Decoding Laundry Symbol Meanings: Your Comprehensive Guide to Care Labels

Machine Wash: If you see a tub symbol with dots or a number inside it on the care label, the dots or number is the recommended water temperature to wash your garment in: 1 Dot - Cold Water 30°C 2 Dots - Warm Water 40°C 3 Dots - Hot Water 50°C Always double-check the label to ensure you choose the right temperature for your clothes.

Do Not Wash: A tub with a cross through it means "do not wash." If you see this symbol, do not put those items in the washing machine. This often applies to items made of leather, suede, or those with lots of zips and embellishments. These fabrics can only be cleaned with a fabric spray or a damp cloth to avoid damage.

Permanent Press: A tub symbol with a line under it means "permanent press" this is usually for garments made of synthetic fibres like polyester that are treated to reduce wrinkles. The permanent press cycle normally requires warm water with a low spin cycle this helps to reduce wrinkles.

Delicate: A tub symbol with two lines under it indicates "delicate" wash cycle using cold water, low agitation and slow spin. This is used for fabrics like lace.

 

Pro Tip: Always sort your laundry by fabric type and colour to prevent any mishaps. Generally white clothes should be cleaned on a hotter setting, while dark clothes should be cleaned on a cooler setting, this helps colour fastness as hot water will make you garments colour run. Using cold water can also save energy and reduce your carbon footprint.

Drying symbols

Drying symbols guide you on how to dry your clothes without causing shrinkage or damage:

Tumble Dry: If the care label features a square with a circle inside, it means your clothes can safely go into the dryer. Fabrics like acrylic, cotton, denim, linen, microfibre, nylon, and polyester can all handle the dryer’s heat. So, if you're in a hurry and don't want to hang these items out to dry, feel free to use the tumble dryer. Just remember, delicate fabrics might need a lower setting, so always double-check the temperature to avoid any mishaps.

Tumble Dry Temperature: If the care label features a square with a circle inside plus dots inside the circle, the dots are the recommended temperature to dry your garment at: 1 Dot - Low Heat 2 Dots - Medium Heat 3 Dots - Hight Heat Always double-check the label to ensure you choose the right temperature as using the wrong temperature could shrink or damage your garment.

Do Not Tumble Dry: If there’s a cross through the tumble dry symbol, avoid the dryer altogether. Instead hang out on the line or drying rack.

Tumble Dry Permanent Press: If the care label features a square with a circle in it and a line underneath this mean permanent press cycle this is used to reduce wrinkles in your garment.

Tumble Dry Gentle: If the care label features a square with a circle in it and two line underneath this means gentle setting. This is used for delicate garments that may shrink. This cycle uses a lower heat and slower setting to prevent shrinkage and damage.

Tumble Dry No Heat: If the care label features a square with a solid circle inside dry with no heat. This means that the garment is ok to be used in a dryer but without heat, only using air. A safer option for these garments is to dry on a line or rack in the shade.

Line Dry: For certain garments, the line dry symbol indicates they should only be dried on a clothes line or rack. This is common for items like swimwear and activewear. To keep these pieces in good shape, reshape them while they're damp and let them air dry indoors or outdoors. Don’t be tempted to throw them in the dryer, as they could stick to the machine and burn.

Line Dry Shade: If your line dry symbol has two diagonal lines in the top left corner this means you should line dry in the shade. This will help stop the garments losing shape and fading.

Drip Dry: A symbol of a square with three vertical lines inside it. Garments with this symbol should not use a spin cycle or be wrung out as it may miss shape the garment.

Dry Flat: A symbol of a square with one horizontal line inside it means dry flat. Garments with this symbol may stretch or lose shape if tumble or line dried. Use a slow spin cycle or non at all and dry on a flat surface.

Do Not Wring: Certain garments with the do not wring symbol are prone to stretching and could lose their shape if wrung out. These garments will most likely need to be dried flat.

 

Pro Tip: Line drying not only saves energy but also extends the life of your clothes by reducing wear and tear from the dryer.

Bleaching symbols

Bleaching symbols tell you if you can use bleach on the item:

The bleach symbol on a care label typically consists of a triangle. Inside the triangle, there may be lines or dots indicating the type of bleach that can be used. 

 

Bleach When Needed: A symbol of a triangle, you can use regular bleaches to keep your whites bright.

Non-Chlorine Bleach: If the symbol is a triangle with two lines inside it, use non-chlorine bleach to avoid any damage to your clothes. This type of bleach is for delicate fabrics as its gentler, but still effective at removing stains.

Chlorine Bleach: If the symbol is a triangle with C L inside it, this means only use Chlorine bleach on this garment.

Do Not Bleach: If the symbol is a triangle with a line through it, skip the bleach entirely to avoid ruining the fabric.

 

Pro Tip: Consider eco-friendly bleach alternatives for mild bleaching like baking soda or lemon to reduce the use of harmful chemicals.

Ironing symbols

Garments which have the iron symbol are suitable for ironing, but it's crucial to double-check the temperature settings as different garments require varying heat levels. Using the steam setting on your iron can help you get wrinkles out of clothes.

Iron: The iron symbol shows that the item can be ironed.

Iron: The iron symbol with dots inside indicate the temperature 1 Dot - Low Heat 2 Dots - Medium Heat 3 Dots - Hight Heat

Do Not Iron: For garments marked with an iron symbol with a cross, avoid ironing altogether as they are heat-sensitive. Even if your favourite outfit is wrinkled, it's not worth risking damage by using even a low setting on the iron, as it can burn.

No Steam Iron: For garments marked with an iron symbol with lines coming out the bottom and a cross. Means the garment can be ironed but to avoid ironing with steam.

No Steam Iron:  For garments marked with an iron symbol with lines coming out the bottom and dots inside the dots indicate the temperature 1 Dot - Low Heat No Steam 2 Dots - Medium Heat No Steam 3 Dots - Hight Heat No Steam

 

Pro Tip: Use a steam iron for delicate fabrics to avoid direct heat damage. Always iron on the reverse side of prints and embroideries.

 

Professional cleaning symbols

The dry clean symbol is a small circle and it means your garments need to be professionally cleaned. These items require special treatment by a dry cleaner that's tough to replicate at home. The best approach is to find a reputable dry cleaning company in your area and let them handle it. This way, your garments will be properly cleaned and last longer.

Dry Clean Only: For garments marked with a circle this mean the garment must be professionally cleaned

Dry Clean Type: For garments marked with a circle with a letter inside. The letter indicates what type of chemicals should be used on it.     A - Any Solvent F - Hydrocarbon/Petroleum Solvent Only (HCS) P - Any Solvent Except  Trichloroethylene W - Wet Clean

Do Not Dry Clean: For garments marked with a circle symbol with a cross. Avoid dry cleaning these altogether.

Dry Clean Cycles: For garments marked with a circle symbol and a line outside the circle where the line is place indicates different cycles Top Left - Reduce Moisture Top Right - No Steam Bottom Left - Short Cycle Bottom Right - Low Heat

Dry Clean Any Solvent Cycles: For garments marked with a circle symbol with an A inside it and a line outside the circle where the line is place indicates different cycles Top Left - Any Solvent Reduce Moisture Top Right - Any Solvent No Steam Bottom Left - Any Solvent Short Cycle Bottom Right - Any Solvent Low Heat

 

Now that you know what the different symbols represent, let’s look at some of the reasons why you should pay attention to them.

Why should you read the laundry care label on your clothes?

Following laundry care instructions might seem like a hassle, but trust us, it's worth it. For starters, it helps your clothes last longer. Each piece of clothing is made from different materials that need special care to keep them in good shape. Ignoring those little symbols on the tags can lead to your favourite shirt wearing out faster, and who wants that? By paying attention to these instructions, you can keep your clothes looking new and save money because you won’t need to replace them as often.

Plus, sticking to the recommended laundry instructions ensures your clothes will always look and feel their best. We've all experienced those frustrating moments when something comes out of the wash shrunken or faded, haven't we? Following proper cleaning and drying techniques prevents these mishaps, preserving the colour, fit, and softness of different garments. Plus, there's an added benefit: it's not only beneficial for your wardrobe but also for the environment and your budget. Looking after your clothes means less waste and fewer replacements, benefiting everyone involved. So, next time you're sorting your garments, take a moment to check the care labels—it's your wardrobe's best friend.

Download and Print your own Laundry Symbol Chart 

To make your laundry routine even easier, we’ve created a handy downloadable guide. This printable laundry symbols chart will serve as your go-to reference on laundry day.

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