Why do we use laundry symbols?
They were developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and were used rather than words so anyone - regardless of the language they use - can understand them. The symbols are all based on a handful of basic shapes - each relating to a different aspect of clothing care:
-
Bleaching (a triangle)
-
Washing (a tub with water)
-
Drying (a square)
-
Wringing (a twisted garment)
-
Dry cleaning (a circle)
-
Ironing (this one's easy - a stylised iron!).
Each symbol then has additions for a specific meaning. Some have lines added, but the most common is an 'X' or cross, which has an almost universal meaning - Don't do it!
Bleaching
-
A clear triangle means that any type of bleach can be used on the fabric.
-
A triangle with two slanted lines means, use a non-chlorine or oxygen-based bleach.
-
An X over a solid colour triangle means Do Not Bleach.
Not all garments will carry a bleach symbol, but that doesn't mean it's okay to use it - as a general rule, you should never use bleach on wool, silk, or leather garments.
Dry cleaning
-
A circle relates to dry cleaning.
-
Some dry cleaning symbols are also for the benefit of the dry cleaner, telling them which chemicals they should use. Here's how dry cleaning magic happens.
-
A circle means the item can be dry cleaned.
-
Letters inside the circle tell the dry cleaner which chemical and method to use.
-
An X or cross over the circle means it should not be dry cleaned.
Air drying
A square relates to line drying. While line drying is generally much safer for your clothes than using a clothes dryer, there are still a few things to be aware of.
-
A drooping line inside the square means you can hang your clothes outside to dry.
-
Three vertical lines inside the square mean drip dry indoors on a clothes horse or rack.
-
One horizontal line indicates you should lay the garment flat to keep its shape while it dries.
Handwashing
-
The symbol for hand wash only is, unsurprisingly, a hand!
-
This means you should wash the garment item by hand at 40°C or lower. Or, you can use your washing machine's hand wash cycle if it has one.
Ironing
The number of dots in the iron indicates temperature. The more dots, the hotter your iron can be.
-
One dot: low temperature (woollens, silk and other delicate fabrics).
-
Two dots: medium temperature (synthetics).
-
Three dots: high temperature (linen and cotton).
-
No dots: iron at any temperature (but first, some tips to help you save time doing your ironing).
-
An X or cross through the iron means the garment cannot be ironed.
-
An iron with two or three lines at the bottom and an X or cross over it means dry iron only – no steam ironing.
Synthetics and cottons
-
A plain tub with water indicates wash, rinse and spin intensity.
-
Clothing with this symbol shouldn't be wrung by hand
-
A plain tub means the garment can be spun and rinsed as normal.
-
A bar under the tub means use a low spin speed.
-
Two bars under the tub mean the clothing needs a gentle wash, but can be spun and rinsed normally.
-
An X or cross through the tub means the garment shouldn't be washed and may need to be dry-cleaned instead.
Washing temperatures
A tub with a number or dots shows maximum wash temperature.
-
One dot means a cold wash.
-
Two dots mean a warm wash.
-
Three dots mean a hot wash.
A tub with a number in it gives you a precise temperature guide and can range from 30 - 95°C. That's the maximum temperature - you can also wash in cooler or cold water if you prefer.
Tumble drying
A square with a circle in it indicates clothes dryer drying. The dots indicate 'up to' heat levels and here are a few tips to help tumble dry your clothes faster.
-
One dot – low heat.
-
Two dots – medium heat.
-
Three dots – high heat.
-
An X or cross over the symbol means the clothing is not suitable for the clothes dryer. It's best to follow the instructions for tumble drying as this is where most clothing damage happens!
Wringing symbols
A twisted knot indicates hand wringing. Wringing out your clothes can help to remove excess water, but it can also damage the fibres, so don't ignore the no wringing symbol.
-
A twisted knot symbol means the garment can be wrung out without damage.
-
An X or cross over the symbol means the garment is not suitable to be wrung out at all.
