What to do
- Use your dryer's normal/medium-high setting.
- Don't overload — clothes dry faster and wrinkle less with room to tumble.
- Take items out while barely warm to minimize set-in wrinkles.
What happens if you ignore it
Low — this is the most permissive drying symbol. The main mistake is assuming every garment in the load shares it. The one cold-rated item in a hot load is the one that shrinks.
Where you'll see it
Cotton t-shirts, towels, sheets, socks, and sturdy everyday basics.
Common questions
What do the dots mean?
Heat level: one dot low, two dots medium/normal, three dots high. An empty circle in a square with no dots simply means tumble drying is allowed.
Why do my clothes still shrink on normal?
Usually the wash was hotter than rated, or the garment actually called for low. Check the dots — “tumble dry” and “tumble dry normal” aren't the same thing.
Related symbols
- Tumble Dry Low — the dryer is allowed, but only on the low-heat (delicate) setting
- Tumble Dry Medium — tumble dry at a medium heat setting
- Do Not Tumble Dry — no dryer, at any temperature
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.