Line dry
Hang the item up to dry — on a washing line, airer or hanger — after spinning or squeezing out the excess water.
What to do
Spin as normal, then hang it; shaking it out and smoothing seams first saves ironing.
- Maximum temperature
- None stated by this symbol
- Family
- Drying (square)
- ISO 3758 name
- Line drying
- Distinguishing mark
- 1 vertical line
On US and Canadian labels
North American labels usually draw line drying as a square with a sagging curve across the top, not a vertical line.
Often confused with
Lay the item flat to dry after removing the excess water, so it keeps its shape. Typical of heavy knits and wool jumpers.
Other drying symbols
Tumble dry, normal heatcircle + 2 dotsTumble dry, low heatcircle + 1 dotDo not tumble drycircle + crossTumble dry, high heatcircle + 3 dots · USTumble dry, any heatempty circle · USTumble dry, no heat (air only)filled circle · USDo not drycrossed square · USDrip dry (hang wet)2 vertical linesDry flat1 horizontal lineDrip dry flat2 horizontal linesLine dry in the shade1 vertical line + cornerDrip dry in the shade2 vertical lines + cornerDry flat in the shade1 horizontal line + cornerDrip dry flat in the shade2 horizontal lines + corner
Sources
- GINETEX — Care symbols (existing care symbols under ISO 3758:2023) — checked 2026-09-22
- Government of Canada, Office of Consumer Affairs — Guide to Apparel and Textile Care Symbols (North American system) — checked 2026-09-22
Meanings are paraphrased from these sources, not quoted, and checked on the date shown.