What other setting is tumble dry?

Author: Prof. Ceasar Mann  |  Last update: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Any setting you can select on a dryer is considered a tumble dry setting. Most dryers allow you to select a time, heat level or dryness level, and sometimes you can choose a cycle where settings are predetermined, like Normal, Delicate, Heavy Duty or Quick Dry.

What setting on a dryer is tumble 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?

What setting to put a tumble dryer on?

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.

What is the symbol for tumble dry?

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.

Can I air dry instead of tumble dry?

Air dry is for the same thing but with no heat. Some things like pillow stuffing or comforters can be damaged by heat, but you still want them to have air blowing around and dry them faster.

Tumble Dryer Settings Explained

What setting is similar to tumble dry?

The spin dry cycle is often found on washing machines, while tumble dry is a dryer setting. Spin dry cycles remove excess water from your laundry without heat by quickly spinning the items in the washer drum to extract water.

What do I use if I dont have 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.

What is the US symbol for do not tumble dry?

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 is the dry setting symbol?

The Sun: used for warm air or heat mode. The Snowflake: used for cold air or cool mode. The Raindrop: used for dry mode. This should be used when the conditions are humid, and temperatures are mild.

What does "no tumble dry" mean?

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 do the symbols mean on my tumble dryer?

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.

What is the extra dry setting on a tumble dryer?

Extra Dry –The extra dry setting means a longer cycle time, to ensure bulkier items are completely dry. This setting is perfect for drying items like bedding and towels. Cupboard Dry– This setting ensures your laundry is dry enough to be put away immediately, once the cycle is complete.

What is the best setting to not shrink clothes in tumble dryer?

Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage. Use delicate cycles instead, and place delicate clothes in a mesh laundry bag for added protection. When drying, consider a low-heat or air dry setting. When in doubt, always follow the instructions on your garment's care tag.

What setting to use on a tumble dryer?

Temperature Guide
  • 60° C. Washing Whites.
  • 40° C. Washing Colours.
  • 40° C. Washing Perm Press (Synthetics)
  • 30° C. Washing Delicates.
  • 65° - 70° Drying Whites/Colours. Cottons, denim, towels and bedding.
  • 60° - 65° Drying Perm Press (Synthetics) Lighter items such as shirts and T-shirts.
  • 45° - 50° Drying Delicates.

Is airflow the same as tumble dry?

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.

How to dry without a tumble dryer?

It is possible to dry your clothes without a dryer by using an iron or air-drying them using a drying rack and some assistance from the air conditioner, dehumidifier, or just a fan.

What is the symbol for tumble dry laundry?

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.

What is a low tumble dryer setting?

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.

Is tumble dry low the same as delicate?

2. Tumble Dry Low (Delicates) Tumble dry low uses minimal heat during the dry cycle—usually around 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This setting is ideal for delicate items or workout clothes made from sweat-wicking fabrics such as spandex or lycra.

What does a triangle with a cross through it mean?

The triangle laundry symbol represents bleach usage. An empty triangle indicates that bleach can be used on that item. A triangle with a cross through it means that you should absolutely not wash the item in bleach.

What does AP in a circle mean?

Updated on September 24, 2020. A capital P in a circle is the copyright symbol used for sound recordings, just as the circled C copyright symbol and circled R registered trademark symbols are used to indicate that a work is protected by copyright or registered trademark laws.

Which of these symbols means tumble dry at a low temperature?

Tumble Dry Heat Symbols

Empty circle: tumble dry this item on any heat. One dot: tumble dry on low heat. Two dots: tumble dry on medium heat. Three dots: tumble dry on high heat.

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.

How do you make tumble dry?

All you have to do is to just transfer your washed clothes in the clothes dryer machine, run it on ideal setting. That's it. The entire process is easy, effortless and mess-free. And, don't worry tumbledry is good for clothes (if you do it in the right way).

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.

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