Symbols for washing and drying clothes
Your Guide to Laundry Symbols (Plus a Handy Washing Symbols Chart!)
You know those hieroglyphic-like laundry symbols on clothing labels? They relay important cleaning information. Here's what they mean and how to use them.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but sometimes it’s more confusing than text. That goes double when it’s one of the many laundry symbols found on the care label of your clothes. What are all those circles, squares, and triangles—and why should you care about them?
Clothing manufacturers use washing symbols to help you extend the life of your clothes. Sure, you may think you know how to wash clothes, how to use a washing machine, how to separate laundry, and how to put liquid fabric softener in the fabric softener dispenser. You might even use the best laundry detergent and take the time to set the washing machine temperature just right. But that doesn’t guarantee your clothing will stay in the same condition, color, or size.
“You risk destroying your clothes by not following the laundry care instructions,” says Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean. “What might happen if you put a dry-clean-only garment in a washing machine? The garment could shrink—not just a little, but significantly. Garments made of wool can shrink two to three sizes or more, and drapes can shrink to half their size.” Instead of making it a guessing game—no, that’s not an envelope, suggesting you send the item to your mom to clean; it’s the sign for “hang to dry”—we asked the experts to decipher the most common washing instruction symbols. Here’s your comprehensive laundry symbols guide, complete with laundry symbols charts.
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What are international laundry care symbols?
Because people do laundry all around the world, the industry has created a standard of five basic symbols that form a kind of universal language. To make it even easier, laundry symbols are always featured in the same order on a label.
From left to right, they are:
- Washtub (washing)
- Triangle (bleaching)
- Iron (ironing)
- Circle (dry cleaning)
- Square (drying)
“As you go through the five basic international symbols, you’ll start to see a pattern,” said Annette Grant and Sarah Karakaian, full-time short-term rental managers and hosts of the “Thanks for Visiting” podcast. “It’s like its own language where, for example, two lines under an icon or three dots inside an icon always mean the same thing. Once you learn these, you’ll be fluent in care tags in no time.”
According to fashion stylist Leena Alsulaiman, one of the most important symbols to pay attention to is a large X. “When a symbol is crossed out,” she warns, “that’s your sign not to do that thing.”
Laundry symbols for how to machine wash clothes
The washtub symbol indicates instructions for every step of the washing process, whether you’re using a traditional or HE washer. If the garment is machine washable, you’ll see either dots or numbers inside it, representing the recommended maximum water temperature.
- Washtub with numbers: Because the temperature is shown in degrees Celsius, the number 30 indicates a cold-water wash, 40 indicates a warm-water wash, and 50 indicates a hot-water wash.
- Washtub with dots: Dots inside the washtub indicate the same thing as a number: the water temperature. The more dots there are (there can be up to six of them), the hotter the temperature. So if you see a single dot, wash your garment in cold water. If you see three dots, though, wash the item in hot water.
Lines under the washtub signify that the garment needs to be washed on a special cycle.
- No lines: Normal wash cycle
- One line: Permanent press cycle
- Two lines: Gentle cycle
“Just remember, the more lines under the washtub, the more careful you should be,” says Alsulaiman. And finally, if your washtub has an X through it, back away from the washing machine.
This means “do not wash.”
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Laundry symbols for how to hand-wash clothes
If you see a hand reaching into the washtub, that means your garment should be hand-washed only. Do not put it in the washing machine. There’s another washing symbol that indicates how to hand-wash clothes: If you see an icon that looks like a wrapped, hard candy with an X through it, don’t wring or twist the garment. Gently squeeze the water out after hand-washing it.
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Laundry symbols for how to bleach clothes
The triangle tells you everything you need to know about bleaching an item. Here’s how to decipher the symbols:
- Empty triangle: You can use any type of bleach
- Triangle with two lines through it: You can use non-chlorine (or oxygen) bleach only
- Triangle with an X: No bleach should be used at all
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Laundry symbols for how to dry clothes
Everything you need to know about how to dry an item can be found in the square on the care label.
Be sure to check this before tossing your clothing in the wash to avoid shrinkage—unless, of course, you’re trying to shrink clothes. First, look for a circle in the square, which tells you it’s okay to dry the item in the dryer. If your square has both a circle in its center and an X through it, do not put the item in the dryer.
Just like with the washtub, the number of dots signifies the maximum temperature to be used:
- One dot: Cold
- Two dots: Warm
- Three dots: Hot
You may also notice lines beneath the square. As with the washtub icon, these indicate the proper dryer settings to use.
- One line: Permanent press cycle
- Two lines: Gentle cycle
All of that explains how to machine dry an item (and if you should). But if your square doesn’t have a circle at all, it should air-dry. Here’s how to interpret the various air-dry laundry symbols:
- One horizontal line: Lay it flat to dry.
- Three vertical lines: Hang it to drip dry.
- A square that looks like an envelope: Line dry it.
- Two diagonal lines: Dry it in the shade only.
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Laundry symbols for how to iron clothes
With the abundance of wrinkle-free garments options, you might not spend much time wondering how to get wrinkles out of clothes. But there comes a time when your clothes really need to be ironed. The iron is the most self-explanatory of all the clothes-washing symbols. Once again, the number of dots signifies the maximum temperature that can be used.
- One dot: Cool
- Two dots: Warm
- Three dots: Hot
And, of course, an X means don’t iron it at all. When it comes to wrinkles, the steamer vs. iron debate comes down to fabric—and therefore the laundry symbols you see on your clothing tag. The following symbols relate to whether or not you should use steam on a garment.
(P.S.—here’s how to clean an iron so your clothes don’t get damaged.)
- Three little bursts of steam under the iron symbol: It’s safe to steam the garment.
- An X over an iron with three bursts of steam: Avoid steaming.
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Laundry symbols for dry cleaning clothes
You can try your hand at dry cleaning at home, but chances are you’ll want to leave it to the pros, so pay attention to the clothing label. The symbol for dry cleaning is a circle, and if it doesn’t have an X through it, it means you can take it to the dry cleaner. If the label specifies “dry clean only,” you should definitely take it to the dry cleaner. An item with this label is one of the things that should never end up in your washing machine.
Sometimes there are letters inside the circle, but don’t worry about those. They indicate the kinds of chemicals that can be used on a garment and are meant for professionals. Your dry cleaner will understand.
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Sources:
- Leena Alsulaiman, fashion stylist, style consultant and coach
- Annette Grant and Sarah Karakaian, professional short-term rental managers and hosts of the “Thanks for Visiting” podcast
- Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean
An expert guide to what they mean |
Comprehending laundry symbols is key to caring for clothes, bed, bath and table linens and more around the home. To avoid problems like shrinkage and color runs, it’s vital to be aware of what each of them means.
The symbols don’t just apply to doing laundry with a home appliance. They also apply to bleaching, if you need to carry this out, along with drying, and ironing, so every stage of the laundry process can be carried out with optimum fabric care in mind.
Great laundry room ideas will give you a stylish as well as functional space, and to be sure of looking after garments and linens correctly use our guide, along with the advice of the experts.
It’s always worth checking the manufacturer’s label for instructions when washing items (as well as regularly cleaning a washing machine) to give them the longest possible lifespan, as individual pieces may need care that differs from what you might assume. Understanding laundry symbols will also help you wash towels the right way, and keep towels fluffy, plus answer the question can you wash couch cushion covers.
‘Typically, the biggest risk to garments when the care label isn’t followed is to that garment and potentially others in the same load,’ says Jonathon Reckles, VP at CD One Price Cleaners . ‘Common results would include distortion, shrinkage, and color loss. Color loss can cause bleeding on to other garments, such as the classic white load and red sock causing everything to be pink.’ The answer to the question of whether to wash whites in hot or cold water is also influenced by the care label.
Here’s what the laundry symbols indicate.
Washing symbols
(Image credit: Alamy)
The laundry symbols for washing cover whether an item can be washed in a machine; the temperature; and the cycle.
Look out for them on clothes, but they’ll also give you the answer to questions such as can you wash pillows in a washing machine, and whether you can wash an electric blanket, or wash a down comforter.
Washing symbols
A tub icon with a wavy line means an item can be machine washed.
A tub icon with a hand indicates an item should be hand washed.
A tub icon with cross through it means do not wash.
A circle indicates dry clean only.
A circle with a cross through it means do not dry clean.
Washing temperature symbols
The machine wash temperature symbols are identified by dots:
A single dot inside, this indicates an item should be washed cold at 85ºF (30ºC).
Two dots indicate a warm wash temperature of 105ºF (40ºC).
Three dots show a warm/hot wash of 120ºF (50ºC).
Four dots mean a hot 140ºF (60ºC) wash.
Five dots indicate a sanitizing 160ºF (70ºC) wash.
Washing machine cycles
If the label shows just the tub icon with the wavy line, use a normal cycle for the item in question.
If the tub icon has a horizontal line below, use the permanent press cycle.
Two horizontal lines below the tub with a wavy line icon? Use a delicate or gentle cycle.
Drying symbols
(Image credit: Alamy)
Even a small laundry room can provide space to dry as well as wash, but if you’re intending to put washing into the dryer rather than on the line, you need to know what the laundry symbols mean, including that for the delicate setting on a dryer.
Drying symbols
A square with a circle within it shows an item can be tumble dried.
If there’s a single line under this symbol, this indicates permanent press.
Two lines below means delicate or gentle.
A square with a circle within it with a cross over it means do not tumble dry.
A square with a curved line within it at the top which goes from one side to the other indicates an item should be line dried or hung to dry.
A square with three vertical lines inside shows you should drip dry.
A square with a single horizontal line inside indicates dry flat.
Drying temperature symbols
A tumble dry symbol with the circle filled in shows no heat should be used.
If the tumble dry symbol has one dot in the center, this indicates a low heat setting (explained in the tumble dryer temperature guide) should be used.
Two dots mean medium heat.
Three dots and you can use a high temperature.
Bleaching symbols
(Image credit: Alamy)
If you want to use bleach in laundry, check for the bleach laundry symbols beforehand.
Bleaching symbols
A triangle shows you can use bleach.
A triangle with two angled lines inside indicates non-chlorine bleach should be used.
A cross over the triangle? Do not bleach
Ironing symbols
(Image credit: Alamy)
It’s vital to get the heat right when it comes to ironing as well as for washing and drying. Look out for these laundry symbols.
Ironing symbols
An iron icon shows an item can be ironed.
If there’s a single dot inside, use low heat.
Two dots mean medium heat.
Three dots and high heat is allowed.
If the iron icon has two sloped vertical lines below that are crossed through, avoid the use of steam.
An iron with a cross over it indicates do not iron.
What does a circle with a cross mean on clothes?
(Image credit: Alamy)
A circle with a cross on clothes shows that the item should not be dry cleaned.
Conversely, if an item can be dry cleaned, there’s a circle icon.
A circle – dry clean – symbol may have a letter of the alphabet within it. ‘Commonly misunderstood icons are typically relating to dry clean only garments,’ says Jonathon Reckles. ‘These tend to have information about which solvents are best for that garment, which can be slightly confusing because they’re letters versus laundry-looking icons.
’
What is the no washing machine symbol?
(Image credit: Alamy)
The no washing machine symbol is actually the no wash symbol, in other words the tub with a wavy line with a cross over it. You might come across it if you’re planning to wash stuffed animals (but if you’ve got a young family, bear in mind that cleaning bath toys should be done in the dishwasher or by hand), as well as when you’re laundering clothes and linens.
‘If the garment or other piece can be hand washed but just not put in the machine, it will have the tub plus hand icon that shows hand washing is possible,’ explains Lucy Searle, editor in chief of Homes & Gardens.
Not sure what you should do with a particular item? ‘When in doubt a good professional cleaner can help you determine the best way to clean, including dry cleaning alternatives like wet cleaning for more difficult and less common fabrics,’ says Jonathon Reckles.
FAQs
What are the international laundry symbols?
The international laundry symbols are a series of symbols that are universally applied to allow anyone, from anywhere in the world, to understand the wash instructions for any single item. The basics include symbols for washing (a bathtub symbol), drying (a square), ironing (an iron symbol), drying cleaning (a circle) and bleaching (a triangle).
Articles | PROFSNAB
Clothing labels are used to label textiles. The applied symbols help to determine the rules for processing things, their operation by the buyer, preventing premature wear and damage. The label or tag looks like a small piece of fabric attached to the wrong side of the product. In production, it is sewn into the side or back seam; on the shirt, the label can be found on the collar.
Today, images printed on tags are established by the international standard “ISO 3758-2012.
Textile products. Care labeling with symbols. There is also already outdated, but used on the territory of our country - GOST ISO 3758-2014 / Textile products. Care symbol marking. /ISO 3758-2014. Textiles - Care labeling code using symbols (IDT) ”, which replaced GOST ISO 3758-2012.
Since the beginning of 2021, “marking” has become double meaning for light industry. Each product must have a label with relevant information about the product, however, now some types of clothing items must also have mandatory labeling for tracking a unit of goods by the “Honest Sign” system (we wrote an article about this labeling earlier: “Textile labeling. Who needs it and why? ").
Wash signs: decoding
Let's immediately define what the washing marks mean - the basic designations in the marking, which look like a basin of water. In addition to the basin, the pattern includes a number (temperature), dots, and horizontal stripes.
The meaning of signs for washing is easy to decipher.
| Basic symbols | |||
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|
|
| |
Number
The number in the picture is the maximum water temperature in which the item can be washed. It is indicated in degrees Celsius, for example, 60 ° C.
One or two horizontal bars
A single, double underline advises the user to select a shorter wash cycle, as well as to reduce the load of the washing machine and the intensity of the machine spin.
| Symbol | Conditions of the washing process |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 95°C - normal mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 95°C - soft mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 60°C - normal mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 60°C - soft process |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 50°C - normal mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 50°C - soft mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 40°C - normal mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 40°C - soft mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 40°C - very soft mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 30°C - normal mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 30°C - soft mode |
|
| - maximum washing temperature 30°C - very soft mode |
|
| - handwash - maximum temperature 40°C |
|
| - washing is prohibited |
It is strictly forbidden to increase the washing temperature recommended by the manufacturer.
If the laundry is not very dirty, you can wash it in water at a lower temperature. In this way, you can not only extend the life of your clothes, but also save energy.
Whitening
Since this is an aggressive processing process, many products have a tag with a triangle designation. Often this symbol is crossed out - this means that the thing cannot be bleached.
What other symbols with a triangle mean, see the table below.
| Symbol | Whitening process |
|
| - bleaching with any oxidizing agent is allowed |
|
| - bleaching is allowed only with an oxygen-containing / non-chlorine agent |
|
| - do not bleach |
Before bleaching an item (even if the label allows), use a spare piece of fabric.
Test your bleach on this piece and see how the fabric performs.
Professional cleaning (dry or wet)
Dry cleaning on the clothing label is indicated by variable symbols and their various combinations - square, circle, dots, horizontal lines. Let's figure out what exactly the label can contain.
Letters
The letter icon in a circle indicates that a certain type of solvent can be used.
One horizontal line
The underlined image is a delicate processing mode.
Two horizontal lines
A couple of lines under the circle - the most gentle cleaning.
Dry cleaning (professional dry cleaning)
If the product can be dry processed, a circle is applied to the label.
| Symbol | Dry cleaning mode |
| - professional dry cleaning in tetrachlorethylene and in all solvents listed for symbol F - normal mode | |
| - professional dry cleaning in tetrachlorethylene and in all solvents listed for symbol F - soft mode | |
| - professional dry cleaning in hydrocarbons (distillation temperature from 150°C to 210°C, flash point from 38°C to 70°C) - normal mode | |
| - professional dry cleaning in hydrocarbons (distillation temperature from 150°C to 210°C, flash point from 38°C to 70°C) - soft mode | |
| - dry cleaning is prohibited |
Aqua cleaning (wet professional cleaning)
Items that can be professionally wet cleaned are marked with a W surrounded by a circle.
| - professional wet cleaning - normal mode | |
| - professional wet cleaning - soft mode | |
| - professional wet cleaning - very soft mode | |
| - professional wet cleaning is prohibited |
If you notice the dry cleaning symbol (circle) on the label, consider whether you are ready to regularly spend money to properly care for the item. These items cannot be washed by yourself.
Drying
Traditionally, information about spinning and drying clothes is placed in one icon. If a thing requires detailed care, the label has several designations.
Tumble dryer
A horizontal line inside a square - you can dry it on a horizontal surface, a vertical line - drying without wringing.
| Symbol | Drum Drying Process |
| | - drum drying possible - normal temperature; maximum outlet temperature 80°C |
| - drum drying possible - lower temperature; maximum outlet temperature 60°C | |
| - do not tumble dry |
Natural drying
A square without a circle - drying only in natural conditions.
Normal dry
Square without additional designations - there are no restrictions in natural drying.
| Symbol | Natural drying conditions |
| | - drying on a rope or a hanger after washing with a spin |
| | - drying on a line or hanger after washing without spinning |
| | - drying on the flat after washing with spin |
| | - drying on the flat after washing without spinning |
Dry in the shade (no direct sunlight)
The restriction will be indicated by two oblique stripes in the corner of the square.
| Symbol | Natural drying conditions |
|
| - drying on a line or a hanger in the shade after washing with a spin cycle |
| | - drying on a line or a hanger in the shade after washing without spinning |
|
| - dry flat in the shade after washing with spin |
| | - dry flat in the shade after washing without spinning |
Symbols no longer used
The table below lists the symbols in the topic "drying" that are no longer used.
If a label on a garment bothers you, you can carefully cut it off, but don't throw it away. Having saved the tag, you can at any time peep whether the product can be dried in a typewriter, whether it can be squeezed and twisted.
Ironing
Icons of this type contain an image of an iron, temperature indicators, which correspond to dots. See the table below for details.
| Symbol | Ironing process |
| - iron at a maximum temperature of 200°C | |
| - iron at a maximum temperature of not more than 150 ° C | |
| - iron at a maximum temperature of 110°C, without steam - ironing with steam can cause irreversible damage | |
Lettering
Most often, manufacturers “tell” customers about the features of product care using icons. However, some tags on clothing and other textiles contain inscriptions in English, which have the following meaning:
- Machine wash - machine washable
- Hand wash only - only hand wash is allowed
- Hot/Cold/Warm wash - wash in hot/cold/warm water
- Wash separately - wash only separately from other things
- No wash - washing is prohibited
It is rare to find a tag on clothes that says "Wash with similar colors", which means "only wash with things of similar colors.
" Or, for example, "Keep away from fire" - "keep away from sources of fire."
Fabrics
The composition of the fabric on the labels determines the duration of the service life of the product, its appearance. Since things can be made from one material or several, the manufacturer needs to indicate the percentage of components on the badges on T-shirts, dresses, jackets, hats, etc. Such clothes have sewn-in tags or tags.
Among the most popular fibers:
- cotton (Co) - natural fabric, used for sewing light summer clothes;
- flax (Li) is a plant fiber, hygroscopic and durable.
- nylon (NY) - a synthetic thread that allows things to dry quickly and not wrinkle;
- polyester (PL) is a synthetic thread that is often used in tandem with wool and viscose.
Specific symbols for clothing care in other countries
Above, we talked about international designations on clothes, uniform marking icons, the design and meaning of which do not depend on the country.
However, in the standards of different states, features and differences previously existed or still exist, about which it is worth saying a few words.
Australia
Product labels of Austrian manufacturers contain the same "pictograms", "squares" and "circles". Warning signs are highlighted in red. Others are blue. The order of designations is similar to the international one.
Canada
Prior to updating the Canadian labeling system, it included only 5 classic symbols that were applied to the tags in red (prohibiting), green (permitting) and amber (warning) colors. In 2003 the system was updated and brought up to international standards.
Japan
The symbols on the Japanese manufacturer's tag can be black, dark blue, and the prohibition symbols can only be red on a white background. On the label of products that are not usually ironed, they may not draw an “iron” at all. The only exception is the "no ironing" icon.
China
The designations on the labels of Chinese textiles are practically no different from those described above.
Some are monophonic, typical in appearance. However, they may have explanations in the form of hieroglyphs below the figure.
Europe
A branded clothing label from European countries can consist of four or five characters. Their sequence is strictly defined: Washing, Bleach, Ironing, Dry cleaning, Drying.
US
Until 1996, the labels that American manufacturers worked on could contain both icons and words that were instructions on how to care for the product. The modern system of the United States of America contains only symbols, no words, but they are placed on the tag in a familiar but strict order: Wash, Bleach, Dry, Iron, Warnings.
Ignoring the rules for caring for a thing is fraught with its premature damage. Obviously, you can buy a new down jacket or T-shirt, but it is much more profitable not only to know what the icons on clothes mean, but also to remember to peep at the label before washing, bleaching, drying or sending the item to dry cleaning.
Designation of symbols on the label - interpretation of symbols on the clothing label
How to properly care for clothes, bed linen and other fabric products, what do the symbols for washing, drying, cleaning clothes mean? Bonus: how ordinary people perceive these symbols.
In order for a thing to last as long as possible, you need to properly care for it. How exactly, the clothes care symbols placed on a special label (ribbon) on almost any item will best tell you. They can be woven, embroidered or printed. These signs are duplicated on a paper label. Everything is important: washing temperature, type of washing, drying method and other indicators. When buying new clothes, study them and try to follow these micro-instructions.
Clothing care symbols are regulated by the international standard GOST ISO 3758-2014 (this is an adaptation of the international ISO 3758:2012).
Can you tell right off the bat what a circle means and what a triangle means?
A survey conducted among subscribers of Roskachestvo social networks showed that only the icons associated with the temperature regime of washing and ironing do not cause difficulties.
None of the respondents could identify some other signs.
“Square”, “bricked pig”, “cyclops” - this is how our respondents defined some symbols of drying.
In the tables below, we provide not only a complete decoding of the meanings of symbols, but also how ordinary people perceive these designations! We have selected the most interesting answers from those presented. If you have your own version, you can write it in the comments to this material.
What do the symbols on clothing labels mean?
There are only five basic, basic characters.
- A container (basin, trough) with water symbolizes washing.
- The square is a symbol of drying and spinning.
- The iron speaks for itself - this is the temperature regime on which things should be ironed.
- Triangle - whitening.
- Circle - professional cleaning.
In addition to the basic five, additional symbols are used: one or two lines, dots (numbers) and the cross of St.
Andrew.
- One line below the main symbol indicates that the delicate mode should be used during the operation.
- The double underscore reinforces this meaning. "Be very delicate, even more delicate!" the label tells us.
- A dot or a number indicates the temperature regime. The more dots or the higher the number, the higher the ironing, washing or drying temperature can be.
- The crossed out main character is a sign of prohibition. If you see it on the label, it means that the thing cannot be washed, or it cannot be ironed, or it cannot be wrung out, etc.
Symbols on laundry labels
The symbols on laundry labels are the easiest to understand. The number on the "Water basin" symbol indicates the maximum allowable water temperature for washing. As a rule, the number varies from 30°C to 95°C.
Drying and spinning
The square image indicates the drying process. The symbols will tell you whether the clothes can be wrung out and dried directly in the washing machine, or only normal drying is possible.
If there is no circle in the square, this indicates that clothes should be dried in natural conditions, not in a typewriter.
The image of a circle inscribed in a square indicates tumble drying after the washing process, the maximum temperature being indicated by one or more dots placed inside the symbol.
Ironing
The image of an iron indicates domestic ironing and pressing processes with or without the use of steam, the maximum temperature levels are indicated by one, two or three dots inside the symbol.
Important. If there is one dot on the iron symbol, then ironing should be done without steam. Steam ironing can cause permanent damage.
Whitening and professional cleaning
The triangle on the label indicates bleaching requirements, and the circle indicates professional cleaning (dry cleaning) requirements. Professional cleaning includes wet cleaning (with the exception of washing in a washing machine) and dry cleaning with various solvents.
