Any clothing with the tumble dry symbol, a square with a large circle inscribed in it, can go in the dryer, but some garments require a certain heat setting (the more small black dots inside the circle, the higher the heat).
If you check the labels on your clothes there should be a symbol indicating whether it can go in the tumble dryer or not. It's the circle in the square - if it's crossed out, it can't go in there. If not, there will be dots to indicate how hot you can have the dryer - 1 for a cooler dry, 2 for a hotter one.
Drying Symbols
A square with a large, empty circle inside indicates tumble dry normal. 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.
You can tumble dry almost everything but you really have to pay attention to temperature and time. Using the hottest setting isn't always best. Leaving it going until everything is bone dry isn't always best either. Some garments are better getting mostly dry in the dryer but allowed to air dry by being removed early.
What does “do not tumble dry” mean? Certain garments shouldn't go in the dryer at all. Subjected to high temperatures, silk may shrink, wool and knitwear may pill and undergarments may shrink or lose their shape. Learn more about how to prevent pilling on your clothes.
WHAT IS TUMBLE DRY? 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.
Disadvantages of tumble drying
One significant disadvantage is its high energy consumption, which can contribute to increased electricity bills. Also, it is essential to be mindful of potential fabric damage, as the heat can cause shrinkage or damage to delicate fabrics if not used correctly.
Cotton clothes can generally survive being machine-dried, but pay close attention to their size and blend. 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.
A dryer Delicate cycle is typically a tumble dry cycle that uses low heat. Low heat helps protect heat-sensitive fabrics from fraying, fading, shrinking, stretching and warping. Depending on the make and model of your dryer, the cycle may be labeled Delicate, Gentle or Tumble Dry Low.
Line drying or clothes rack drying will always be the more sustainable and cost-effective way of drying your clothes. Energy Saving Trust says that avoiding the use of your tumble dryer could potentially save you money each year.
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.
The symbol for "do not tumble dry" is a square with a circle inside it that is crossed out. This indicates that tumble drying the garment should be avoided.
Materials not suitable for tumble-drying
Silk is another material that can shrink or damage in the dryer, as can some woollen items. Suede can harden in the dryer and lose its texture. Heat can also shrink or damage nylon tights.
A clothes dryer (tumble dryer, drying machine, or simply dryer) is a powered household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing, bedding and other textiles, usually after they are washed in the washing machine.
Line drying is the best option if you want to lessen your carbon footprint. Conversely, tumble drying is less environmentally friendly but more convenient.
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.
If you tumble dry a garment that doesn't belong in the dryer, you run the risk of shrinkage, fading, and pilling.
What Can – and What Cannot – Be Tumble Dried? Any clothing that displays the tumble dry symbol can safely be dried in the tumble dryer, while it's best to dry clothing with a do not tumble dry symbol naturally, either outside on the washing line, indoors on a clothes horse, or laying flat on thick, absorbent towels.
Dryers tend to shrink clothes, and coupled with the heat, it wears down the fabric. In fact, dryers have been found to shrink clothes twice as much as regular washing does, and tumble drying shrinks twice as much as normal air drying.
Heated airers could make a world of difference
They can be placed anywhere to dry clothes quickly and easily and are often cheaper to run than a tumble dryer or having to rely on your heating. Just plug in the airer and it will gently heat up to dry your clothes in a few hours.
When you see "tumble dry low" on a care label, select the low heat temperature setting and the delicate or gentle cycle on the dryer. If the label is missing, here's a list of items that should always be tumble dried on low: Lightweight fabrics: lace, mesh or sheer fabrics, bamboo, rayon, microfiber, knitwear.