Everything you need to know before doing laundry - an overview of laundry symbols. First, familiarize yourself with the meaning of the basic symbols. Subsequently, we will explain what more detailed information these symbols are extended by.
Basic laundry care symbols
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Bath tub | Washing symbol |
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Iron | Ironing symbol |
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A square with a circle inside | Tumble dry symbol |
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Square | Free air drying symbol |
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Triangle | Whitening symbol |
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Wheel | Dry cleaning symbol |
Washing symbols
Washing symbols on textiles give specific instructions on how to properly care for clothes and prevent them from being damaged during washing. The basic washing symbol is the icon of a tub with water, which can be supplemented with a number, an underline or other characters. The number inside the tub indicates the maximum temperature at which the fabric can be safely washed in the washing machine. Lower temperatures are gentler on fabrics and paints, while higher temperatures are suitable for more resistant materials and heavy dirt.
If the tub is underlined, the textile requires a gentler wash, which includes a gentler program and lower spin intensity. The double underline indicates even more caution and is intended for very sensitive materials such as silk or wool. The symbol of a hand immersed in a tub indicates the need for hand washing, usually in water with a maximum temperature of 40 °C, and the need to avoid aggressive wringing.
If the tub symbol is crossed out, it means that the textile must not be washed with water and another care method must be chosen.
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Washing mark with a number: specifies the maximum washing temperature, you can wash at a lower temperature without problems wash at max 60°C |
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Washing symbol with dots: the number of dots shows the maximum washing temperature. one dot = max 30 °C two dots = max 40 °C three dots = max 60 °C |
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Symbol of the hand in the tub: wash only by hand and at a maximum temperature of 40°C. |
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Crossed out tub: no washing cannot be washed in the washing machine or by hand |
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Underlined tub: gentle washing and spinning with a lower number of revolutions any number inside specifies the maximum wash temperature |
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Double-underlined tub: very gentle washing and spinning at very low speeds any number inside specifies the maximum wash temperature |
Ironing symbols
Iron marks are represented by an iron icon and provide information on the maximum temperature at which textiles can be safely ironed. The single point iron inside means the fabric can be ironed at a low temperature, up to 110 °C maximum, and is designed for sensitive materials such as synthetics. The iron with two points allows a medium temperature, up to 150°C, which is suitable for example for wool and mixed fabrics. The symbol with three dots indicates the possibility of ironing at a high temperature, up to 200°C, and is suitable for durable materials such as linen or cotton. If there is a crossed line through the iron, the fabric must not be ironed at all, as it could be damaged.
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Iron with one dot inside: Iron at a maximum temperature of 110 °C |
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Iron with two dots inside: Iron at a maximum temperature of 150 °C |
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Iron with three dots inside: Iron at a maximum temperature of 200 °C |
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Crossed out iron : no ironing |
Tumble dryer symbols
Tumble dry marks are represented by a square with a circle inside, indicating whether the fabric can be safely tumble dried and at what temperature. The dots inside the circle indicate the maximum drying temperature. One dot means drying at a low temperature, suitable for example for delicate materials, synthetics or mixed fabrics. The two dots indicate the medium temperature that is normally recommended for most garments such as cotton fabrics. Three dots, although rarer, indicate a high drying temperature, intended more for firm materials such as towels or durable work clothes.
If the symbol is crossed out, it means that the textile is not suitable for drying in the dryer. This recommendation mainly applies to delicate or delicate fabrics such as wool, silk or some specially treated materials that could shrink, damage or lose their shape at high temperatures.
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Tumble dry at low temperature (up to 50°C) |
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Tumble dry at normal temperature (up to 80 °C) |
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Do not tumble dry |
Air drying symbols
Air drying marks are indicated by a square without a circle inside and are used to recommend the appropriate method of drying the fabric. A square with a horizontal line inside means that the laundry should be dried flat, which is suitable for warp-prone materials such as knitwear. The symbol with three vertical lines inside recommends leaving the laundry to drain, which is ideal for delicate fabrics. If there is a diagonal line in the corner of the square, the fabric should be dried in the shade to prevent color fading or damage from direct sunlight. A combination of these elements can specify more precise drying conditions, such as flat in the shade.
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Can be drip-dried: laundry can be dried, e.g. on a clothesline |
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Can be dried spread out (do not hang) |
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Dry only in the shade |
Chemical cleaning symbols
Chemical treatment marks on fabrics provide information on how the garment can be chemically cleaned, that is, through professional cleaning services that use different chemicals to remove dirt. The symbols are shown as circles and each one has a specific meaning.
If there is a letter "P" in the circle, it means that the fabric is suitable for cleaning with perchlorethylene cleaning agent or other similar solvent. This method is commonly used for clothes that cannot be washed with water.
The letter "F" in the circle indicates that the fabric is suitable for cleaning with hydrocarbon-based solvents, which are gentler on materials such as delicate fabrics and clothing that cannot come into contact with water. This type of cleaning is also suitable for synthetic fabrics.
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The letter P in the circle means that purification in tetrachlorethylene is allowed. |
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Allowed to be cleaned in tetrachlorethylene - very gentle care |
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The letter F in a circle means that the product can be cleaned with hydrocarbon solvents . |
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Do not dry clean |
Wet cleaning symbols
Symbols for wet cleaning are marked with the letter "W" (Water). This symbol indicates that the garment or fabric could be cleaned with water, usually by professional cleaning services that use special water solutions.
If the water cleaning symbol is shown as the letter "W" in a circle, it means that the textile is intended for cleaning by water methods, which include water and detergents, but without the use of chemical solvents. This symbol is often used for fabrics that cannot be washed normally in a domestic washing machine, but can be cleaned in professional cleaners.
If there is a number in the "W" symbol (for example "W1" or "W2"), this means specific instructions for the type of cleaning:
- W1: Gentle water cleaning, with low water temperature and gentle detergents.
- W2: Slightly stronger water cleaning that can use higher temperature and stronger cleaning agents, but still without the use of chemical solvents.
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Professional wet cleaning |
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Professional wet cleaning - gentle care |
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Professional wet cleaning - very gentle care |
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Prohibition of wet cleaning |
Bleaching symbols
Bleaching marks on fabrics provide instructions on whether and how the fabric can be bleached. The main symbol of bleaching is the triangle, which can appear in different variations. An uncrossed empty triangle indicates that the fabric can be bleached with any agent containing chlorine or other oxidizing bleaches. However, this method is becoming less common due to its aggressiveness towards textile fibers and the environment.
A triangle with two slanting lines inside symbolizes the option to bleach only with chlorine-free products, i.e. oxygen bleaches, which are gentler on fibers and usually more environmentally friendly. If the triangle is crossed out, bleaching by any means is not allowed to avoid damage to the fabric. This symbol is often displayed on colored textiles or delicate materials that could lose their color or texture when bleached.
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Allows bleaching with chlorine and non-chlorine agents |
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Allows bleaching with chlorine and non-chlorine agents an older version of the symbol |
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Prohibits bleaching with chlorine products. The use of chlorine-free products is allowed. |
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No bleaching |
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No bleaching alternative appearance of the pictogram |
Additional information on laundry symbols
Washing symbols are defined by ISO 3758 , which is an international standard for textile treatment symbols. This symbol system is based on pictograms that are simple and understandable even without a textual explanation. The international standard was created to unify textile care guidelines worldwide to ensure that users have consistent and correct information regardless of country or language.
An international comparison of symbols shows that most countries use the system defined by the ISO standard, while different regions may have specific nuances in the application of symbols. For example, maintenance symbols based on ISO 3758 are commonly used in Europe, while in the US several other systems specific to certain fabric types or manufacturers may be available. However, globalization and standardization have made the use of ISO symbols increasingly universal.
