What does the “Drying prohibited” sign mean (crossed out square): explanation of the main and additional symbols, care recommendations
Manufacturers supply textile products with tags that indicate how to care for the product. But when deciphering some symbols on clothing labels, for example, a crossed out square (the “Drying is prohibited” icon), a lot of questions often arise. Mainly, it is not clear how to properly handle such a thing. But it is necessary to know this, because in case of an error it may become unsuitable for further use.
General information and basic recommendations
Labels on clothes are located on the reverse side. When sewing trousers and skirts, they are attached in the waist area, and on dresses, shirts and T-shirts, the labels are placed under the neckline, on the back side. In some types of products, tags are inserted into the side seam.
The type of symbols is determined by the international ISO standard. Regardless of which country and which manufacturer produced the item, a bowl of water always means washing, an iron means ironing, a square means drying, etc. Icons can be supplemented with various elements (numbers, letters, lines, dots) indicating conditions under which the procedure should be carried out.
Because the labels are made of durable, tough materials, they are often uncomfortable to wear and consumers cut them off. But it is not recommended to throw away tags, because...they contain useful information about how to care for your item. It's best to save or photograph them before throwing them in the trash.
If the label is lost, you need to focus on the material from which the product is made, and wash, iron and dry the item only as required by this type of fabric.
Appearance and other symbols of the icon
The sign prohibiting drying on clothes is presented in the form of a square crossed out by two diagonal lines. As a rule, it is “adjacent” to a symbol that means a ban on washing (a crossed out basin). Most often, this combination indicates that the material from which the item is made does not tolerate moisture. These icons are also found on the labels of products decorated with permanent decorative elements or with a complex cut.
When the “Drying is prohibited” icon is accompanied by a circle inscribed in a square, this means that the item cannot be dried or wrung out in a machine. In such cases, a drying symbol is located nearby, supplemented by other elements indicating the conditions under which this procedure can be carried out.
What can you do
If only machine drying is prohibited (the symbol is a crossed out square with a circle inside), you need to pay attention to the icon located next to it.It will help you understand how to properly dry things naturally.
The lines inside the square mean the following:
- one vertical - normal drying in a vertical position;
- two vertical – vertical drying without spinning;
- one horizontal - drying on a horizontal plane in a straightened state;
- two horizontal - drying without spinning in a horizontal position in a straightened form.
If the upper left corner of the square is crossed by a diagonal line, drying can only be done in the shade, away from direct sunlight.
What not to do