The square with a horizontal line

Short answer: A square with a horizontal line inside means the item should be dried lying flat. It is the method that keeps the shape best on knitwear, because the weight of the water cannot pull the stitches longer. Here is how to do it in practice, even when space is tight.

What the symbol means

The symbol is a square with a horizontal line in the middle, and it belongs to the drying symbols on the care label. The line tells you the item should lie flat while it dries, not hang on a line or a rack. It sounds like a small detail, but for knitwear it is one of the most important instructions.

Why flat drying is on the label

When a wet knitted item hangs freely, the weight of the water pulls the stitches downward and the item ends up longer than it was. After a few washes this shows clearly in the sleeves, body and waistband. It applies to bamboo T-shirts for men in thin qualities, where the fabric gives easily. That is why the label asks you to lay the item down.

The weight of water matters

Wet fabric is much heavier than dry fabric, and that weight rests on the few points where the item hangs. At the shoulders and seams the fibres are pulled hardest, and they do not always return once the item is dry. On a flat surface the weight is spread evenly, and the stitches stay where they belong.

How to do it properly

Lay a clean, dry towel on a flat surface and place the item on top. Smooth the fabric with your hands so no folds or bumps remain, and lay it with the front facing up. Do not wring the item first, because that distorts the shape. Press the water out inside the towel instead, and lift the item over gently.

Shape it to its original size

Once the item lies on the towel, shape it to the size it had before it got wet. Straighten the sleeves and body so they look alike, and lay the waistband at its natural width. If in doubt, go by how the item looked when new. The same method works for bamboo boxers with a wide waistband.

Turn it once along the way

After a few hours the top side is often dry while the underside is still damp. Turn the item once, preferably onto a dry towel, so both sides get air and it dries evenly. This shortens the drying time. Shape the item again after turning it, so the measurements and edges are still right.

When you lack space

If there is no room to lay the item down, hang it over two lines instead of one. The weight is then shared between two points, and the fabric is not pulled crooked by a single line. This also works for bamboo sweatpants for men, where the waistband and legs could otherwise grow longer. A drying rack with several bars helps too.

Time and place

Flat drying takes time. Expect one day in a room with air exchange and two days in a closed room, so the item is not still damp when you put it away. Place the towel somewhere without direct heat. A radiator makes the fibres stiff, so room temperature is the better choice. Leave the item until it is completely dry.

A calm habit that protects

Flat drying needs a little more planning than a line, but it is the gentlest choice for knitwear. Once you have laid an item down a few times, you do it almost without thinking. Not every knitted item must be dried flat, but when a square with a line is on the label, following it is the right thing to do.

Frequently asked questions

How long does flat drying take

About one day in a room with air exchange and two days in a closed room. Turn the item once and reshape it, so it dries evenly and keeps its measurements.

Can you dry flat on a radiator

No, the heat makes the fibres stiff. Use a dry towel at room temperature instead, where the item can rest and dry slowly without direct heat or draughts.

Must all knitwear be dried flat

Not all of it, but it is always the gentlest choice. If a square with a horizontal line is on the label, follow it so the shape is kept.