Washing (tub)
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| Tub with a number |
Maximum wash temperature (e.g. 30, 40, 60°C) |
| Tub with a hand |
Hand wash only |
| Tub with a cross |
Do not wash (dry clean only) |
| Tub with a bar underneath |
Delicate/synthetic cycle |
Drying
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| Square with a circle |
Tumble drying allowed |
| Square with a crossed-out circle |
No tumble drying |
| Dots inside the circle (1, 2, 3) |
Dryer heat level (1 = low, 3 = high) |
| Plain square |
Flat or line drying recommended |
Ironing
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| Iron with 1 dot |
Low temperature (silk, synthetics) |
| Iron with 2 dots |
Medium temperature (wool, polyester) |
| Iron with 3 dots |
High temperature (cotton, linen) |
| Crossed-out iron |
Do not iron |
A delicate fabric (silk, wool) ironed at too high a temperature can scorch or warp irreversibly — when in doubt, test an inconspicuous spot or use the lowest indicated temperature.
Dry cleaning (circle)
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| Plain circle |
Dry cleaning possible |
| Crossed-out circle |
No dry cleaning |
| Letter inside the circle (P, F) |
Solvent type the cleaner can use |
Bleaching (triangle)
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| Empty triangle |
Chlorine bleaching allowed |
| Triangle with two diagonal lines |
Non-chlorine bleach only (oxygen-based) |
| Crossed-out triangle |
No bleaching |
Where to find these symbols
The care label is usually sewn into a side seam, the collar, or inside a pocket. The five basic symbols (washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional cleaning) almost always appear in that order, left to right or top to bottom.
Other useful symbols
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| A circle in a square, crossed out, with an X |
Do not spin-dry in the machine |
| A wavy line under the tub |
Very delicate cycle (wool, fragile fabrics) |
| A single line under the tub |
Standard delicate cycle |
These symbols are internationally standardised (ISO 3758) — so they stay readable regardless of the garment's country of origin, unlike the accompanying text, which isn't always translated.
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