Laundry Care Symbols Explained

Those tiny symbols on your clothing tags aren't just for decoration—they provide valuable information about how to properly care for your garments. Here's a breakdown of what they mean:

Washing Symbols

A tub filled with water indicates that the item can be washed. The number inside shows the maximum water temperature. Bars underneath the tub indicate the need for a gentle cycle, and a hand in the tub means hand wash only.

Drying Symbols

A square with a circle inside represents tumble drying. Dots indicate temperature settings (one for low, two for medium, three for high). A square with a curved line at the top means line dry, while a square with three vertical lines means drip dry.

Ironing Symbols

An iron icon indicates that ironing is allowed. Dots inside show temperature settings (one for low, two for medium, three for high). An X through the iron means do not iron.

Bleaching Symbols

A triangle represents bleaching. An empty triangle means any bleach can be used, while a triangle with diagonal lines or an X means no bleach.

Dry Cleaning Symbols

A circle indicates dry cleaning. Letters inside provide instructions for the dry cleaner about which chemicals to use.

Understanding these symbols can help extend the life of your clothing and prevent laundry disasters.