Guide To Important Laundry Symbols

Often we are confused with the wash care instructions on our clothes. Modern fabrics are sourced from a variety of products and places and their care differs widely. Nylons, stockings, sheer fabrics cannot be treated the same way as your cotton t-shirts. Washing instructions for day-to-day use fabrics are completely different from cleaning instructions for a designer-label evening gown. The materials used in the gown could be delicate and the different layers and intricate work involved could be damaged by a normal wash cycle. This sort of clothes needs special care. You need to pay extra-attention to cleaning labels for such fabrics.

Here we will guide you through the important laundry symbols on your clothes and their meanings so you know how to care for them.

A bucket of water with a big cross across – This symbol indicates that these clothes should not be washed. There will other symbols which show how to wash for such clothes.

A bucket of water with hand symbol – This symbol indicates that these fabrics need to be washed by hand.

A bucket of water – This indicates that the clothes can be put through a normal cycle in a washing machine

A bucket of water with temperature – This symbol indicates that the fabrics can be washed in a normal cycle in the washing machine with the heat not exceeding the temperature indicated. Temperature could be 30 degrees or 40 degrees for delicate fabrics and synthetics, 60 – 90 degrees for cottons and linens. Exceeding the temperature indicated can permanently damage the clothes.

A bucket of water with a line underneath – This indicates that the clothes need to be washed in setting that retains the permanent press of the clothes when washed in a washing machine. A cold rinse before a reduced spin cycle helps maintain the shape of fabrics.

A bucket of water with a two lines underneath – This is a delicate wash setting. The spin speed needs to be reduced and the clothes washed with a gentle agitation so the press of clothes are retained. The time of wash cycle is also reduced.

Empty triangle – This indicates clothes can be washed with any commercially available bleaching agent.

Triangle symbol with two parallel lines inside – This indicates that only non-chlorine based bleaching agents should be used for the clothes.

Solid-filled triangle with a bold cross – This indicates that such clothes should not be bleached.

A square with circle inside – This indicates that clothes can be dryed at the highest temperature setting in the dryer.

A square with circle with a single dot – This indicates that clothes can be dryed at a low temperature setting in the dryer.

A square with circle with two dots – This indicates that clothes can be dryed at a medium temperature setting in the dryer.

A square with circle with three dots – This indicates that clothes can be dryed at a high temperature setting in the dryer.

A square with solid-filled circle – This indicates that dryer can be used with only cold air and no temperature setting.

A square with solid filled circle with a cross across – This indicates that the clothes cannot be put through a tumble dryer. An alternate method to dry the clothes is usually indicated.

A square with semi-circle at top – This indicates that clothes can be hang dried.

A square with three vertical lines inside – This indicates that clothes can be drip dried

A square with a single horizontal line inside – This indicates that the clothes needs to flat dried

An iron symbol – This indicates that the clothes can be ironed at any high temperature setting with or without steam.

An iron symbol with two dots inside – This indicates that the ironing can be done at a medium temperature setting.

An iron symbol with three dots inside – This indicates that the ironing can be done at a high temperature setting.

An iron with a bold cross across – This indicates that the clothes cannot be ironed as it can damage clothes.

An empty circle – This symbol indicates that clothes can be dry-cleaned with any solvent.

Letter A enclosed in a circle – Only petroleum based solvents should be used to dry-clean such clothes

Letter F enclosed in a circle – Any solvent except trichloroethylene can be used to dry-clean these clothes.

The above laundry-care labels explanations should help you care for your clothes according to the instructions of the manufacturer.