In plain English: The tumbling action is safe, but heat isn't. Use the air-only / air-fluff cycle.
What it looks like on the tagA circle inside a square with no dot — specifically the variant meaning “air only” on US labels (sometimes drawn as an unfilled circle). ISO labels typically express this with the lowest dot level or a do-not-tumble symbol plus air-dry instructions.
What to do
- Select “air fluff,” “air only,” or “no heat” on the dryer.
- Use it to soften line-dried items or re-fluff down and pillows.
- Add clean dryer balls to speed things up mechanically instead of thermally.
What happens if you ignore it
Any heat setting can warp foams, melt laminated waterproof membranes, and shrink heat-shy fibers — the garment tolerates motion, not temperature.
Where you'll see it
Down jackets and comforters, waterproof shells, padded bras, and foam-structured items.
Common questions
What's the point of tumbling without heat?
Loft and softness. Tumbling restores fluff to down and knocks stiffness out of air-dried laundry — no heat required.
How long does no-heat drying take?
Long. Plan on air-fluffing as a finishing step after most of the moisture is gone, not as the whole drying process.
Related symbols
- Tumble Dry Low — the dryer is allowed, but only on the low-heat (delicate) setting
- Do Not Tumble Dry — no dryer, at any temperature
- Line Dry / Hang Dry — hang the garment to dry
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.