Do you ever feel lost in translation when faced with the cryptic symbols on your clothing care labels? Decoding those washing machine symbols can often feel like trying to decipher a secret code. Have you ever hesitated before tossing a beloved item into the wash, unsure if you’re about to commit a laundry faux pas? It’s a common dilemma – we’ve all been there, quickly glancing at care label symbols and hoping for the best, often washing everything at 30 degrees Celsius just to be safe.
If this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. This comprehensive Washing Machine Symbol Guide is designed to demystify those confusing icons and empower you to care for your clothes with confidence. In collaboration with leading laundry experts, we’ve created this guide to help you understand every laundry symbol you might encounter, ensuring your garments stay looking their best for longer.
Understanding Laundry Symbols: Why They Matter
Laundry symbols, also known as care label symbols or washing symbols, are universal icons placed on clothing and textiles to provide instructions on how to properly clean and care for them. Ignoring these symbols can lead to laundry disasters – shrinking, fading, damage to delicate fabrics, and a shorter lifespan for your favorite clothes. Understanding these symbols is not just about avoiding mistakes; it’s about maximizing the life and quality of your wardrobe.
Decoding Common Washing Machine Symbols: A Comprehensive Guide
The symbols are generally categorized into five main types, each representing a different aspect of garment care: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and dry cleaning. Let’s break down each category to ensure you become a laundry symbol expert.
Washing (Tub Symbol)
The tub symbol, resembling a basin filled with water, indicates whether a garment can be machine washed and at what temperature.
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Plain Tub: This means the garment is machine washable.
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Tub with a Number: The number inside the tub indicates the maximum washing temperature in degrees Celsius. For example, “30” means wash at or below 30°C (86°F).
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Tub with Dots: Dots also signify temperature, but in a more general way:
- One dot (•): 30°C (86°F) – delicate wash
- Two dots (••): 40°C (104°F) – gentle wash
- Three dots (•••): 60°C (140°F) – normal wash
- Four dots (••••): 95°C (203°F) – hot wash
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Tub with a Hand: This symbol indicates “hand wash only.” The item is too delicate for machine washing and should be gently washed by hand.
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Tub with Lines Underneath: Lines underneath the tub indicate the intensity of the wash cycle.
- No line: Normal wash cycle.
- One line: Gentle or permanent press cycle – reduces spinning.
- Two lines: Delicate or wool cycle – very gentle washing and reduced spinning.
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Tub with a Cross: A crossed-out tub symbol means “do not wash.” This garment should not be washed at home and may require dry cleaning.
Bleaching (Triangle Symbol)
The triangle symbol provides instructions on whether and how to bleach a garment.
- Plain Triangle: Bleaching is allowed with any type of bleach.
- Triangle with Two Lines: Only oxygen/non-chlorine bleach is allowed.
- Triangle with Cl: Chlorine bleach is allowed.
- Crossed-out Triangle: Do not bleach.
Drying (Square Symbol)
The square symbol, sometimes with a circle inside, relates to drying methods.
- Square: General drying symbol.
- Square with a Circle Inside: Tumble drying is allowed.
- Circle with Dots Inside: Indicates temperature setting for tumble drying.
- One dot (•): Low heat.
- Two dots (••): Medium heat.
- Three dots (•••): High heat.
- Circle with a Cross Inside: Do not tumble dry.
- Circle with Dots Inside: Indicates temperature setting for tumble drying.
- Square with a Line in the Middle: Line drying or drip drying.
- One Horizontal Line: Line dry.
- Three Vertical Lines: Drip dry.
- Diagonal Line in the Corner: Dry in shade.
- Crossed-out Square with a Circle: Do not tumble dry.
Ironing (Iron Symbol)
The iron symbol, shaped like an old-fashioned iron, specifies ironing instructions.
- Plain Iron: Ironing is allowed.
- Iron with Dots: Dots indicate the heat setting for ironing.
- One dot (•): Low heat – for delicate fabrics like silk and synthetics.
- Two dots (••): Medium heat – for synthetics and wool.
- Three dots (•••): High heat – for linen and cotton.
- Iron with a Cross: Do not iron.
- Iron with Steam Crossed Out: Do not steam iron.
Dry Cleaning (Circle Symbol)
The circle symbol indicates if dry cleaning is necessary or permissible.
- Plain Circle: Dry cleanable.
- Circle with a Letter Inside (P, F, or W): Indicates the type of solvent the dry cleaner should use.
- P: Perchloroethylene.
- F: Flammable solvents.
- W: Wet cleaning. These are for dry cleaning professionals only.
- Circle with a Bar Underneath: Indicates to the dry cleaner to use caution. More bars mean more caution is needed.
- Crossed-out Circle: Do not dry clean.
Other Important Symbols
- Hand Wash Symbol (Tub with a Hand): As mentioned before, indicates hand wash only.
- Do Not Wring (Twisted Symbol with a Cross): Garment should not be wrung or twisted, handle gently to remove excess water.
Download Your Essential Washing Machine Symbol Guide
To make laundry day a breeze, we’ve created a handy, downloadable washing machine symbol guide. Print it out and keep it near your washing machine for quick reference!
Download Care Label Guide
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Conclusion: Laundry Symbol Mastery
Understanding washing machine symbols is key to properly caring for your clothes and extending their lifespan. With this guide and our downloadable cheat sheet, you’ll be able to confidently tackle any laundry label and ensure your garments always look their best. However, for those times when you’d rather skip the laundry altogether, ihateironing is ready to provide expert care and convenience.
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