In plain English: No dryer, at any temperature — not even air-only. Dry it naturally instead.
What it looks like on the tagA circle inside a square with an X crossed through the whole symbol.
What to do
- Check the same label for the natural-dry symbol: line dry, dry flat, or drip dry.
- Default safe move: lay knits flat, hang wovens on a hanger to dry.
- Keep drying garments out of direct sun unless the label allows it.
What happens if you ignore it
The combination of heat and tumbling shrinks wool dramatically, stretches and distorts knits, melts glues, and destroys elastics. This is the most-ignored, most-regretted symbol.
Where you'll see it
Wool and cashmere, bras, swimwear, viscose/rayon, and anything structured or glued.
Common questions
Can I use the dryer's no-heat setting?
No — the X covers the tumbling itself, not just the heat. Motion alone can stretch and abrade these garments.
Fastest safe way to dry it?
Towel-roll first to pull out moisture, then lay flat near (not on) a heat source with airflow. A fan helps more than heat does.
Related symbols
- Dry Flat — lay the garment flat on a surface to dry
- Line Dry / Hang Dry — hang the garment to dry
- Drip Dry — hang the garment up dripping wet
Or just scan the label
CareLabl reads the entire care label in one photo — every symbol on it, decoded into plain English, plus the fabric composition. Works with international and US labels. Try Pro free for 3 days, no credit card needed.