly damp, to allow better ironing. Cupboard Dry – This setting should allow you to put your clothes away without the need to hang out. Extra Dry – A longer setting usually used for thick fabrics such as towels, bed sheets and duvet covers.

How long to tumble dry clothes?

How long should a dryer take to dry? A typical drying cycle takes about 45 minutes, but this time can vary depending on the cycle, heat setting and size of your load. Delicate cycles take roughly 15 minutes, while heavy cycles, like bedding, can take up to three hours to fully dry.

What's another setting for tumble dry?

You can tumble dry laundry with low, medium, high, or no heat depending on the type of fabric. Washing and drying your clothes according to their care instructions is essential to avoid shrinkage, damage, and color bleeding.

What does tumble dry look like?

The square with a circle inside is the general symbol for tumble drying. If you see it on a laundry label, your item can be tumble-dried, and it's safe to put it in the dryer. If a laundry item should not be tumble-dried, you will see the same square with a circle, but it will be crossed out.

Why can't I tumble dry cotton?

Those made of 100% cotton may shrink in a dryer so it's better to air-dry them. Heavy items like beddings and towels can be tumble dried at medium to high heat to ease the process. For smaller items like cotton tees and dresses, best to dry them on low for a shorter amount of time.

What clothes shouldn't you tumble dry?

Wool jumpers, silk garments, and bras may often display the do not tumble dry symbol as they could become damaged in the machine, or the material could become weakened. Silk can shrink in high temperatures and wool can pile which affects the look of the fabric.

How do you dry down without a tumble dryer?

If you do not have any dryer, or you simply prefer the air drying, it is possible. To do so, we recommend you lay it flat on a towel in a warm area, but out of the direct sunlight. It is better that you choose a well-ventilated area, like a shady spot outdoor or an indoor area such as a laundry, for example.

What can I use instead of a tumble dryer?

6 hacks for drying laundry without using a tumble dryer
  • Dry outdoors. ...
  • Use a heated airer. ...
  • Try a wall-mounted drying rack. ...
  • Use faster drying hacks. ...
  • Use a radiator rack instead of direct radiator drying. ...
  • Add a dehumidifier.

How to do tumble dry?

Delicate or Tumble dry:Use low heat and slow spin for clothes that are prone to shrinkage. Tumble dry means using no heat and is preferred for extremely delicate items, like cotton, rayon or linen. Regular dry cycle:Sturdy clothes like jeans, towels or sweatshirts requires a regular dryer setting.

What does 40 with two lines under it mean?

The two lines under the basin indicate a special gentle wash cycle and the 30 °C is the maximum permitted temperature. A garment with this wash symbol can withstand a maximum temperature of 40 °C in the special gentle wash cycle.

What temperature is low tumble dry?

The low heat setting can be used after washing a down comforter or to tumble dry a duvet (but do check the tags on the items to make sure this doesn't conflict with the manufacturers' recommendations). Low is around 120 to 122°F (49 to 50ºC) on Samsung tumble dryers, as an example.

How do you tumble dry down?

It is best to dry the down jacket in a tumble dryer.
  1. Put the down jacket carefully into the tumble dryer.
  2. Put in the tennis balls once again. ...
  3. Dry the jacket at a temperature between 30 and 60 degrees.
  4. Interrupt the cycle once every ten minutes and shake up the down filling inside the jacket.

Do not tumble dry icon?

Square with circle in it

If there is a cross through it, this is the do not tumble dry symbol, so the item is not suitable to be tumble-dried.

What happens if I tumble dry polyester?

You can put polyester in the dryer on a cool to medium setting. The dryer won't cause wrinkles, but polyester can be ironed on low or steamed. Air dry polyester or tumble dry at medium temperature. Polyester generally doesn't wrinkle.

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