How should I wash a garment with a care label that says not to tumble dry?

Not necessarily. A no-tumble-dry instruction is about drying, not by itself a direction to avoid washing. Read the washing and drying parts of the label separately. Follow the washing directions that are actually shown, and keep the garment out of the tumble dryer. The crossed-out tumble-dry symbol means “Do not tumble dry.” [S1]

Then look for a separate drying symbol or written instruction. The label may specify line drying, drip drying, flat drying, or drying in the shade; the symbol reference lists these as distinct directions. [S1] Don’t choose among them just because one seems easiest: use the instruction printed for that garment.

First, check the complete label rather than relying on the crossed-out tumble-dry symbol alone. Look for a second drying symbol or words next to it. If you can, compare the symbol with a reliable garment-care symbol reference. The LG manual distinguishes line drying, drip drying, flat drying, and drying in the shade, but it does not determine which one is right for every garment. [S1]

A practical way to avoid guessing is to write down what you can read and what remains unclear. For example:

“Wash: [legible instruction]. Dry: crossed-out tumble-dry symbol; [second symbol unclear]. I have not put it in the dryer. Can you confirm the intended drying method?”

That lets the maker or a cleaner address the specific uncertainty instead of your having to infer a method from the garment’s appearance.

The available information does not establish whether hanging or laying flat is appropriate for this particular garment. Both are possible label directions, but the symbol reference does not say that either applies to every item. [S1] So don’t treat them as interchangeable defaults.

Before washing, check whether another part of the label has the missing instruction, and see whether the garment maker provides care guidance for the exact item. If it is still unclear, ask the maker or a qualified cleaner what to do. Until you have an answer, don’t tumble dry it. If you have already washed it, avoid guessing at a drying method; explain the label and ask for item-specific guidance.

Give them the facts you can verify and mark anything uncertain. You could copy this message and fill in the brackets:

“Hello. I have a [garment type] with a care label that says [exact washing instructions]. The drying part shows [exact words or symbols I can identify] and a crossed-out tumble-dry symbol. I’m unsure whether it calls for [line drying / drip drying / flat drying / drying in the shade / another method]. Can you advise on a suitable approach for this garment before I wash it? I can provide [a clear photo of the label or any other available item details].”

Don’t describe an unreadable symbol as if you know what it means. The useful question is not simply “Can I hang this?” but “What does this garment’s label require, and what should I do if that instruction is unclear?” The reference confirms the no-tumble-dry meaning and identifies several separate alternatives, but it does not resolve an unreadable label or prescribe a method for an individual garment. [S1]