# Dry in the shade — Laundry Care Symbol | Launderwise

---

Drying

![Dry in the shade](/images/care-symbols/dry-in-shade.svg)

# Dry in the shade

An ISO 3758 drying square with a diagonal line in the top-left corner, indicating the garment should be dried away from direct sunlight.

## What it means

The corner stripe modifies a line- or flat-dry instruction to add: keep it out of the sun. Ultraviolet light fades dyes and weakens some fibres, so shade drying preserves colour and strength on the affected item.

## What to do

Combine the drying method shown (hang or flat) with a shaded, well-ventilated spot — indoors near an open window, under a covered line, or on the shadier side of the garden. Avoid drying dark or bright colours in full midday sun.

## How to use this term

Use this drying symbol before choosing tumble heat, line drying, flat drying or shade drying.

- Read dry in the shade 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 ](/blog/getting-started-laundry/index.md)and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.

## Related terms

- [Line dry (hang to dry)](/glossary/hang-dry/index.md)
- [Dry flat](/glossary/dry-flat/index.md)
- [Colourfast](/glossary/colourfast/index.md)

## Sources

- [ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols ](https://www.iso.org/standard/42918.html)— International Organization for Standardization

[ Back to the full glossary](/glossary/index.md)