Cracking the Code: The Ultimate Guide to Laundry Symbols

Cracking the Code: The Ultimate Guide to Laundry Symbols

Ever looked at the laundry care tag on your favorite shirt and felt like you were reading a secret code? Those tiny symbols can be curious, but there is reason to the madness. We’re here to decode the mystery, one symbol at a time. Let’s dive into the world of laundry symbols and turn laundry day into a breeze.

Washing

This little tub is your washing machine’s spirit animal. If it’s empty, you’re free to machine wash without restrictions. But wait, there’s more! Look closer, and you might find some numbers or dots lurking in there. The numbers or dots represent the maximum temperature you can wash your garment. 

Temperature

 Symbol Definition
Hand Wash.

Cold Setting. Wash at or below 20 degrees celsius / 68 degrees fahrenheit. 

Cold Setting. Wash at or below 20 degrees celsius / 86 degrees fahrenheit
Warm Setting. Wash at or below 40 degrees celsius / 104 degrees fahrenheit
Warm or Hot Setting. Wash at or below 50 degrees celsius / 122 degrees fahrenheit
Hot Setting. Wash at or below 60 degrees celsius / 140 degrees fahrenheit. Rare
Sanitize. Wash at or below 70 degrees celsius / 158 degrees fahrenheit
Sanitize (Simmer) Wash at or below 95 degrees celsius / 203 degrees fahrenheit.

Cycle Type

These symbols tell you how vigorous your garment likes to move. Alternatively it can show you that it needs your gentle touch and doesn't like your washing machine.

 Symbol Definition
These garments should never be washed. You can only spot treat these.
Normal wash cycle. 
One line under the washing machine means Permanent Press
Two lines under the washing machine means Delicate

 

Dry Clean

Basically anything with a circle means dry clean only. Unless the circle is filled or has an x through it. 

Symbol  
Dry Clean Only. Trust the professionals
Dry Clean Only. Trust the professionals
Dry Clean Only. Trust the professionals
Dry Clean Only. But for the love of all that is holy! Do not Wet Clean
NO! Stop! Do Not Dry Clean

Am I White?

Lets talk about whitening of our garments. Am I white or wrong? or is it ok to use bleach?

Symbol  Definition
Ok to bleach. Implicitly it means chlorine bleach is ok.
Ok to bleach. Explicitly ok to use chlorine bleach.
Ok to bleach. Do not use bleach with chlorine. Non-Chlorine bleach only.
Do NOT Bleach

 

Drying

Spin Cycles (Heat and Setting)

Our garment care instructions also tell us how to dry. These instructions are all in a square with various modifiers. Below we will go over all the different spin cycle instructions from speed to temperature. Some may like to be hung or laid flat instead of machine dried. The dryer is where a lot of damage or wear can be either caused or prevented. Also most countries don't even use dryers they just hang dry their clothes.

Symbol Description

Do NOT Dry

If a laundry item should not be tumble-dried, you will see the same square with a circle, but it will be crossed out. Do not put items with this symbol in the dryer.

Do NOT Dry

If a laundry item should not be tumble-dried, you will see the same square with a circle, but it will be crossed out. Do not put items with this symbol in the dryer.

Air Dry

The drying symbol in the form of an empty square stands for air drying. You should hang these laundry items on a clothesline, or lay them out to dry on a flat surface. 

Hang To Dry

For hang drying, use a clean, sturdy line or hanger in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight to prevent fading. Space garments apart to ensure even drying and maintain their shape.

Hang To Dry - In Shade

For hang drying, use a clean, sturdy line or hanger in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight to prevent fading. Space garments apart to ensure even drying and maintain their shape.

Dry Flat

For lying flat to dry, place the garment on a clean, dry surface, ensuring it’s evenly spread out to maintain its shape. Avoid direct sunlight and flip it midway through drying for even results.

Dry Flat

For lying flat to dry, place the garment on a clean, dry surface, ensuring it’s evenly spread out to maintain its shape. Avoid direct sunlight and flip it midway through drying for even results.

Drip Dry

For drip drying, hang the garment on a line or hanger without wringing it out, allowing water to drip off naturally. Keep it away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and uneven drying.

Drip Dry

For drip drying, hang the garment on a line or hanger without wringing it out, allowing water to drip off naturally. Keep it away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and uneven drying.

Tumble Dry – No Heat

A black circle inside the square indicates that garments should only be dried gently with cold air.

Tumble Dry - Normal

The square with a circle inside is the general symbol for tumble drying. If you see it on a laundry label, your item can be tumble-dried, and it's safe to put it in the dryer.

Tumble Dry - Cold/Low Heat

A dryer symbol with a dot inside the circle means that you should only dry your item at low temperatures up to 60°C.

Tumble Dry - Warm/Medium Heat

Two dots inside the circle indicate that you can dry your garment at regular temperatures of up to 80°C.

Tumble Dry - Hot/High Heat

The dryer symbol with three dots in a circle indicates that you can and should dry your item at the highest temperature.

Tumble Dry – Permanent Press

Labels that show a line below the dryer symbol, should be dried with a gentle cycle (for example synthetic).

Tumble Dry – Gentle

Delicate textiles that show two lines below the dryer symbol need extra-gentle drying and a special dryer program (like a wool program) for proper care.  

 

Ironing

Who likes wrinkles on your clothes? Not me! Although there was a time when that was a look! Hilarious right? Let's talk about getting it straight.

Symbol Definition

Do Not Iron (Crossed-Out Iron)

Avoid ironing this garment entirely as heat can damage the fabric. Instead, smooth out wrinkles by hand or use a steamer if necessary.

Low Heat Iron (1 Dot)

Use a low-temperature setting to iron delicate fabrics like silk and synthetics. Always test on a small area first and avoid using steam to prevent damage.

Medium Heat Iron (2 Dots)

Set the iron to medium heat for fabrics like wool and polyester. Use steam sparingly and iron on the reverse side if needed.

High Heat Iron (3 Dots)

Select a high heat setting for sturdy fabrics like cotton and linen. You can use steam and water spray to remove tough wrinkles, but avoid lingering too long on any one spot.

Steam Iron (Steam Icon)

You can safely use steam while ironing this garment to help remove wrinkles more effectively. Ensure the fabric is compatible with steam by checking the care label.

No Steam (Crossed-Out Steam Icon)

Do not use steam when ironing this garment, as it may damage the fabric or cause unwanted effects like water stains. Stick to dry ironing on the appropriate heat setting.

 

Ready, Set, Wash!

Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on laundry symbols, you’re ready to tackle that pile of clothes with confidence. Just remember, every tag is a little guidebook to keeping your clothes looking their best. So next time you’re about to throw everything into one load, take a peek at those symbols—they’ve got your back!

Happy washing!

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