Can I put this in the dryer? How to read the tumble dry symbols
The square-and-circle symbols tell you whether clothes can go in the dryer and on what heat. Here is how to read them, and what to do when there is no tag.
Short answer: find the square with a circle inside it on the care tag. If it has an X through it, keep the item out of the dryer. If it has dots, the dots tell you the heat. If there is no such symbol, go by the fabric (table below).
No dryer
Low heat
Medium heat
High heat
Which dryer button is which?
| Tag says | Press this on most dryers |
|---|---|
| One dot | Low, Delicate, or Gentle |
| Two dots | Medium, or Permanent press |
| Three dots | High, Normal, Cottons, or Heavy duty |
| Filled-in circle | Air fluff / No heat |
| Line under the square | Permanent press (it cools down at the end to stop wrinkles) |
| Crossed out | Nothing. Hang it, or lay it flat if it is a knit |
No tag? Go by fabric
| Fabric | Dryer? |
|---|---|
| Cotton tees, towels, sheets | Yes. Medium for tees (high shrinks them), high for towels |
| Jeans | Low, or hang dry to keep the fit and colour |
| Polyester, nylon, fleece | Low. High heat can melt or pill synthetics |
| Anything with spandex / elastane | Low or air dry. Heat kills the stretch |
| Wool, cashmere, mohair | No. Lay flat to dry |
| Silk, rayon / viscose, modal | No. Hang or lay flat |
| Bras, swimwear, anything with sequins or glue | No |
Things that ruin clothes in the dryer
- Over-drying. Most shrinking happens in the last 10 minutes. Use the moisture sensor (“More dry / Less dry”) and pull things out slightly damp.
- Overloading. Clothes need room to tumble, or they come out wrinkled and take longer, which means more heat.
- Mixing heavy and light. Towels and jeans keep thin tops in the drum long after they are dry.
Already shrunk something? Read how to wash without shrinking, or ask our “can I save it?” tool.
Not sure what your tag says? Snap it and get the exact settings.
Decode my tag free