International Laundry Symbols: Settings, Products, and Timing

You want to understand international laundry symbols on care labels. Maybe you’re looking at a garment from another country, or you see symbols you don’t recognize. International laundry symbols are standardized symbols that tell you how to wash, dry, bleach, and iron each garment. Here’s a guide to international laundry symbols, including settings, products, and timing.

International laundry symbols are standardized symbols defined by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and used on care labels worldwide. They indicate the recommended washing, drying, bleaching, and ironing methods for each garment. The symbols are designed to be understood internationally without language. Following these symbols prevents damage to your clothes.

To understand international laundry symbols, learn the five main categories (washing, drying, bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning), read the care label before washing, follow the recommended settings, use the right products, and time the wash correctly. Don’t ignore care labels, don’t exceed recommended settings, and don’t use prohibited products.

Washing Symbols

Machine Wash

A bucket of water means machine wash. Variations:

• Number inside: Water temperature in degrees Celsius (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 95)
• Dots inside: Temperature level (1 dot = 30C, 2 dots = 40C, 3 dots = 50C, 4 dots = 60C, 5 dots = 95C)
• Lines under bucket: Cycle type (1 line = permanent press, 2 lines = gentle/delicate)
• Hand inside: Hand wash only
• X over bucket: Do not wash

Settings

Symbol	Meaning	Temperature	Cycle	Timing
Bucket, 30	Cold wash	30C (86F)	Normal	30 to 45 min
Bucket, 40	Warm wash	40C (104F)	Normal	30 to 45 min
Bucket, 60	Hot wash	60C (140F)	Normal	45 to 60 min
Bucket, 95	Very hot wash	95C (203F)	Normal	60 to 90 min
Bucket, 1 line	Permanent press	As marked	Permanent press	30 to 45 min
Bucket, 2 lines	Gentle	As marked	Gentle/delicate	30 to 45 min
Bucket, hand	Hand wash	30C max	Hand wash	5 to 10 min
Bucket, X	Do not wash	N/A	N/A	N/A

Drying Symbols

Tumble Dry

A square with a circle inside means tumble dry. Variations:

• Dots inside circle: Heat level (1 dot = low, 2 dots = medium, 3 dots = high)
• Lines under square: Cycle type (1 line = permanent press, 2 lines = gentle)
• X over circle: Do not tumble dry
• Filled circle: No heat (air fluff)

Natural Drying

• Square with curved line: Line dry (hang on clothesline)
• Square with horizontal line: Flat dry (lay flat)
• Square with diagonal lines: Drip dry (hang dripping wet)
• Square with vertical lines: Dry in shade

Settings

Symbol	Meaning	Heat	Timing	Notes
Square, circle, 1 dot	Tumble dry low	Low	30 to 40 min	Delicates, synthetics
Square, circle, 2 dots	Tumble dry medium	Medium	40 to 60 min	Cotton, blends
Square, circle, 3 dots	Tumble dry high	High	40 to 60 min	Towels, bedding
Square, circle, X	Do not tumble dry	N/A	N/A	Air dry
Square, curved line	Line dry	N/A	2 to 4 hours	Hang on clothesline
Square, horizontal line	Flat dry	N/A	4 to 24 hours	Lay flat

Bleaching Symbols

Bleach Allowed

• Triangle: Any bleach allowed (chlorine or oxygen)
• Triangle with two lines: Oxygen bleach only
• Triangle with X: Do not bleach

Products

Symbol	Meaning	Products to Use	Products to Avoid
Triangle	Any bleach	Chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach	None
Triangle, two lines	Oxygen bleach only	OxiClean, oxygen bleach	Chlorine bleach
Triangle, X	Do not bleach	None	All bleach

Ironing Symbols

Iron

An iron shape means iron. Variations:

• Dots inside: Temperature (1 dot = low 110C, 2 dots = medium 150C, 3 dots = high 200C)
• X over iron: Do not iron
• Iron with steam lines and X: Do not steam

Settings

Symbol	Meaning	Temperature	Fabrics	Timing
Iron, 1 dot	Low	110C (230F)	Silk, synthetics	1 to 2 min per area
Iron, 2 dots	Medium	150C (300F)	Wool, polyester	2 to 3 min per area
Iron, 3 dots	High	200C (390F)	Cotton, linen	2 to 3 min per area
Iron, X	Do not iron	N/A	N/A	N/A

Dry Cleaning Symbols

Dry Clean

A circle means dry clean. Variations:

• Letter inside: Solvent type (A = any solvent, P = perchloroethylene, F = petroleum solvent)
• X over circle: Do not dry clean
• Circle with W: Wet clean only (professional wet cleaning)

How to Read a Care Label

Step 1: Read Left to Right

Read the symbols from left to right. The order is: washing, drying, bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning.

Step 2: Note the Settings

Note the recommended settings for each category (temperature, cycle, heat level).

Step 3: Note the Restrictions

Note any restrictions (do not wash, do not bleach, do not iron, do not dry clean).

Step 4: Choose the Right Products

Based on the symbols, choose the right products:

• Detergent: Tide Free and Gentle
• Stain remover: OxiClean Max Force Spray
• Grease remover: Dawn Ultra Dish Soap
• Food stain remover: Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam
• Ink remover: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover
• Disinfectant: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
• Machine cleaner: affresh Washing Machine Cleaner
• Booster: Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

Step 5: Time the Wash

Based on the symbols, time the wash:

• Normal cycle: 30 to 45 minutes
• Permanent press: 30 to 45 minutes
• Gentle cycle: 30 to 45 minutes
• Hot wash: 45 to 60 minutes
• Very hot wash: 60 to 90 minutes

What Not to Do

Don’t ignore care labels. Care labels are the manufacturer’s recommendation. Ignoring them can damage clothes.

Don’t exceed recommended settings. If the symbol says cold water, don’t use hot water. If the symbol says gentle cycle, don’t use heavy duty.

Don’t use bleach when prohibited. If the symbol says do not bleach, don’t use any bleach.

Don’t tumble dry when prohibited. If the symbol says do not tumble dry, air dry or line dry instead.

Don’t iron when prohibited. If the symbol says do not iron, don’t iron.

Don’t dry clean when prohibited. If the symbol says do not dry clean, don’t dry clean.

FAQ

What are international laundry symbols? International laundry symbols are standardized symbols defined by the ISO and used on care labels worldwide. They indicate the recommended washing, drying, bleaching, ironing, and dry cleaning methods for each garment.

How do you read international laundry symbols? Read the symbols from left to right on the care label. The order is: washing (bucket), drying (square), bleaching (triangle), ironing (iron), and dry cleaning (circle). Each symbol has variations indicated by dots, lines, numbers, or X marks.

What does a triangle with an X mean? A triangle with an X means do not bleach. Don’t use any bleach on that garment.

What does a bucket with a hand mean? A bucket with a hand inside means hand wash only. Don’t machine wash. Use cold water (30C max) and gentle detergent. Wash for 5 to 10 minutes.

What do the dots inside washing symbols mean? Dots inside the washing bucket indicate temperature: 1 dot = 30C (cold), 2 dots = 40C (warm), 3 dots = 50C (hot), 4 dots = 60C (very hot), 5 dots = 95C (boil wash).

References

1. ISO. “Textile Care Symbols.” iso.org.
2. Tide. “Laundry Symbols Guide.” tide.com.
3. The Spruce. “International Laundry Symbols.” thespruce.com.
4. Good Housekeeping. “Care Label Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.