Dry flat
An ISO 3758 square with a single horizontal line inside it, indicating the garment should be laid out flat to dry rather than hung.
What it means
The horizontal line means flat drying. Hanging a heavy wet knit lets gravity stretch it out of shape, so the symbol calls for the item to be supported across its whole surface while it dries — the standard instruction for wool and other knits.
What to do
Lay the item on a clean towel or a mesh drying rack, gently reshaping it to its original dimensions first. Turn it over partway through so both sides dry, and keep it out of direct heat to avoid stiff, scorched patches.
How to use this term
Use this drying symbol before choosing tumble heat, line drying, flat drying or shade drying.
- Read dry flat 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
Flat drying mainly exposes the upper face to air, so a dense wool knit can feel dry on top while the core stays damp — and it often takes longer than hanging would. The trap is folding it away at that point, where trapped moisture can turn musty. Damp fabric feels cool, so press the thickest part against your wrist and store it only once that spot is room-temperature.
For the broader method, use the Wash a wool sweater without shrinking 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