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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.