The Ultimate Guide to Laundry Care Label Symbols and Meanings
Washing Symbols
Understanding a washing label’s meaning is an essential part of caring for your clothing, and key to helping them last longer and stay softer.
Washing Symbols Guide:
- Washing tub with an ‘X’ through it — do not wash
- Washing tub by itself — machine wash
- Washing tub with a hand in it — hand wash
- Washing tub with one line underneath — machine wash, permanent press
- Washing tub with two lines underneath — machine wash, gentle or delicate
Washing Temperature Symbols
The last thing you need is to misinterpret a washing temperature symbol and end up with a cashmere cardigan that’s three sizes too small. Here’s how to decode washing temperature symbols.
Washing Temperature Symbols Guide:
- Washing tub with one dot — machine wash cold: 30ºC or 85ºF
- Washing tub with two dots — machine wash warm: 40°C or 105°F
- Washing tub with three dots — machine wash warm/hot: 50°C or 120°F
- Washing tub with four dots — machine wash hot: 60°C or 140°F
- Washing tub with five dots — machine wash sanitize: 70°C or 160°F
Drying Symbols
There are many ways to dry your clothes. And just like with water temperature, drying your clothes properly can be the difference between a shirt you wear again and one that ends up in the rag bin. Here are drying symbols to look out for on laundry care labels and what they mean.
Air Drying Symbols Guide:
- Square with three vertical lines — drip dry
- Square with two diagonal lines in the upper corner — dry in the shade
- Square with a crescent at the top — hang dry
- Square with a horizontal line through the middle — dry flat
Dryer Cycle Symbols Guide:
- Square with a clear circle in the middle — tumble dry
- Square with a black circle in the middle — no heat
- Square with a circle and a dot in the middle — low heat
- Square with a circle and two dots in the middle — medium heat
- Square with a circle and three dots in the middle — high heat
- Square with a circle, one dot in the middle, and a line underneath — permanent press
- Square with a circle, one dot in the middle, and two lines underneath — delicate
- Square with a circle and an ‘X’ through it — do not tumble dry
Permanent Press Symbols Guide:
- Square with a circle inside and a line underneath — permanent press: no heat
- Square with a circle inside a dot in the middle and a line underneath — permanent press: low heat
- Square with a circle inside, two dots in the middle, and a line underneath — permanent press: medium heat
Gentle Dryer Symbols Guide:
- Square with a circle inside and two lines underneath — no heat
- Square with a circle inside, a dot in the middle, and two lines underneath — low heat
- Square with a circle inside, two dots in the middle, and two lines underneath — medium heat
Ironing Symbols
If you’ve ever ironed a shirt only to realize you melted the sleeve, you know the importance of following ironing symbols on a laundry care label. Of course, if you don’t have time to iron, you can always use Truly Free Home Wrinkle and Static Remover to eliminate wrinkles in minutes.
Ironing Symbols Guide:
- Iron with a dot in the middle — low heat: 110°C or 230°F
- Iron with two dots in the middle — medium heat: 150°C or 300°F
- Iron with three dots in the middle — high heat: 200°C or 390°F
- Iron with an ‘X’ through it — do not iron
- Iron with lines at the bottom and an ‘X’ through it — no steam
Dry Cleaning Symbols
There are certain fabrics that you simply shouldn’t wash at home. Here’s how to know if your clothing needs a trip to the dry cleaners.
Dry Cleaning Symbols Guide:
- Clear circle — dry clean
- Circle with an ‘X’ through it — do not dry clean
- Circle with an ‘A,’ ‘P,’ or ‘F’ in the middle — indicates instructions for dry cleaners
The Bottom Line
No matter what your laundry care label symbols mean, if you’re washing your clothes at home, make sure you’re using a safe, non-toxic laundry detergent, like Truly Free Home Laundry Wash. Not only will you keep toxic laundry detergent residue from coating your clothing, you’ll safeguard your family from harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, and hormonal issues. Make the switch to Truly Free Home today and enjoy a truly free laundry routine you can trust.
