Complete Guide to Laundry & Care Label Symbols
Every washing symbol, drying symbol, bleaching symbol, ironing symbol, and professional care symbol explained — with visuals. The definitive care label symbols reference for consumers, designers, and apparel professionals.
How Care Symbols Work
Care label symbols are a standardized visual language that tells you exactly how to wash, dry, iron, and clean a garment — without needing to read a single word. The international system, governed by ISO 3758 / GINETEX, uses five base shapes, each representing a care category:
GINETEX requires care symbols to always appear in this sequence: Washing → Bleaching → Drying → Ironing → Professional Care. An X through any symbol means "do not" use that process. Below is every symbol variation in each category.
Washing Symbols
The washtub (tub with wavy water line) is the base symbol for washing instructions. The number inside indicates the maximum wash temperature in °C. Bars underneath indicate reduced mechanical agitation.
Temperature Variants
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Machine wash 30°C (cold) | Normal agitation at 30°C or below | |
| Machine wash 40°C (warm) | Normal agitation at 40°C or below | |
| Machine wash 50°C | Normal agitation at 50°C or below | |
| Machine wash 60°C (hot) | Normal agitation at 60°C or below | |
| Machine wash 70°C | Normal agitation at 70°C or below | |
| Machine wash 95°C (boil) | Maximum temperature; used for white cotton and linen |
Mechanical Restriction Variants
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Gentle / delicate cycle | Reduced agitation. One bar under any temperature number. Shown: 40°C gentle. | |
| Very gentle / wool cycle | Minimum agitation. Two bars under any temperature. Shown: 30°C very gentle. |
Special Washing Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hand wash only | Maximum 40°C. Do not machine wash. Gentle hand agitation only. | |
| Do not wash | The garment must not be washed in water at all. |
Bleaching Symbols
The triangle is the base symbol for bleaching instructions. These symbols tell you which types of bleach — if any — are safe to use on the garment.
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Any bleach allowed | Both chlorine and oxygen/non-chlorine bleach are safe to use. | |
| Non-chlorine bleach only | Oxygen-based bleach is safe. Do NOT use chlorine bleach. | |
| Do not bleach | No bleach of any kind should be used on this garment. |
Drying Symbols
The square is the base symbol for drying. A circle inside the square indicates tumble (machine) drying. Lines inside the square (without a circle) indicate natural drying methods. Dots inside the circle indicate heat level.
Tumble Drying (circle inside square)
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tumble dry low heat | Maximum exhaust temperature 60°C. One dot = low. | |
| Tumble dry normal heat | Maximum exhaust temperature 80°C. Two dots = normal. | |
| Tumble dry, no heat restriction | Any heat setting is acceptable. | |
| Do not tumble dry | Machine drying is not permitted for this garment. |
Natural Drying (lines inside square)
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Line dry (hang to dry) | Hang the garment on a clothesline or hanger to dry. | |
| Flat dry | Lay the garment flat on a surface to dry. | |
| Drip dry | Hang soaking wet; do not wring or spin. | |
| Line dry in shade | Hang to dry away from direct sunlight. | |
| Flat dry in shade | Lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight. | |
| Drip dry in shade | Drip dry away from direct sunlight. |
Ironing Symbols
The iron shape is the base symbol. Dots inside indicate the maximum sole-plate temperature. Additional markings address steam usage.
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Iron low temperature (110°C) | One dot. For synthetics: acrylic, nylon, polyester. | |
| Iron medium temperature (150°C) | Two dots. For wool, silk, polyester blends. | |
| Iron high temperature (200°C) | Three dots. For cotton and linen. | |
| No steam | Iron without steam. Can combine with any temperature dot setting. | |
| Do not iron | The garment must not be ironed or pressed. |
Professional Care Symbols
The circle is the base symbol for professional textile care. Letters inside indicate the type of cleaning solvent. Bars underneath indicate mechanical restrictions. These symbols are intended for professional cleaners, not consumers.
Dry Cleaning
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dry clean — perchloroethylene | Professional cleaning with perc and all solvents listed under F. Normal process. | |
| Dry clean — perc, gentle | Mild/gentle process with perc solvents. Reduced mechanical action. | |
| Dry clean — perc, very gentle | Very gentle process with perc solvents. Minimum mechanical action. | |
| Dry clean — hydrocarbons only | Professional cleaning with petroleum-based solvents only. Normal process. | |
| Dry clean — hydrocarbons, gentle | Mild/gentle process with hydrocarbon solvents only. | |
| Dry clean — hydrocarbons, very gentle | Very gentle process with hydrocarbon solvents only. | |
| Do not dry clean | The garment must not be dry cleaned. |
Professional Wet Cleaning
| Symbol | Meaning | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Professional wet clean | Normal professional wet cleaning process. | |
| Professional wet clean, gentle | Mild/gentle professional wet cleaning process. | |
| Professional wet clean, very gentle | Very gentle professional wet cleaning. Minimum mechanical action. |
The Bar System — One Rule for All Symbols
The most useful shortcut for reading care symbols: the bar (underline) system is consistent across every GINETEX symbol category. Once you learn this, you can decode any care label.
| Bars | Meaning | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| No bar | Normal process — standard agitation, standard heat, standard intensity | Washing, tumble drying, professional care |
| One bar ▬ | Gentle / mild process — reduced mechanical action | Washing (delicate cycle), tumble drying (gentle), professional care (mild) |
| Two bars ▬▬ | Very gentle / minimum process — minimum mechanical action | Washing (wool cycle), tumble drying (very gentle), professional care (very gentle) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the triangle symbol mean on clothing labels?
The triangle on a clothing care label represents bleaching instructions. An empty triangle means any bleach (chlorine or oxygen-based) is safe to use. A triangle with two diagonal lines inside means only non-chlorine (oxygen-based) bleach should be used. A triangle with an X through it means do not bleach the garment at all.
What do the dots mean on care label symbols?
Dots inside care label symbols indicate temperature levels. On ironing symbols: one dot = low heat (110°C, for synthetics), two dots = medium heat (150°C, for wool/silk), three dots = high heat (200°C, for cotton/linen). On tumble dry symbols: one dot = low heat (60°C exhaust), two dots = normal heat (80°C exhaust). More dots always means higher temperature.
What does the circle symbol mean on a clothing care label?
The circle on a care label indicates professional textile care. Letters inside specify the cleaning method: P = dry clean with perchloroethylene (perc) solvents, F = dry clean with hydrocarbon solvents only, W = professional wet cleaning. Bars underneath the circle indicate gentleness: no bar = normal process, one bar = gentle, two bars = very gentle. A circle with an X means do not dry clean.
What is the difference between the one-bar and two-bar underline on care symbols?
The bar (underline) system is consistent across all GINETEX/ISO care symbols: no bar = normal process, one bar = gentle or mild process (reduced mechanical action), and two bars = very gentle or minimum process. This applies to washing symbols (agitation level), tumble drying symbols (mechanical action), and professional care symbols (cleaning intensity).
What does the square with a circle inside mean on laundry labels?
A square with a circle inside is the tumble dry symbol. It means you can use a machine dryer. Dots inside the circle indicate heat level: one dot = low heat, two dots = normal heat, no dots = any heat. An X through the symbol means do not tumble dry. A square without a circle (with lines instead) indicates natural drying methods like line drying or flat drying.
Are care label symbols the same in every country?
No. There are two main systems: the ISO 3758/GINETEX system used internationally (Europe, Asia, Australia, and most of the world), and the ASTM D5489 system used in the United States. While visually similar, they are not identical. In the US, the FTC requires written care instructions — symbols alone are not sufficient. Internationally, the ISO/GINETEX symbols can stand alone without words.
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