What does one dot inside the dryer symbol mean?

One hollow dot permits tumble drying on low heat. Treat low as the hottest setting allowed by this mark, not as a suggested starting point.

Is the low-heat dryer dot hollow or solid?

The low-heat symbol has one hollow dot. A single filled dot is the separate ASTM no-heat symbol.

What's the difference between one dot and two dots on a dryer symbol?

One hollow dot is low heat. Two hollow dots are called normal under ISO and medium under ASTM.

Does one dot set the drying time?

No. The dot limits the dryer's heat setting. It does not specify how long the cycle should run.

Tumble dry, low heat

Tumble dry on low heat. One dot inside the circle.

What to do

Tumble dry on low heat (one dot).

What to avoid

One dot means low is as hot as the dryer should go for this.

How to spot it on a label

The third symbol in a standard care row is the drying square. A circle inside it puts the instruction in the machine tumble-drying group, while lines would make it an air-drying mark. Confirm low heat by finding one small hollow dot centered inside the circle.

Easy to confuse with

Tumble dry, low heat
Tumble dry, any heat

Check the mark

Look inside the circle: this mark has one hollow dot, while the general tumble mark is empty.
Tumble dry, low heat
Tumble dry, medium heat

Check the mark

Count the hollow dots inside the circle: there is one, not two.
Tumble dry, low heat
Tumble dry, no heat (air only)

Check the mark

Check whether the single dot is hollow or filled: low heat uses a hollow dot, while no heat uses a solid one.

On a real label

Polyester fleece jacket

Read together: Wash at up to 30°C, do not bleach, tumble dry on low heat, do not iron, and do not dry clean.

Cotton jersey pajamas

Read together: Wash at up to 40°C, use only non-chlorine bleach, tumble dry on low heat, iron on medium (two dots), and do not dry clean.

Category: Drying
Appears on: US and international labels
Commonly seen on: Often appears on everyday knits and blends.

Related symbols

Common questions

What does one dot inside the dryer symbol mean?: One hollow dot permits tumble drying on low heat. Treat low as the hottest setting allowed by this mark, not as a suggested starting point.
Is the low-heat dryer dot hollow or solid?: The low-heat symbol has one hollow dot. A single filled dot is the separate ASTM no-heat symbol.
What's the difference between one dot and two dots on a dryer symbol?: One hollow dot is low heat. Two hollow dots are called normal under ISO and medium under ASTM.
Does one dot set the drying time?: No. The dot limits the dryer's heat setting. It does not specify how long the cycle should run.

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