The Ultimate Guide to Garment Laundry Symbols: Keep Your Clothes Looking Their Best
Laundry symbols are small pictograms or icons that are found on clothing care labels, providing information about how to properly care for and wash a garment. These symbols are usually found on the inside of a garment, often on the back or side seam.
There are five basic categories of laundry symbols:
1. Washing Symbols:
These symbols indicate how the garment should be washed, including water temperature, agitation, and cycle type.
Temperature: This symbol represents the appropriate water temperature for washing the garment. The numbers inside the symbol indicate the maximum temperature in degrees Celsius that the garment can be washed at. For example, a symbol with the number "30" inside means the garment can be washed in water up to 30 degrees Celsius.
Machine Wash: This symbol indicates that the garment can be washed in a washing machine. The number inside the symbol indicates the maximum agitation speed or cycle type that should be used.
Hand Wash: This symbol indicates that the garment should be washed by hand, typically in cool or lukewarm water.
Spin Cycle: This symbol indicates the maximum spin speed that should be used during the washing cycle.
Soak: This symbol indicates whether the garment can be soaked in water or not.
These symbols indicate whether the garment can be bleached, and if so, which type of bleach should be used.
Empty triangle: This symbol indicates that the garment can be bleached using chlorine bleach. However, you should always check the care label to ensure that this is safe for the particular garment.
Triangle with lines: This symbol indicates that the garment can be bleached, but only with non-chlorine bleach.
Crossed-out triangle: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be bleached under any circumstances.
It's important to note that bleach can damage some fabrics and colors, so it's always a good idea to read the care label and follow the instructions provided. If you're unsure whether a garment can be bleached or not, it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid using bleach altogether.
These symbols indicate how the garment should be dried, including tumble drying, line drying, or drip drying.
Tumble Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment can be dried in a dryer. The number inside the symbol indicates the maximum temperature setting that should be used.
Line Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment should be hung up to dry, typically outside or on a clothesline. The symbol may also include instructions to shape the garment while it's drying.
Drip Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment should be hung up to dry, typically inside or in a bathtub. The symbol may also include instructions to shape the garment while it's drying.
Dry Flat: This symbol indicates that the garment should be laid flat to dry, typically on a towel or drying rack. The symbol may also include instructions to reshape the garment while it's drying.
Do Not Tumble Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be dried in a dryer. Instead, it should be hung up or laid flat to dry.
These symbols indicate whether the garment can be ironed, and if so, at what temperature and with which settings.
Iron: This symbol indicates that the garment can be ironed. The number of dots inside the symbol indicates the maximum temperature that can be used, with one dot being the lowest temperature and three dots being the highest.
Do Not Iron: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be ironed under any circumstances.
Steam Iron: This symbol indicates that the garment can be ironed using a steam iron. The dots inside the symbol indicate the maximum temperature that can be used, as with the Iron symbol.
Iron Inside Out: This symbol indicates that the garment should be turned inside out before ironing.
Iron with Cloth: This symbol indicates that a cloth should be placed over the garment before ironing, to protect it from direct heat.
These symbols indicate whether the garment can be dry cleaned, and if so, which type of dry cleaning process should be used.
Circle: This symbol indicates that the garment should be dry cleaned. The letter inside the circle indicates which type of solvent should be used for cleaning, such as P for perchloroethylene or F for petroleum solvent.
Circle with a Cross: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be dry cleaned, and should be cleaned using a different method instead.
Circle with a Letter: This symbol indicates that the garment can be dry cleaned, but only with a specific type of solvent. The letter inside the circle indicates which solvent should be used.
Do Not Dry Clean: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be dry cleaned under any circumstances, and should be cleaned using a different method instead.
It's important to note that dry cleaning can be harsh on some fabrics and may cause damage or shrinkage, so it's always a good idea to read the care label and follow the instructions provided. If you're unsure whether a garment should be dry cleaned or not, it's best to take it to a professional dry cleaner who can provide expert advice.
2. Bleaching Symbols:
These symbols indicate whether the garment can be bleached, and if so, which type of bleach should be used.
Empty triangle: This symbol indicates that the garment can be bleached using chlorine bleach. However, you should always check the care label to ensure that this is safe for the particular garment.
Triangle with lines: This symbol indicates that the garment can be bleached, but only with non-chlorine bleach.
Crossed-out triangle: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be bleached under any circumstances.
It's important to note that bleach can damage some fabrics and colors, so it's always a good idea to read the care label and follow the instructions provided. If you're unsure whether a garment can be bleached or not, it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid using bleach altogether.
3. Drying Symbols:
Tumble Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment can be dried in a dryer. The number inside the symbol indicates the maximum temperature setting that should be used.
Line Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment should be hung up to dry, typically outside or on a clothesline. The symbol may also include instructions to shape the garment while it's drying.
Drip Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment should be hung up to dry, typically inside or in a bathtub. The symbol may also include instructions to shape the garment while it's drying.
Dry Flat: This symbol indicates that the garment should be laid flat to dry, typically on a towel or drying rack. The symbol may also include instructions to reshape the garment while it's drying.
Do Not Tumble Dry: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be dried in a dryer. Instead, it should be hung up or laid flat to dry.
4. Ironing Symbols:
These symbols indicate whether the garment can be ironed, and if so, at what temperature and with which settings.
Iron: This symbol indicates that the garment can be ironed. The number of dots inside the symbol indicates the maximum temperature that can be used, with one dot being the lowest temperature and three dots being the highest.
Do Not Iron: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be ironed under any circumstances.
Steam Iron: This symbol indicates that the garment can be ironed using a steam iron. The dots inside the symbol indicate the maximum temperature that can be used, as with the Iron symbol.
Iron Inside Out: This symbol indicates that the garment should be turned inside out before ironing.
Iron with Cloth: This symbol indicates that a cloth should be placed over the garment before ironing, to protect it from direct heat.
5. Dry Cleaning Symbols:
These symbols indicate whether the garment can be dry cleaned, and if so, which type of dry cleaning process should be used.
Circle: This symbol indicates that the garment should be dry cleaned. The letter inside the circle indicates which type of solvent should be used for cleaning, such as P for perchloroethylene or F for petroleum solvent.
Circle with a Cross: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be dry cleaned, and should be cleaned using a different method instead.
Circle with a Letter: This symbol indicates that the garment can be dry cleaned, but only with a specific type of solvent. The letter inside the circle indicates which solvent should be used.
Do Not Dry Clean: This symbol indicates that the garment should not be dry cleaned under any circumstances, and should be cleaned using a different method instead.
It's important to note that dry cleaning can be harsh on some fabrics and may cause damage or shrinkage, so it's always a good idea to read the care label and follow the instructions provided. If you're unsure whether a garment should be dry cleaned or not, it's best to take it to a professional dry cleaner who can provide expert advice.
