Tumble dry, low heat
An ISO 3758 tumble-dry circle with a single dot, indicating tumble drying at a low heat setting (a maximum exhaust temperature of about 60 °C).
What it means
One dot inside the dryer circle caps the temperature at the low setting. Gentler heat protects elastane, prints and synthetics that would shrink, pill or melt under a hot cycle.
What to do
Select the low-heat or delicate dryer programme. It takes longer than high heat, so expect a longer cycle, and pull items out as soon as they are dry to avoid baking in wrinkles.
How to use this term
Use this drying symbol before choosing tumble heat, line drying, flat drying or shade drying.
- Read tumble dry, low heat 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