What does Tumble Dry High Heat mean?

Detailed explanation

The tumble dry high heat symbol (a square with a circle and three dots inside) means the garment can be dried at the highest available heat setting in a tumble dryer — typically 80°C or above in the drum. This is appropriate for heavy, durable items such as cotton towels, denim jeans, and thick cotton bedding, which dry slowly at lower temperatures and benefit from high heat to dry thoroughly. This symbol should never be assumed for any item unless explicitly shown on the care label.

How to follow the Tumble Dry High Heat symbol:

1. 1

   Confirm every item in the load is rated for high heat

   a single synthetic item, elastic-content garment, or coloured delicate item will be permanently damaged

2. 2

   Clean the lint filter before loading

   with heavy cotton loads at high heat, a blocked filter is a significant fire hazard

3. 3

   Fill the drum to no more than half to two-thirds capacity for heavy items like towels; these need room to tumble without excess mechanical resistance

4. 4

   Select the "High Heat" or "Cotton" programme on your dryer

5. 5

   Check zips, elastic waistbands, and any polyester lining before loading

   even in a cotton-labelled garment, these elements can be damaged at high heat

6. 6

   Remove towels immediately when the cycle ends and shake each one vigorously to restore texture and absorbency

7. 7

   Remove all items promptly to prevent deep creasing from setting in the hot drum

When does this symbol appear on care labels?

• For heavy cotton bath towels and gym towels
• For denim jeans, cotton workwear, and canvas items
• For thick cotton bedding such as duvets and pillow inners (if the size fits the dryer)
• For items that have been tested and verified to tolerate high heat

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming high heat is best for "getting things dry faster" — high heat is only appropriate for specific durable items
• Including items with elastic or synthetic content in a high-heat load — even a small amount of elastane is destroyed at high heat
• Not cleaning the lint filter before a high-heat cycle — a blocked filter combined with heavy cotton creates a genuine fire hazard

Common Materials