Laundry Symbol Meanings: Settings, Products, and Timing
Laundry Symbol Meanings: Settings, Products, and Timing
You’re about to wash a new sweater. The care label has six tiny symbols, none of which you recognize. You toss it in with your regular load on warm. Two washes later, the sweater has shrunk two sizes and the wool has pilled into a fuzzy mess. The symbols were telling you exactly what to do. You just didn’t speak the language.
Laundry symbols are standardized icons printed on clothing care labels that indicate how to wash, dry, iron, and clean a garment without damaging it. They were standardized internationally in 2005 and are required on all clothing sold in the US.
To read laundry symbols, look for the basin shape (washing), square shape (drying), iron shape (ironing), and circle (dry cleaning). The dots, lines, and Xs inside each shape tell you the specific temperature, cycle, and restrictions.
Washing Symbols (The Basin)
The washing symbol is a washtub or basin. Variations tell you the water temperature and cycle:
Basin with no lines: Normal cycle. Machine wash on any setting with any temperature.
Basin with one line under it: Permanent press cycle. Use moderate agitation and lower spin speed to reduce wrinkling.
Basin with two lines under it: Gentle or delicate cycle. Use minimal agitation and low spin speed for fragile fabrics.
Basin with a hand in it: Hand wash only. Do not machine wash. Use cool water and gentle squeezing, no wringing.
Basin with an X over it: Do not wash. Dry clean only.
Temperature dots inside the basin:
- One dot: Cold water (30°C / 86°F)
- Two dots: Warm water (40°C / 104°F)
- Three dots: Hot water (50°C / 122°F)
- Four dots: Very hot water (60°C / 140°F)
Drying Symbols (The Square)
The drying symbol is a square. Variations tell you how to dry the garment:
Square with a circle inside: Tumble dry allowed. Dots inside indicate heat level (one dot = low, two dots = medium, three dots = high).
Square with a circle and one line under it: Tumble dry on permanent press setting.
Square with a circle and two lines under it: Tumble dry on gentle/delicate setting.
Square with a circle and an X over it: Do not tumble dry. Air dry only.
Square with a curved line at top: Line dry. Hang the garment on a line or hanger.
Square with horizontal lines inside: Dry flat. Lay the garment on a flat surface to maintain its shape.
Square with vertical lines inside: Drip dry. Hang the garment while wet and let it dry without wringing.
Square with a solid filled circle: Tumble dry, no heat. Use air fluff setting only.
Ironing Symbols (The Iron)
The ironing symbol is shaped like an iron. Variations:
Iron with no dots: Iron at any temperature.
Iron with one dot: Low heat (synthetics, nylon, acrylic).
Iron with two dots: Medium heat (wool, silk, polyester blends).
Iron with three dots: High heat (cotton, linen).
Iron with an X over it: Do not iron. The fabric will melt, scorch, or shrink.
Iron with steam lines and an X: Iron without steam. Steam can damage water-sensitive fabrics.
Dry Cleaning Symbols (The Circle)
The dry cleaning symbol is a circle. Variations:
Circle with a letter inside: Dry clean only. The letter indicates the solvent type (P = perchloroethylene, F = petroleum solvent).
Circle with an X over it: Do not dry clean. Some fabrics react badly to dry cleaning solvents.
Circle with the letter W: Wet clean only. A professional wet-cleaning process, not home washing.
Bleaching Symbols
Bleach symbols are small triangles:
Empty triangle: Any bleach allowed (chlorine or oxygen).
Triangle with two diagonal lines: Only oxygen bleach (non-chlorine). Chlorine bleach will damage the fabric.
Triangle with an X over it: Do not bleach. Any type of bleach will damage or discolor the fabric.
Quick Reference Table
| Symbol Shape | What It Controls | Most Common Variant |
|---|---|---|
| Basin | Wash cycle and temperature | Normal cycle, cold water |
| Square | Drying method | Tumble dry low |
| Iron | Ironing temperature | Medium heat |
| Circle | Dry cleaning | Dry clean only |
| Triangle | Bleach type | Non-chlorine bleach only |
FAQ
What do the symbols on clothing labels mean? Laundry symbols on care labels indicate how to wash, dry, iron, and clean a garment. The basin shape controls washing, the square controls drying, the iron controls ironing, the circle controls dry cleaning, and the triangle controls bleaching.
What does the circle with an X mean on clothing? A circle with an X over it means do not dry clean. The fabric may react badly to dry cleaning solvents. A circle with a letter inside (P or F) means dry clean only with that specific solvent.
What does one line under the wash symbol mean? One line under the wash basin means use the permanent press cycle, which has moderate agitation and lower spin speed to reduce wrinkling. Two lines mean use the gentle or delicate cycle.
What do the dots on laundry symbols mean? Dots indicate temperature or heat level. In the wash basin, dots indicate water temperature (one dot = cold, two = warm, three = hot). On the iron, dots indicate heat setting (one = low, two = medium, three = high).
What does a triangle with an X mean on clothing? A triangle with an X means do not bleach. Any type of bleach will damage or discolor the fabric. A triangle with two diagonal lines means only non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach is safe.
Can you machine wash clothes labeled hand wash only? It’s risky. Hand wash only means the fabric can’t handle machine agitation. If you must machine wash, use the delicate cycle in cold water with a mesh laundry bag, but there’s no guarantee the garment won’t be damaged.
What does dry flat mean on clothing labels? Dry flat means lay the garment on a clean, dry towel or flat surface to dry. This prevents stretching that occurs when wet garments are hung. It’s common for sweaters, knits, and delicate fabrics.
References
- Tide. “How to Do Laundry.” tide.com.
- Whirlpool. “Washing Machine Cycles Explained.” whirlpool.com.
- Maytag. “What Do Laundry Symbols Mean?” maytag.com.
- The Spruce. “Laundry Symbols Explained.” thespruce.com.
