What do the different washing labels on clothing mean?

Explaining meanings and concepts.Clothing washing symbols.Signs.

Clothing varies in color, texture, and material, making it impossible to wash and care for all in the same way. Nowadays, clothing labels include symbolic washing instructions to help with care and cleaning.

However, these washing symbols can often be very complex, and their meanings aren’t always clear at first glance. The washing symbols on clothes are international, and learning their meanings can help you extend the life of your garments and prevent premature damage.

The meaning of each washing symbol on clothing.

Dry cleaning symbol.

• If the care label has a small circle, it indicates that the garment should be dry cleaned.
• If a lowercase letter is inside the circle, it specifies which chemicals should be used for dry cleaning.
• If there is a line beneath the circle on the right side, it means the dry cleaning should be done at a low heat.
• If there is a line beneath the circle on the left side, it means the dry cleaning should be done for a short duration.
• If there is an “X” over the dry cleaning symbol, the garment should not be dry cleaned.

Ironing symbol.

If the ironing symbol has no dots or lines, you can iron the garment at any temperature.

More dots on the ironing symbol indicate the amount of heat that can be applied.

1 dot:Delicate fabrics like silk and wool.

2 dots:Regular fabrics.

3 dots:Linen, cotton, and other sturdy fabrics.

If there is an “X” on the ironing symbol, do not iron that garment.

If the ironing symbol has an “X” and also has two or three lines coming from the bottom, it means to iron the fabric dry and not with steam.

Symbol for machine drying.

• As explained in the housekeeping section of SelMagz, if the label has a circle inside a square, you can use the dryer.Dots inside the circle indicate the temperature that can be applied. One dot means low heat, two dots mean slightly higher heat, and three dots mean high heat.
• If there is an “X” on the symbol, do not dry the garment in the machine.
• Symbol for washing synthetic and cotton fabrics.

If your garment has a tub symbol, you can wash it in the washing machine.

1. Lines under the tub indicate the method of rinsing and extracting water from the garment in the washing machine. These garments should not be wrung by hand.
2. An “X” over the tub means the garment cannot be washed and may need to be dry cleaned.
3. If there are no lines under the tub, it means the rinsing and extraction can be done normally in the washing machine.
4. One line means the spin speed should be low.
5. Two lines mean the garment needs a gentle wash program, but it can still be rinsed and extracted in the regular cycle.
6. The number inside the tub symbol indicates the maximum temperature that can be used. The number shows the highest wash temperature that can vary from 30 to 95 degrees Celsius.
7. Many people claim that using 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees is key to saving money and energy. Therefore, you might prefer to use a lower temperature than the guide suggests. However, it’s worth noting that 30 degrees isn’t ideal for tough stains like grease and oil.

Symbol for wringing clothes.

Wringing clothes by hand can cause serious damage. If you’re unsure about wringing out extra water by hand, pay attention to the labels:

The wringing symbol means it’s okay to wring the garment. However, if there’s an “X” over the wringing symbol, do not wring the garment.

Symbol for natural drying.

If there is a horizontal line in a square, it means to lay the garment flat to dry to avoid deformity.

• As you will read in this section of SelMagz housekeeping tips, a curved line inside a square means you can hang the garment outdoors on a line to dry.
• If there are three vertical lines inside the square, it means you should hang the garment indoors in a way that prevents wrinkling.
• Symbol for hand washing.

If the care label has a tub with a hand, it means the garment can be washed by hand or on a gentle 40 degrees Celsius / 104 degrees Fahrenheit wash cycle or lower.

• Washing delicate clothing items like cashmere and silk by hand is better to prevent stretching and damage.
• Bleaching symbol on the label.

Before pouring bleach on a fabric or item, it’s worth checking the label to ensure it’s safe to use.

If you see an empty triangle on the fabric or item, it means you can use a diluted cold bleach solution if necessary. Lines inside the triangle refer to the use of non-chlorine bleach, which doesn’t harm the fabric color. However, if there is an “X” on the triangle, do not use bleach.

Symbol for dry cleaning garments.