An Ultimate Guide to Understanding Laundry Symbols on Your Clothes

Have you ever seen the tiny and creative laundry symbols on your clothing tag? You must wonder what they mean. No worries now! These washing symbols are key to keeping your favourite outfits lasting longer and looking fresh. Following and understanding these laundry care symbols, you can crack the code of protecting your garments. This blog will guide you through all the washing machine symbols, from dry cleaning clothes to ironing them.

Laundry Care Symbols on Clothing Labels

Laundry care symbols are small icons on clothing labels that provide essential instructions for washing, drying, ironing, and maintaining your garments. These laundry symbols ensure your clothes are appropriately treated, preventing damage and preserving quality. Here are some of the key laundry care symbols:

1. The bucket laundry symbol indicates washing instructions like temperature and cycle.
2. A triangle presents bleach usage.
3. A square refers to drying instructions.
4. An iron icon indicates how you can iron the garment.
5. A circle means dry cleaning.

Washing machine Symbols for Machine wash clothes

Here are some symbols for washing machines wash:

1. A bucket with a water icon indicates that machine washing is safe. The numbers inside specify the maximum temperature (e.g., 30°C, 40°C).
2. Two dashes under the bucket refer to a gentle cycle for delicate fabrics.
3. One dash under the bucket indicates a synthetic or permanent press cycle to reduce wrinkles.
4. A bucket with a hand inside indicates hand-wash only.
5. Crossed-out bucket means do not machine wash. Dry clean or hand wash the item.
6. A bucket with waves and no number means to wash with cold water.

Bonus Read: Here’s a detailed blog for understanding laundry and washing symbols in the UK.

Laundry Symbols for how to hand wash clothes

Here are some hand-washing symbols to enhance your knowledge:

 

• The hand inside a bucket indicates that the garment should be hand-washed only with lukewarm or cold water.
• The water temperature symbol, which consists of several dots inside the bucket, suggests the maximum temperature (e.g., 30°C or one dot for cool water).
• Avoiding vigorous agitation means hand-washed garments should be gently swirled and not scrubbed.
• If there is no spin symbol, a crossed-out spiral icon means the item should not be wrung out. Gently press out excess water.
• Use a gentle detergent. To preserve the quality of the garment, we use mild, fabric-specific detergents for hand washing.

Bonus Read: Here’s a detailed guide to laundry and washing symbols.

Laundry Symbols for how to Bleach clothes

• Triangle means bleaching is safe; chlorine and non-chlorine bleach can be used.
• Triangle with Two Lines means using only non-chlorine bleach when needed.
• A crossed-out triangle means not to bleach; avoid any bleaching agents to prevent damage.

Laundry Symbols for How to Dry Clothes

Here are some symbols for dry clothes:

• A square with a circle symbol means tumble drying is allowed; dots inside indicate heat levels (one dot = low, two dots = medium, three dots = high).
• A crossed-out square with a circle indicates no tumble dry. 
• A square with Lines Inside indicates natural drying methods:

1. Horizontal Line: Lay flat to dry.
2. Vertical Lines: Hang to drip dry.
3. Slanted Line: Dry in the shade.

Bonus Read: Want to have a clear understanding of drying clothes properly? To your knowledge, here are some pros and cons of drying.

Laundry symbols for how to Iron clothes

Here are some symbols to iron clothes properly:

• The iron icon means ironing is safe, and the dots inside indicate the maximum temperature (one dot = low, two dots = medium, and three dots = high).
• Crossed-out iron means not to iron; avoid using heat on the fabric.
• Iron with steam icon means steam ironing is allowed unless crossed out, which means no steam.

Bonus Read: Are you in a hurry and have no time to iron clothes? Explore these fastest ways to iron clothes!

Laundry symbols for dry cleaning clothes

Here are some laundry symbols to make dry-cleaning clothes a piece of cake for you:

• The circle symbol indicates the garment can be dry cleaned; additional letters (e.g., “P” or “F”) specify the type of solvent to use.
• Crossed-out circle means not drying clean; washing or alternative care is required.
• The circle with a line underneath indicates delicate dry cleaning; use a gentle cycle for cleaning.

Bonus Read: Here’s a detailed guide for dry cleaning and laundry prices.

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FAQs – Laundry Symbols

What do the symbols on laundry mean?

Laundry symbols refer to the methods of washing according to the specific garment. You must follow the instructions through symbols describing how to wash these fabrics.

What are the five basic care symbols?

The five basic care symbols are washing, drying, ironing, bleaching, and dry cleaning. Each symbol provides specific instructions to ensure proper garment care.

What is the symbol for air drying?

The symbol for air drying is a square with one or more vertical lines inside it. It indicates that the garment should be hung to dry naturally without using a dryer.

Wrap Up!

Understanding laundry symbols is crucial for maintaining the quality and longevity of garments. From washing and drying to bleaching, ironing, and dry cleaning, these icons provide clear instructions to ensure proper care. This guide can prevent common laundry mishaps and keep your wardrobe looking its best.