Understanding laundry care symbols can help keep your clothes looking their best while preventing damage from incorrect washing, drying, or ironing. These symbols provide essential guidance on water temperature, drying methods, bleaching, ironing, and dry cleaning. Use this guide to decode fabric care labels and extend the life of your favorite garments.
Washing symbols tell you how to clean your clothes, including the maximum water temperature and recommended wash cycle. Read our guide to learn more about washing machine cycles.
Once you locate the wash tub on your fabric care label, check for the following to determine whether the garment is washable, the appropriate water temperature, and the recommended wash cycle:
- Numbers, which are temperature guidelines that indicate the highest temperature the fabric can tolerate without damage.
- A single line beneath the wash tub means the item should be cleaned using the permanent press cycle, which helps reduce wrinkles.
- Two lines beneath the tub signify that a delicate or gentle cycle is needed.
- A hand in the tub, indicating the garment should be hand-washed.
- An “X” across the tub, indicating that the item should not be washed at all.
Garment cannot be washed but may be dry cleaned
Hand wash up to 105°F
Drying care symbols indicate the safest way to dry your clothing to prevent shrinkage, fading, or fabric damage. Air drying helps maintain fabric integrity, especially for synthetics, wool, and delicate garments. To avoid scorch marks, always check fabric recommendations before ironing. Steaming can be a gentle alternative for some fabrics. Learn more about how to dry clothes.
Don't iron at all.
Do not iron hot, only up to 230°F and preferably without steam.
Ironing moderately hot, up to 300°F
Iron hot, up to 290°F
Tumble dry, low heat.
Tumble dry, normal.
Drip dry flat in the shade.
Line Dry.
Line Dry in the shade.
Drip dry on the line in the shade.
Dry flat.
Dry flat in the shade.
Drip dry flat.
Dry cleaning symbols indicate whether professional cleaning is required. Some delicate garments like wool and silk retain their shape and texture better with dry cleaning.
Do not dry clean
Dry clean only.
The garment may be cleaned with perchloroethylene, hydrocarbon, R113- and R11-solvents.
The garment may be cleaned with hydricarbon and R113-solvents
The garment may be treated with wet-cleaning techniques.
The garment may be cleaned with perchloroethylene, hydrocarbon, R113- and R11-solvents, with temperature and humidity restricitons
The garment may be cleaned with perchloroethylene, hydrocarbon, R113- solvents, with temperature and humidity restricitons
The garment may be treated with wet cleaning techniques.
Bleaching symbols help you determine whether bleach is safe for your clothing.
The garment may not be treated with bleach and should only be washed using color and mild detergent.
The garment may be treated with chlorine and oxygen bleach (for example, all in one detergent).
The garment may be treated with oxygen bleach (for example, all in one detergent).
Important Notice: These care labelling symbols are registered trademarks owned by Ginetex. Any use of these symbols requires prior authorization from Ginetex. For more information: http://www.ginetex.net