Do not dry
An ISO 3758 drying square crossed out, indicating the garment should not be subjected to the natural-drying process shown — a general prohibition on that drying method.
What it means
A cross over the plain drying square forbids the associated drying process. It is most often seen together with a wet-cleaning or dry-clean instruction, signalling that ordinary domestic drying is not appropriate for the item.
What to do
Do not dry the item by the prohibited method. Read the rest of the label for the approved care route — frequently professional cleaning — and follow that instead of improvising a home drying method.
How to use this term
Use this drying symbol before choosing tumble heat, line drying, flat drying or shade drying.
- Read do not dry with the other symbols on the same care label; the strictest symbol wins.
- Match the instruction to the garment's most fragile part, including trims, lining, prints and finishes.
- If the label, fabric behaviour and stain method disagree, test a hidden area or choose the lower-risk route.
Common mistake
Do not treat drying as a harmless final step; heat and hanging tension can shrink, stretch or set a remaining stain.
For the broader method, use the Beginner laundry guide and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.
Related terms
Sources
- ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols — International Organization for Standardization