READ YOUR LABEL

Tumble-dryer heat: low, normal, medium and no heat

Match tumble-dryer dots and written instructions to your machine, distinguish low heat from no heat, and respect do-not-tumble-dry labels.

First decide whether the item can go in the dryer

A circle inside a square identifies tumble drying. Check for a cross before counting dots: a crossed tumble-dryer mark means the item must stay out. A low-heat or air-only program does not remove that restriction. Once tumble drying is permitted, read the heat limit and any cycle instruction before choosing a program.

Marks you may see

Tumble dry, low heat

One dot: use the low dryer heat setting.

Tumble dry, two dots

Normal heat in ISO labels; medium heat in US labels.

Do not tumble dry

Keep this item out of the tumble dryer.

Four distinctions that prevent the wrong setting

One dot: reduced heat

One dot indicates low or reduced heat. Find the corresponding setting in the dryer manual rather than using a program based only on its name. A cycle called delicate may have extra options, including a temperature override.

Two dots: check the label system

Two dots mean normal-temperature tumble drying in the international system and medium heat in the US system; three dots are a US high-heat instruction. Do not convert every two-dot label into a universal high-heat command. Follow written guidance and the machine manual.

No heat is different from low heat

A filled circle in the US tumble-dryer symbol means no heat. Look for an air-only or equivalent unheated setting supported by the machine. The drum can still move, so unheated tumbling is not the same thing as leaving an item to dry on a rack.

Time and dryness are separate controls

A longer timer does not identify the heat level, and a more-dry option is not a substitute for reading the temperature setting. Check all relevant controls. Exact temperatures and program behaviour vary between dryer models and loads.

Put the instructions into practice

Separate incompatible drying instructions
Read each item before moving the washing into the dryer. Remove anything marked do not tumble dry and set up its permitted natural-drying method. Do not let a large load hide an item that needs different care.
Check the dryer before loading
Follow the appliance instructions for the lint filter, loading and safe use. Stay within the stated load guidance so items can move as intended. Keep unsuitable or prohibited items out regardless of the selected temperature.
Match program and heat
Choose the permitted cycle and heat using the label and model manual. Check the final selection rather than relying on the setting used for the previous load. If the machine cannot meet the instruction, use a permitted alternative drying method.
Remove and check the items
At the end of the cycle, follow the machine instructions and remove the load promptly. Check thicker areas before putting items away. If something still needs drying, keep within its care limits instead of automatically increasing the heat.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use air-only tumbling to bypass a crossed-out tumble-dryer symbol.
Do not assume every dryer uses the same temperature for a named setting.
Do not infer tumble-drying permission from a cotton, wool, silk or linen fibre label.

Turn your label into a checklist

Choose the marks actually printed on your item. Keep the complete instructions together, then copy or print your checklist.

Find the marks on my label