Laundry care symbols explained

This symbol indicates that the garment should not be washed with water. It's typically used for delicate items that require dry cleaning or special care. When you see this symbol, it's best to take the item to a professional cleaner.

The machine wash symbol indicates that the garment can be washed in a washing machine. However, always check for additional symbols that specify water temperature and cycle type for best results.

Items with the hand wash symbol should be washed by hand to help prevent damage. This is often used for delicate fabrics like wool or cashmere or items with intricate details, such as garments that have been hand-knitted.

The permanent press symbol indicates that the garment should be washed using the permanent press cycle. This cycle is designed to minimize wrinkles and is ideal for dress shirts and other items that tend to crease easily.

This symbol indicates that the garment should be washed using the gentle or delicate cycle. This cycle uses slower spin speeds and less agitation to protect delicate fabrics and might be useful for items like jeans and bras.

Cold water washing is gentle on fabrics and helps prevent color fading and shrinkage. It's ideal for delicate items and dark-colored clothes.

Warm water can work well for cleaning most everyday items. It provides a good balance between cleaning power and fabric care, making it suitable for moderately soiled clothes.

This temperature is effective for cleaning more heavily soiled items. It's particularly good for whites, colorfast fabrics and towels.

Hot water is best for heavily soiled items, whites and durable fabrics. It provides the most thorough cleaning but may cause shrinkage, fading and wrinkling in some fabrics.

This high temperature setting is used to sanitize items and can help kill germs and bacteria. It's particularly useful for items that need disinfection.

This symbol indicates that chlorine bleach can be safely used on the garment. It's typically used for white cotton or linen items that can withstand strong cleaning agents.

When you see this symbol, avoid using any type of bleach on the garment. Bleaching could damage the fabric or cause discoloration.

This symbol means that only non-chlorine, color-safe bleach should be used if bleaching is necessary. This type of bleach is gentler and safe for most colorfast fabrics.

This symbol indicates that the garment should be hung up wet and allowed to dry naturally without wringing or twisting. Drip drying works well for delicate fabrics that may stretch or lose their shape if handled roughly when wet.

When you see this symbol, it means the item should be dried away from direct sunlight. This method helps prevent fading and damage to sensitive fabrics that may react poorly to prolonged sun exposure.

The hang dry symbol suggests that the garment should be hung on a clothesline or hanger to dry. This method is great for items that might lose their shape if laid flat, such as activewear or jeans.

This symbol indicates that the item should be laid flat on a clean surface to dry. Drying flat is often recommended for delicate knits or items that may stretch if hung, helping them maintain their original shape.

This symbol gives the green light for using a dryer. It's suitable for most everyday fabrics that can withstand the mechanical action and heat of a dryer.

When you see this symbol, avoid using a dryer. The item may be too delicate for machine drying.

This symbol indicates that you can use the dryer, but only on a no-heat or air-only setting. It's ideal for items that can withstand tumbling but are sensitive to heat.

This setting is suitable for delicate fabrics that can handle some heat. It uses a lower temperature to gently dry clothes while reducing the risk of shrinkage or damage.

Medium heat is appropriate for most everyday items like cotton and blended fabrics. It provides a balance between drying efficiency and fabric care.

High heat is best for heavy fabrics like towels and jeans. It may help clothes dry faster but can be harsh on delicate items.

This setting uses the permanent press cycle without heat, relying on tumbling action to help remove wrinkles. It's suitable for items that are sensitive to heat but benefit from the wrinkle-reducing action.

Low heat permanent press is ideal for synthetic fabrics and blends. It uses gentle heat to dry clothes while minimizing wrinkles.

This setting is best for cotton and everyday items that tend to wrinkle. The medium heat helps dry clothes efficiently while the cool-down cycle reduces creasing.

This setting uses the gentle tumbling action without any heat. It's perfect for very delicate items that can withstand some movement but are highly sensitive to heat.

Low heat on the gentle cycle provides a careful balance of drying power and fabric protection. It's suitable for delicates that can handle a small amount of heat.

This setting uses medium heat with gentle tumbling, suitable for items that need a bit more drying power but still require careful handling. It's a good choice for lightweight knits and blended fabrics.

This symbol indicates that the garment should be ironed at a low temperature, around 110°C or 230°F. Cool iron settings are typically used for delicate fabrics such as silk and nylon.

The warm iron symbol suggests using a medium temperature, approximately 150°C or 300°F. This setting is suitable for synthetic fibers like polyester, rayon or wool. It provides enough heat to remove wrinkles effectively without risking damage to these moderately heat-resistant fabrics.

A hot iron symbol indicates that the garment can withstand high temperatures, around 200°C or 390°F. This setting is typically safe for durable fabrics like cotton, linen and denim. The high heat helps to smooth out tough wrinkles and create sharp creases.

When you see the no steam iron symbol, it means you should iron the garment without using the steam function. This is often necessary for fabrics that are sensitive to moisture or those with special finishes that could be affected by steam. Dry ironing helps prevent water spots and other moisture-related damage while still allowing you to remove wrinkles and create a smooth appearance.

The do not iron symbol is a clear indication that the garment should not be ironed under any circumstances. This symbol is often found on highly delicate fabrics, items with heat-sensitive embellishments or materials that could melt or become damaged when exposed to heat. For these garments, it's best to use alternative methods for wrinkle removal, such as hanging the item in a steamy bathroom or using a fabric steamer on its lowest setting, if safe to do so.

This symbol, represented by a plain circle, indicates that the garment should be professionally dry cleaned. Dry cleaning uses special solvents to clean clothes without water, making it ideal for delicate fabrics or items that may shrink, fade or lose their shape in water. When you see this symbol, it's best to take the item to a professional dry cleaner rather than attempting to wash it at home.

A circle with an X through it means the garment should not be dry cleaned. This symbol is often found on items that may be damaged by dry cleaning solvents or processes. These garments typically need to be washed at home following other care instructions on the label, such as hand washing or gentle machine washing.

A circle with the letter "A" inside indicates that the dry cleaner can use any type of solvent in the cleaning process. This symbol is typically found on sturdy fabrics that can withstand a variety of cleaning methods.

When you see a circle with the letter "F" inside, it means the garment can be cleaned with any dry cleaning solvent except trichloroethylene.

A circle containing the letter "P" directs the dry cleaner to use only petroleum-based solvents in the cleaning process. This symbol is often found on garments that may be damaged by other types of dry cleaning solvents. Petroleum-based solvents are generally gentler and are used for more delicate fabrics or items with special finishes.