Laundry Symbols Chart: How to Read Every Tag on Your Clothes

You bought a new sweater, looked at the care tag, and saw a row of symbols that look like ancient hieroglyphics. You guessed, washed it on hot, and now it fits your kid sister. Those symbols aren’t random. They’re an international standard that tells you exactly how to clean each garment. Ignoring them is the most common way people ruin clothes.

Laundry symbols are standardized icons printed on clothing care labels that indicate the appropriate washing method, water temperature, bleach type, drying method, and ironing settings. They were developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and are used globally on all clothing.

To read a laundry symbols chart, look for five symbol shapes: a washtub (washing), a square (drying), a triangle (bleaching), an iron (ironing), and a circle (dry cleaning). Dots inside each symbol indicate temperature or heat level. A crossed-out symbol means don’t do it.

Washing Symbols Chart

Symbol	Meaning	What to Do
Washtub, no lines	Normal cycle	Standard wash with any temperature shown
Washtub, one line under	Permanent press	Use permanent press cycle
Washtub, two lines under	Gentle cycle	Use delicate cycle, minimal agitation
Hand in washtub	Hand wash only	Don’t machine wash, cold water and gentle soap
Crossed-out washtub	Do not wash	Dry clean only
Washtub with 30	Maximum 30C (cold)	Don’t exceed cold water
Washtub with 40	Maximum 40C (warm)	Don’t exceed warm water
Washtub with 60	Maximum 60C (hot)	Don’t exceed hot water
Washtub with 95	Maximum 95C (boiling)	Can boil (rare, usually white cotton)

Temperature dots in washtub:

• One dot = 30C (cold)
• Two dots = 40C (warm)
• Three dots = 50C (hot)
• Four dots = 60C (very hot)
• Five dots = 95C (boiling)

Drying Symbols Chart

Symbol	Meaning	What to Do
Square with circle	Tumble dry allowed	Use dryer on appropriate heat
Square with circle, one dot	Tumble dry low	Low heat only
Square with circle, two dots	Tumble dry medium	Medium heat
Square with circle, three dots	Tumble dry high	High heat OK
Square with circle, two lines under	Tumble dry delicate	Use delicate dryer setting
Square with circle, solid circle inside	No heat tumble dry	Air fluff, no heat
Crossed-out square with circle	Do not tumble dry	Air dry only
Square with curved line	Line dry	Hang on a clothesline
Square with horizontal line	Flat dry	Lay flat to dry
Square with vertical lines	Drip dry	Hang dripping wet
Square with diagonal lines	Dry in shade	Keep out of direct sun

Who should skip the dryer: Garments labeled do not tumble dry include silk, wool, lace, anything with elastic, and most activewear. Heat breaks down elastic fibers and shrinks natural fibers.

Bleaching Symbols Chart

Symbol	Meaning	What to Do
Empty triangle	Any bleach allowed	Chlorine or oxygen bleach OK
Triangle with two lines	Oxygen bleach only	No chlorine bleach
Triangle with CL	Chlorine bleach only	No oxygen bleach
Crossed-out triangle	Do not bleach	No bleach of any kind

Most colored garments have the oxygen-only or no-bleach symbol. Chlorine bleach will fade or destroy the dye on colored fabrics.

Ironing Symbols Chart

Symbol	Meaning	Temperature	Fabric Type
Iron, one dot	Low heat	110C	Silk, synthetics, delicate
Iron, two dots	Medium heat	150C	Wool, polyester blends
Iron, three dots	High heat	200C	Cotton, linen
Iron with steam lines	Steam ironing OK	Can use steam	Most fabrics
Crossed-out iron	Do not iron	Don’t iron at all	Dry clean only items
Crossed-out steam	No steam	Dry iron only	Some synthetics

Dry Cleaning Symbols Chart

Symbol	Meaning	What to Do
Empty circle	Dry clean only	Take to professional cleaner
Circle with letter A	Any solvent	Standard dry cleaning
Circle with letter P	Any solvent except trichloroethylene	Most common dry clean
Circle with letter F	Petroleum solvent only	Limited dry cleaning
Circle with W	Professional wet cleaning	Specialized wet cleaning
Crossed-out circle	Do not dry clean	Can be washed at home

If you see a dry cleaning symbol without a cross, take the garment to a professional cleaner. Don’t attempt home dry cleaning methods on these items.

Products That Help You Follow Care Labels

Using the right products makes it easier to follow care label instructions:

For gentle cycle items: Use a mesh laundry bag to protect delicates. Use Tide Free & Gentle which is free of dyes and perfumes.

For hand wash items: Use a gentle detergent diluted in cold water. Don’t wring or twist. Press water out gently and lay flat to dry.

For items needing oxygen bleach: Use OxiClean Max Force Spray for stain removal on colorfast fabrics.

For maintaining your washer: Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly to prevent residue.

Quick Reference: The 10 Most Common Symbols

1. Washtub with 40 = Warm wash (40C), the most common wash setting
2. Square with circle, one dot = Tumble dry low, safe for most clothes
3. Iron, two dots = Medium iron, for cotton and poly blends
4. Triangle with two lines = Oxygen bleach only, no chlorine
5. Washtub with two lines = Gentle cycle, for delicates
6. Crossed-out triangle = No bleach, common on colored items
7. Square with horizontal line = Flat dry, for sweaters and knits
8. Hand in washtub = Hand wash only, for silk and wool
9. Crossed-out square with circle = No tumble dry, for delicates
10. Circle with P = Dry clean with any solvent except trichloroethylene

FAQ

What do the laundry symbols on clothes mean? A washtub means machine wash, a square means dry, a triangle means bleach, an iron means iron, and a circle means dry clean. Dots inside indicate temperature or heat level. A crossed-out symbol means don’t do it.

How do you read laundry symbols? Identify the symbol shape first: washtub (washing), square (drying), triangle (bleaching), iron (ironing), circle (dry cleaning). Then check for dots (temperature), lines (cycle type), or a cross (don’t do it).

What does a crossed-out washtub mean? A crossed-out washtub means do not wash the garment. These items are typically dry clean only. Don’t attempt to machine wash or hand wash them.

What does one line under a washtub mean? One line under a washtub means use the permanent press cycle, which has moderate agitation and lower spin speed. Two lines mean use the delicate or gentle cycle with minimal agitation.

What temperature do the dots on laundry symbols represent? One dot means 30C (cold), two dots mean 40C (warm), three dots mean 50C (hot), four dots mean 60C (very hot), and five dots mean 95C (boiling). Match the dots to your machine’s temperature settings.

What does a crossed-out triangle mean on clothes? A crossed-out triangle means do not bleach. Don’t use chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach, or any bleaching product on the garment. Bleach can destroy the dye and weaken the fibers.

Where can I find a printable laundry symbols chart? You can print the chart above or find printable versions on the Federal Trade Commission website (ftc.gov) or the American Cleaning Institute website (cleaninginstitute.org). Keep it near your washing machine for quick reference.

References

1. International Organization for Standardization. “ISO 3758:2012 Textile Care Symbols.” iso.org.
2. Federal Trade Commission. “Clothing and Textiles Care Labeling.” ftc.gov.
3. American Cleaning Institute. “Laundry Symbols Guide.” cleaninginstitute.org.
4. The Spruce. “Laundry Symbols: What They Mean.” thespruce.com.