What Do Laundry Symbols Mean? (Care Symbols Explained)

Do not wash
A crossed-out tub means that you shouldn’t wash the item in question. Clothes with this symbol shouldn’t be washed in a washing machine, nor should they be washed by hand. They most likely need to be dry cleaned: in which case you’ll spot the appropriate symbol on the label too.

Hand wash
A hand in a tub means that an item can only be washed by hand. Most modern washing machines have programmes that emulate hand washing, so you will most likely be able to wash your garment that way. To be on the safe side, try washing it yourself by hand first, and see how the material behaves.

Do not wring
This symbol means an item shouldn’t be wrung, so make sure you don’t try to remove any of the excess water, as you will likely damage the fabric. Instead, look for further instructions on how best to dry this particular item.

Permanent press cycle
A tub with a line underneath means your garment can be washed with a shorter cycle and a short or a low-speed spin cycle. You’ll usually see it on items made of sturdier fabrics (like denim). This symbol will most often also feature a washing temperature inside the tub.

Gentle or delicates cycle
A tub with two lines underneath means your item needs to be washed using a gentle cycle. You’ll see it on pieces made of wool or lace, and most bras and panties. Avoid a spin cycle if you can, and use a gentle laundry detergent as well. This symbol may also feature a temperature indicator inside the tub.

Wash at 30°C
This care symbol means your clothing can be washed in a washing machine, at a low temperature that isn’t higher than 30°C. You can spot it on most of your colourful items.

Wash at 40°C or below
This item can be washed at 40°C, or at a lower temperature.

Wash at 50°C or below
This care symbol means your item can withstand temperatures of up to 50°C.

Wash at 60°C or below
This symbol tells you that an item can be washed at 60°C. While you may at times run cycles for these garments at lower temperatures, you should still sometimes crank up the heat to 60 degrees, as suggested.

Wash at 70°C or below
This symbol means an item can be washed at 70°C or lower.

Wash at 80°C or below
These items will withstand temperatures of up to 80°C.

Wash at 90°C or below
This care symbol signals that your item can be washed using hot cycles. My advice is to heed this recommendation, and wash it at the recommended temperatures. You’ll most often see this symbol on towels and tea towels, which need to be washed at high temperatures to kill all the bacteria that may cling to them.

Wash at 95°C or below
These items can be washed at the highest possible temperatures.

Wash at 30°C or below
In the US, the tub washing symbol comes with dots to indicate the temperature clothes should be washed at. One dot means the item should be washed at 30°C or lower.

Gentle wash at 30°C or below
A tub with one dot that also has a line underneath indicates that the garment should be washed using a gentle cycle, at 30°C or lower.

Wash at 40°C or below
A tub with two dots means that your item should be washed at no higher than 40°C.

Wash at 50°C or below
If a tub has three dots, the item in question should be washed at temperatures of up to 50°C.

Wash at 60°C or below
Four dots in a tub indicate that an item can be washed at up to 60°C or below.

Wash at 70°C or below
Five dots in a tub mean that you can wash an item at temperatures up to 70°C or lower.

Wash at 80°C or below
A tub with six dots indicates that an item can be washed at 80°C or at a lower temperature.

Wash at 90°C or below
Seven dots in a tub are the highest washing temperature indicator in the US, and they signal that an item can be washed at 90°C.

Can be bleached
The triangle indicates that any type of bleach can be used on the garment.

Do not bleach
A crossed-out triangle means that no bleach should be used on the item. Instead, you should use a good colour detergent that will preserve the longevity and vibrancy of your clothing. The triangle may be white or black: either way, the meaning remains the same: don’t use bleach unless you want to ruin your item, or do some tie dye.

Use non-chlorine bleach
Two diagonal lines in a triangle mean that you can use non-chlorine bleach on your item.

Use chlorine bleach
The letters CL inside a triangle mean that an item can be whitened with the use of chlorine bleach.

Safe to iron
The general iron laundry symbol means that the item can be ironed.

Do not iron
A crossed-out iron indicates that an item should not be ironed at all, as the fabric might get damaged.

Do not steam-iron
An iron that has the steaming elements underneath crossed out means that you can iron the item in question, but that you shouldn’t use the steam function.

Iron at 110°C
An iron symbol with a single dot inside indicated that you can gently iron your item at a maximum of 110°C.

Iron at 150°C
Two dots in an iron mean that you can use temperatures of up to 150°C on the garment in question.

Iron at 200°C
Three dots in an iron symbolise that the use of the highest ironing temperatures of up to 200°C is allowed.

Dry clean
An empty circle is used as a general symbol for dry cleaning.

Do not dry clean
A crossed-out circle means that you should not dry clean the garment in question.

Dry clean using any solvent
An A inside a circle means that you can dry clean your item with all dry cleaning solvents.

Dry clean using perchloroethylene (PCE)
A P inside a circle indicates that you can take your item to be dry cleaned with PCE or a petroleum-based solvent. In America, this symbol means that any solvent can be used except trichloroethylene.

Dry clean using perchloroethylene (PCE) – mild process
If the P in the circle also happens to be underlined, it indicates that only a mild process should be used by your dry cleaner.

Dry clean using hydrocarbons
An F inside a circle means that your item can only be dry cleaned by using hydrocarbons. In America, it indicates that only petroleum-based solvents can be used.

Dry clean using hydrocarbons – mild process
If the F in a circle also has a line underneath, it indicates that a mild process should be used.

Professional wet cleaning
A W inside a circle means that the item requires professional wet cleaning.

Gentle professional wet cleaning
A W in a circle with a line underneath means the garment requires gentle professional wet cleaning.

Extra gentle professional wet cleaning
A circle with a W that also has two lines underneath means that item requires extra-gentle professional wet cleaning.

Cleaning method not allowed
If any dry cleaning symbol is crossed out, it means that this method should not be used. For example, you may come across a crossed-out W in a circle.

Tumble dry
A square with a circle in the middle means that your item can be safely tumble dried.

Tumble dry on low heat
A square with a circle and a dot in the middle indicates that you can tumble dry your item on a low heat.

Tumble dry on medium heat
A square with a circle and two dots in the middle indicates that your item can be tumble dried on a medium heat.

Tumble dry on high heat
A square with a circle and three dots in the middle means that you can tumble dry this item at a high heat.

Tumble dry with no heat
A square with a dark circle in the middle indicates that no heat or air should be used when tumble drying this item.

Tumble dry on a permanent press cycle
A circle in the middle of a square with one line underneath indicates that you should use a permanent press cycle to tumble dry your garment.

Tumble dry on a delicate cycle
A circle in the middle of a square that has two lines underneath means that you should only tumble dry your item on a delicate cycle.

Do not tumble dry
A square in a circle that has been crossed out means that the item should not be tumble dried. Make sure to adhere to this piece of advice, lest you risk shrinking your clothes.

Air dry
A square indicates that the item in question should be air dried.

Line dry
A vertical line in the middle of a square indicates that your item should be dried on a line. It should be damp when you hang it, and not dripping wet. You may also dry this item in the sun.

Drip dry
Two vertical lines in the middle of a square mean the item should be dried on a line, but that this item should not be wrung out beforehand, and should still be dripping. You can also dry this item in the sun.

Dry flat
A horizontal line in the middle of a square indicates that your item should be laid flat to dry. You should also press (not wring) any excess water out first. You can dry this item in the sun as well.

Dry flat while still wet
Two horizontal lines in the middle of a square mean that you need to dry your item flat, but that you should not wring or press any excess water out first.

Line dry in the shade
A vertical line in the middle of a square with a line in the upper left corner means the item needs to be line dried in the shade. The item should be damp, not wet. Don’t expose this item to direct sunlight, as the colours might fade.

Drip dry in the shade
Two vertical lines in the middle of a square with a line in the upper left corner mean that the item should be wet when hung in the shade to dry. Don’t expose this item to direct sunlight.

Dry flat in the shade
A horizontal line in the middle of a square with a line in the upper left corner indicates you should lay your item flat to dry in the shade, and press out any water first. Don’t expose this item to direct sunlight.

Dry flat while wet in the shade
Two horizontal lines in the middle of a square with a line in the upper left corner mean that you should lay this item flat in the shade, while still wet. Don’t expose this item to direct sunlight.