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.
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.
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?
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.
Unlike air drying, where clothes dry through natural airflow, tumble drying uses heat and movement to reduce dry time and leave fabrics soft and wrinkle-free. It's essential to understand the different tumble dry settings on your dryer.
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.
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.
If a tag says “do not tumble dry,” that means you should not put the item in the dryer, regardless of the setting. Instead, follow the manufacturer's instructions. If there aren't any explicit instructions for how to dry it, play it safe and hang it up to air-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.
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.
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.
Unlike heat-intensive drying cycles, the Air Fluff Cycle involves a no-heat, tumble-drying setting. It's a gentle, cool-air alternative designed to revive and refresh clothes without subjecting them to high temperatures.
Yes, anything from your bedsheets to kitchen cloths and towels are more than welcome in the tumble dryer. However, be sure to check the care symbols and spread your laundry accordingly as some items can be dried at a higher temperature, which means more effective drying.
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.
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.
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.
Air drying is only to reduce the moisture content of laundry . Unlike heater dryers, they cannot completely dry your clothes . However, by letting the wind evaporate the water contained in the clothes, you can reduce the time it takes to dry the laundry compared to when you spin the clothes and dry them immediately.
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.
Hot water is typically about 130 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Between 90 and 110 degrees is considered warm water. And water temperature between 60 and 80 degrees is cold. If your cold water is below 60, it's likely too cool to wash your clothing well.
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.
With all our washer dryers you can use the dryer function only. The options are: Cottons dry and Synthetic dry. Always refer to your manual for guidance, if you cannot find yours do not worry, you can download a copy by clicking here.
Tumble Dry No-Heat
Also called Air Fluff, this setting uses air circulation without added heat. It's perfect for refreshing clothes with musty odors or reducing lint. Use this option for heat-sensitive fabrics like wool, silk, and lace or for fluffing items like pillows, blankets, and winter coats.