Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Among laundry and drying symbols, the drying group is recognised by the square. A square with a circle inside refers to the tumble dryer: two dots – normal temperature, one dot – low, crossed out – no tumble drying. A square with lines describes natural drying: a vertical line – line dry, a horizontal one – dry flat, and a diagonal line in the corner – dry in the shade.
Laundry and drying symbols – where the square fits
On the care label, the square is the third symbol, after the washtub for washing and the triangle for bleaching. It is divided into two subgroups: tumble drying and natural drying. Both types often appear on one label – for example a crossed-out tumble dryer and a square with a horizontal line, which says "do not tumble dry, dry flat".
Tumble dryer symbol – tumble drying symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Square with a circle and two dots | Tumble dry, normal temperature | Exhaust air up to about 80 °C |
| Square with a circle and one dot | Tumble dry, low temperature | Exhaust air up to about 60 °C |
| Crossed-out square with a circle | Do not tumble dry | Natural drying only |
The temperature guidelines follow the ISO 3758 standard and refer to the exhaust air in the drum. On a domestic dryer this usually corresponds to the "normal" and "delicate" or "low heat" programmes.
When tumble drying is prohibited
- For wool, cashmere and most knits – heat and tumbling felt the fibres.
- For viscose and modal – shrinkage is significant and often irreversible.
- For products with a higher percentage of elastane – stretch is reduced.
- For prints, fused interlinings, foil and sequins – they can peel off or distort.
- For down products, unless the manufacturer has provided a special regime.
Natural drying symbols
Natural drying is described with lines in the square. This group is newer than the tumble drying symbols, so on older labels you may not see it at all.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Square with one vertical line | Line dry, after a normal spin |
| Square with three vertical lines | Drip dry, without wringing or spinning |
| Square with one horizontal line | Dry flat, laid out on a horizontal surface |
| Square with two horizontal lines | Dry flat while wet, without wringing |
| Diagonal line in the top left corner | Dry in the shade; added to the symbols above |
Why it matters whether the garment hangs or lies flat
A wet knit is heavy. If it is hung on a line, the weight of the water stretches it downwards and the jumper becomes longer and narrower. That is why the horizontal line is almost always used for wool and heavy jersey. Conversely, shirts and blouses in woven fabrics are often dried on a hanger, because this straightens creases and makes ironing easier.
Drying in the shade
The diagonal line in the corner warns that direct sunlight can fade the colour or damage the fibres. It is found on dark, bright and saturated colours, on silk and on some synthetics that yellow under ultraviolet light.
How to choose drying symbols as a manufacturer
The choice follows the logic of the washing. If a product is washed at 30 °C with two bars, it is unlikely to tolerate a tumble dryer with two dots. The usual combinations are:
- Cotton T-shirts and bed linen – tumble dry with one or two dots, line dry.
- Cotton and polyester shirts – tumble dry with one dot or hang dry on a hanger.
- Jumpers and knits – crossed-out tumble dryer, dry flat.
- Underwear and sportswear with elastane – crossed-out tumble dryer, line dry in the shade.
- Dark jeans – tumble dry with one dot or line dry, often with an instruction to turn the garment inside out.
It is a good idea to wash and dry the sample on the planned regime and then measure the length, width and sleeves. Shrinkage of more than a few percent is a signal for a gentler symbol.
How drying symbols are printed on the label
A care and composition label usually has room for only five symbols in a row, so one drying symbol is used – the most informative one. If you want to give both instructions (for example no tumble drying and dry flat), the symbols can be placed on two lines or on the second page of a folded label. This is a common solution on multilingual labels, where the text takes up more space anyway. For garments that are often dried at high temperatures, such as towels and workwear, the label must be made of a material that tolerates heat – satin or dense taffeta, as well as the denser textile labels. See also the whole labels category.
A label that does not shrink or fall apart
The label itself goes through the same tumble dryer as the garment. Cheap materials can wrinkle, shrink or start to scratch. Ultrasonically cut edges stay soft and do not fray, and printing with textile inks keeps the symbols legible. It is a detail the buyer notices when the label starts to irritate the skin.
Polkom – labels with your symbols and logo
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer and supplier of clothing accessories with over 30 years of experience. We print care labels with washing and drying symbols, composition and your logo, make a sample before the run and deliver across the EU. Send a request for a quote via our contact page.
