Laundry symbols are small pictograms on your clothes that show how best to wash your items. Still, few people look at them, and that is a shame for the quality of your favorite sweater, for example. Knowing what is on your care labels matters so you avoid shrinking, fading, and misshaping. It would be a shame if your blouse melts under the iron or your sweater shrinks three sizes in the washing machine.
Few people have time to learn all the symbols by heart, so we give a simple overview of all laundry symbols and their meanings.
We can put the laundry symbols into 5 categories:
- Washing
- Temperature
- Drying
- Ironing
- Cleaning and bleaching
Washing
These symbols show how best to wash the garment. A tub of water is the universal sign for washing. The number of degrees in the tub shows the maximum temperature at which you can wash the garment. A hand in the tub means hand wash, and a cross through the tub warns that the garment must not be washed. Symbols with one or two lines under the tub indicate special wash programs such as delicates or wool wash.
Temperature
The temperature symbols specifically show the maximum temperature at which you can wash garments, which is essential for preserving fabrics and colors. These symbols are crucial to understand, because a temperature that is too high can damage your clothes, while a temperature that is too low may not be effective against dirt or bacteria.
- Cold wash (30°C or lower): A symbol with a single dot or the number 30 inside a tub means the garment should be washed at low temperatures. This is often suitable for delicate fabrics and garments such as lingerie and certain synthetic materials.
- Moderately warm wash (40°C): Two dots or the number 40 in the tub suggest a moderate temperature. This is suitable for most ordinary fabrics such as cotton, linen, and some synthetics that are not too sensitive to heat.
- Warm wash (60°C): Three dots or the number 60 advise a higher wash temperature. This setting is ideal for bedding, towels, and garments that need a thorough clean to remove bacteria and allergens.
- Very hot wash (90°C or higher): Four dots or the number 90 in the tub are for garments that need a very high temperature, such as kitchen towels or workwear that can be very heavily soiled.
Following these temperature symbols correctly not only gives an effective clean, it also helps save energy. Using a lower temperature when possible is better for the environment and your energy bill.
Drying
Drying symbols usually appear as a square with a circle inside, or with other signs that indicate the suitable drying method. A single dot in the circle stands for low temperature, while multiple dots indicate a higher temperature. Special symbols such as a horizontal line in the square mean the garment should dry lying flat to prevent misshaping.
Ironing
The ironing symbol looks like an iron. The number of dots in the iron shows the maximum temperature at which you can iron. No dots means do not iron, one dot stands for low temperature (suitable for synthetic fabrics), two dots for medium temperature (suitable for wool and silk), and three dots for high temperature (suitable for cotton and linen).
Cleaning and bleaching
Dry cleaning is indicated with a circle. Inside this circle there can be letters such as P, F or A, which indicate the type of chemicals that should be used. A line under the circle means the garment should be treated with extra care.
Each of these categories plays a crucial role in keeping your clothes in good condition. By interpreting and applying these symbols correctly, you can make sure your clothes keep looking like new for longer and you make more lasting choices for your wardrobe.
The symbol for bleaching is a triangle. An empty triangle means bleaching is allowed, while a triangle with a cross through it indicates that bleaching is forbidden. Specific instructions, such as using only oxygen bleach and not chlorine, are often also shown inside the triangle.
Laundry symbols for a longer-lasting wardrobe
Caring for your clothes correctly by paying attention to the laundry symbols is important for keeping quality and reducing environmental impact. By paying attention to these symbols you prevent clothing damage such as shrinking and fading, you save energy, and you contribute to more lasting consumption. Every garment that lasts longer reduces clothing use and the number of times you have to shop. In short, a good knowledge of laundry symbols is not only good for your clothes, but also for your wallet.
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