Laundry Symbols Guide

EVERYDAY SOLUTIONS | Demystifying Care Labels |

Your clothes are trying to tell you something. Whether you hear "Wash me gently in cold water" or "I told you so" depends on how well you understand the symbols found on fabric care labels.

Care labels are designed to protect the three essentials of clothing: fabric, construction, and dye. Follow their advice, and you'll care for your clothes with greater efficiency and fewer unhappy results..

 

Machine Wash, Normal

You can safely launder this fabric in a home washing machine with the hottest available water and standard detergent or soap and agitation. Variations on this symbol may include dots, numbers, and bars that provide further fabric care instructions.

1 dot - Cold: Wash in water not exceeding 30°C/85°F.

2 dots - Warm: Water temperature should be less than 40°C/105°F.

3 dots - Hot: Water temperature should not exceed 50°C/120°F.

1 bar - Permanent Press: Select the Permanent Press cycle, which has a cool down or cold rinse and a shorter spin cycle.

2 bars - Gentle or Delicate: Machine wash on the Gentle or Delicate cycle, which washes for shorter times and less agitation than the normal or permanent press cycle. Back to top

Hand Wash

Gently launder this garment by hand with water and soap or detergent. Back to top

Do Not Wash

This symbol is usually accompanied by Dry Clean instructions. Back to top

Tumble Dry, Normal

It is safe to tumble dry this fabric in a home dryer at the hottest available temperature.

1 dot - It is safe to tumble dry this fabric at the Low Heat setting only.

2 dots - Tumble dry this fabric with the temperature not exceeding the Medium Heat setting.

3 dots - It is safe to tumble dry this fabric at a High Heat setting. Back to top

Tumble Dry, Permanant Press

1 bar - It is safe to tumble dry this fabric in a home dryer at the Permanent Press setting. Back to top

Tumble Dry, Gentle

2 bars - Tumble dry this fabric using only the Gentle setting. Back to top

Do Not Machine Dry

A tumble dryer should not be used to dry this fabric. This symbol is usually accompanied by alternate instructions or drying symbol. Back to top

Bleach When Needed

Any type of bleach may be used when washing this fabric. Back to top

Non-Chlorine Bleach When Needed

Use only non-chlorine bleach, color-safe bleach when washing this fabric. Back to top

Do Not Bleach

Do not use any bleach product with this fabric. It is not colorfast and may not structurally be able to withstand any bleach. Back to top

Iron, Any Temperature, Dry or Steam

This fabric may require regular ironing, which can be done at any temperature with or without steam.

1 dot - Iron, Low: This fabric may be steam or dry ironed at 110°C/230°F - the Low setting on most irons.

2 dots - Iron, Medium: This fabric may be steam or dry ironed at 150°C/300°F – the Medium setting on most irons.

3 dots - Iron, High: This fabric may be steam or dry ironed at 200°C/390°F – the High setting on most irons. Back to top

Do Not Steam Iron

Steam ironing may harm this fabric, but it can be safely dry ironed at the temperature indicated. Back to top

Do Not Iron

This fabric should not be smoothed or finished with an iron. Back to top

Dry Clean

This fabric must be dry cleaned. Any moisture level, temperature, solvent type, or cycle setting may be used. Back to top

Dry Clean, Any Solvent Except Trichloroethylene

This fabric may be dry cleaned using any solvent except trichloroethylene, which is the solvent most cleaners use. Back to top

Do Not Dry Clean

This fabric can not be commercially dry cleaned. Back to top