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.
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).
Tumble dry is when you put your laundry items into the dryer instead of air-drying them. Every setting you choose when using your dryer is considered a tumble dry setting. Pretty simple, right?
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.
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 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.
If you tumble dry a garment that doesn't belong in the dryer, you run the risk of shrinkage, fading, and pilling.
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.
The Delicate cycle is typically a tumble dry cycle that uses low heat. Depending on the make and model of your dryer, the cycle may be labeled Delicate, Gentle or Tumble Dry Low.
Choosing the right drying cycle
Modern tumble dryers offer various cycles to suit different fabric types and drying needs. The cotton cycle uses high heat and is perfect for towels, bedding, and sturdy cotton items. For polyester and mixed fabrics, use the synthetics cycle, which operates at medium heat.
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.
A square with a circle inside it and 1 dot – means you can dry the garment on a low heat setting. A square with a circle inside it and 2 dots – means you can dry the garment on a high heat setting. A square with a circle inside it that's crossed through – means you cannot tumble dry this garment.
The letters A, F or P inside a circle on your garment's care tag indicates that the item should be dry cleaned and instructs the dry cleaner what type of cleaner to use. An A means they can use any solvent, an F means any solvent except Trichloroethylene and a P directs them to use petroleum solvents only.
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.
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.
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.
If your tumble dryer has a green "dot" sticker in the door area or on the back, your machine already has the necessary safety modification and no further action is required.
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.
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.
This symbol means do not tumble dry! Instead, it's best to hang your jeans out to dry on a clothes horse or washing line, or in the airing cupboard if you have one.
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.
Just as with washing, it is important to avoid using high heat when drying polyester items. To dry your polyester clothing, place the load into your dryer and select the tumble dry setting. Adjusting the temperature to medium or per your item's care label can help keep the polyester's fibers intact.
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.