What do laundry symbols mean? A simple guide to care labels
By the Dressy team · 2026-10-30
The little pictures on a clothing label look like a secret code, but there are only five basic shapes. Learn those and you can read almost any label. The symbols follow an international standard, so they are the same on clothes sold in most countries.
1. The wash tub: washing
A tub with a number: the highest water temperature in °C (for example 30, 40 or 60).
One bar under the tub: a gentler wash. Two bars: a very gentle wash.
A hand in the tub: wash by hand, in water no hotter than 40 °C.
A crossed-out tub: do not wash.
2. The triangle: bleach
An empty triangle: bleach is allowed.
A triangle with two diagonal lines: only non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach.
A crossed-out triangle: do not bleach.
3. The square: drying
A circle inside the square: tumble drying is allowed. One dot means low heat, two dots mean normal heat.
A crossed-out tumble dryer: do not tumble dry.
A curved line at the top of the square: hang on a line.
A horizontal line inside the square: dry flat.
Diagonal lines in the corner: dry in the shade.
4. The iron: ironing
One dot: low heat, up to about 110 °C. Two dots: medium, up to about 150 °C. Three dots: high, up to about 200 °C.
A crossed-out iron: do not iron.
Crossed-out steam lines under the iron: do not use steam.
5. The circle: professional cleaning
An empty circle: professional dry cleaning is possible.
A letter inside (such as P or F): tells the cleaner which solvent to use. A W means professional wet cleaning.
A crossed-out circle: do not dry clean.
Two quick rules
Bars under any symbol mean gentler treatment: a milder cycle, less heat or less spin. And a cross over any symbol means "do not". When two instructions seem to clash, follow the more careful one.