The 411 - What all those symbols mean on your clothes

Washing symbols on clothing tags are guides for proper care to maintain fabric quality. Each symbol indicates a specific type of treatment, covering washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and dry cleaning.

1. Washing: Represented by a tub icon, the number inside denotes the maximum water temperature in Celsius (e.g., “30” for 30°C). A hand in the tub means hand wash only. If the tub has a line underneath, it suggests a gentle or delicate cycle; two lines indicate an extra-delicate cycle.

2. Bleaching: A triangle symbolizes bleach use. A plain triangle allows any bleach, but a triangle with two diagonal lines restricts it to non-chlorine bleach. A crossed-out triangle means avoid bleach altogether.

3. Drying: A square with a circle inside represents machine drying. Dots inside the circle signify the heat setting: one dot for low heat, two for medium, and three for high. Lines under the square, like in washing symbols, suggest a gentler cycle. A crossed-out dryer symbol means air-dry only. Additional icons like a single horizontal line indicate lay-flat drying, while three vertical lines indicate drip drying.

4. Ironing: An iron icon denotes if ironing is allowed. Dots inside the iron, similar to drying, indicate the heat level: one dot for low heat, two for medium, and three for high. A crossed-out iron means no ironing.

5. Dry Cleaning: A circle represents dry cleaning. Letters within it (e.g., "P" or "F") tell the dry cleaner which solvent is safe. A crossed-out circle forbids dry cleaning.

Understanding these symbols can prevent fabric damage, helping clothes last longer and stay in good shape.

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Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model