Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Among laundry and drying symbols, the drying group is identified by the square. A square with a circle inside refers to tumble drying: two dots mean normal temperature, one dot means low temperature, and a crossed-out circle means no tumble drying. A square with lines describes natural drying: a vertical line means line drying, a horizontal line means drying flat, and a diagonal line in the corner means drying in the shade.
Laundry and Drying Symbols – The Role of the Square
On a care label, the square is the third symbol after the wash tub and the triangle for bleaching. It is divided into two subgroups: tumble drying and natural drying. Often both appear on one label—for example, a crossed-out tumble dry symbol with a square and horizontal line, indicating “no tumble drying, dry flat.”
Tumble Dry Symbol – Drum Drying Indicators
| Symbol | Meaning | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Square with circle and two dots | Tumble dry, normal temperature | Exhaust air up to about 80 °C |
| Square with circle and one dot | Tumble dry, low temperature | Exhaust air up to about 60 °C |
| Crossed-out square with circle | Do not tumble dry | Natural drying only |
Temperature references follow ISO 3758 and relate to the exhaust air in the drum. At home dryers, these usually correspond to “normal” and “delicate” or “low temperature” programs.
When Tumble Drying Is Prohibited
- For wool, cashmere, and most knits – heat and tumbling cause felting.
- For viscose and modal – significant and often irreversible shrinkage.
- For garments with higher elastane content – elasticity decreases.
- For prints, glued inserts, foil, and sequins – they may peel off or deform.
- For down-filled items unless a special program is specified by the manufacturer.
Natural Drying Symbols
Natural drying is indicated by lines inside the square. This group is newer than tumble drying symbols, so older labels may not show them.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Square with one vertical line | Line drying after normal spin |
| Square with three vertical lines | Hang wet without spinning or centrifuge |
| Square with one horizontal line | Dry flat, spread on a horizontal surface |
| Square with two horizontal lines | Dry flat, wet, without spinning |
| Diagonal line in upper left corner | Dry in the shade; added to other symbols |
Why It Matters Whether the Garment Hangs or Lies Flat
Wet knitwear is heavy. Hanging it stretches the fabric downward, making sweaters longer and narrower. That is why wool and heavy knits almost always have the horizontal line symbol. In contrast, shirts and blouses made of woven fabrics are often hung to dry because this helps smooth wrinkles and makes ironing easier.
Drying in the Shade
The diagonal line warns that direct sunlight may fade colours or damage fibres. It appears on dark, bright, and saturated colours, silk, and some synthetic fabrics that yellow under UV light.
Choosing Drying Symbols as a Manufacturer
The choice follows the washing instructions. If a garment is washed at 30 °C with two lines, it likely cannot tolerate tumble drying with two dots. Common combinations include:
- Cotton T-shirts and bed linen – tumble dry with one or two dots, line drying.
- Cotton and polyester shirts – tumble dry with one dot or hang to dry.
- Sweaters and knits – no tumble dry, dry flat.
- Underwear and sportswear with elastane – no tumble dry, line dry in shade.
- Dark jeans – tumble dry with one dot or line dry, often with instructions to turn inside out.
It is advisable to wash and dry a sample with the planned care instructions, then measure length, width, and sleeves. Shrinkage over a few percent signals the need for gentler symbols.
How Drying Symbols Are Printed on Labels
Care labels usually have space for five symbols per row, so only the most informative drying symbol is included. If both tumble dry and natural drying instructions are needed (e.g., no tumble dry and dry flat), symbols can be placed on two rows or on the second page of a folded label. This is common for multilingual labels where text takes more space. For garments often dried at high temperatures, like towels and workwear, labels should be made of heat-resistant materials such as satin or dense taffeta, as well as denser composite labels. See the full label category.
A Label That Does Not Shrink or Fray
The label itself goes through the same drying process as the garment. Cheap materials may wrinkle, shrink, or become itchy. Ultrasonically cut edges remain soft and do not fray, and printing with textile inks keeps symbols legible. This detail is noticed by customers when the label irritates the skin.
Polkom – Care Labels with Your Symbols and Logo
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear, and bags with over 30 years of experience. We print care labels with washing and drying symbols, composition, and your logo, provide samples before production, and deliver throughout the EU. Send a request for a quote via the Contact page.
