How to Read Laundry Care Symbols: Wash, Bleach, Dry, Iron and Dry Clean
Care labels use five basic shapes. Learn the tub, triangle, square, iron and circle, plus what the dots and lines add, and you can read almost any tag.
Laundry care symbols use five basic shapes: a washtub for washing, a triangle for bleaching, a square for drying, an iron for ironing and a circle for professional cleaning. Dots show heat (more dots, hotter), lines under a symbol mean a gentler cycle, and an X through any symbol means do not. Follow the most restrictive instruction on the tag, and when there is no tag, wash cold and gentle and air dry.
The symbols save space and work across languages, but the system has small differences between countries. In the US, care labels fall under the Federal Trade Commission’s Care Labeling Rule, which permits symbols based on the ASTM standard. The UK, Europe and much of the world use the very similar GINETEX/ISO 3758 system.
Washing symbols (the washtub)
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Washtub | Machine wash, normal cycle |
| Washtub with one line underneath | Permanent press or synthetic cycle (medium agitation, cool-down rinse) |
| Washtub with two lines underneath | Gentle or delicate cycle |
| Washtub with a hand | Hand wash only |
| Washtub with an X | Do not wash |
| Washtub with dots | Maximum water temperature (see below) |
| Washtub with a number | Maximum temperature in °C (common on UK and European labels) |
What the temperature dots mean
| Dots | Approximate maximum | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| 1 dot | 30°C / about 85°F | Cold |
| 2 dots | 40°C / about 105°F | Warm |
| 3 dots | 50°C / about 120°F | Warm to hot |
| 4 dots | 60°C / about 140°F | Hot |
| 5 dots | 70°C / about 160°F | Hotter |
| 6 dots | 95°C / about 200°F | Very hot |
The temperature is a maximum, not a target. Washing cooler is fine as long as the detergent works at that temperature.
Bleach symbols (the triangle)
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Empty triangle | Any bleach may be used when needed |
| Triangle with two diagonal lines | Non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach only |
| Solid or crossed-out triangle | Do not bleach |
Some older labels show “Cl” inside the triangle to mean chlorine bleach is allowed. If you do bleach, follow the product label, ventilate the room, and never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners. Our guide to whitening clothes without bleach covers oxygen bleach.
Drying symbols (the square)
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Square with a circle | Tumble dry, any heat |
| Circle with 1, 2 or 3 dots | Tumble dry low, medium or high heat |
| Circle filled in (US labels) | Tumble dry, no heat or air only |
| Circle with one or two lines under the square | Permanent press or delicate dryer cycle |
| Tumble dry symbol with an X | Do not tumble dry |
| Square with a curved line at the top | Line dry |
| Square with three vertical lines | Drip dry (hang wet, do not wring) |
| Square with one horizontal line | Dry flat |
| Square with two diagonal lines in the corner | Dry in the shade |
| Twisted fabric with an X | Do not wring |
Ironing symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Iron with 1 dot | Low heat (synthetics such as nylon and acrylic) |
| Iron with 2 dots | Medium heat (polyester, silk, wool) |
| Iron with 3 dots | High heat (cotton, linen) |
| Iron with lines below crossed out | No steam |
| Iron with an X | Do not iron |
Professional care symbols (the circle)
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Empty circle | Dry clean |
| Circle with a letter (A, P or F) | Tells the dry cleaner which solvent to use |
| Circle with W | Professional wet cleaning |
| Circle with an X | Do not dry clean |
The letters are instructions for the cleaner, not for you. You only need to know that a circle means a professional should handle it.
What “dry clean” and “dry clean only” really mean
The FTC’s care labeling guidance says a label only has to give one safe cleaning method, either washing or dry cleaning, even if both would work. So a garment labeled “dry clean” may also be washable, though washing it is at your own risk. “Dry clean only” is different: the FTC says it may be used only when the maker has evidence that washing would damage the item. Treat it as a firm instruction, especially for tailored jackets, structured garments, some silks, rayon and items with linings or trims.
US vs UK and European labels
- Shapes are the same. The tub, triangle, square, iron and circle mean the same thing.
- Temperatures: UK and European labels often print the number in °C inside the tub; US labels usually use dots.
- No-heat drying: US labels may show a filled-in circle for no heat; this detail is less common elsewhere.
- Words: the FTC says symbols are optional in the US as long as care instructions appear, and many US labels print words alongside or instead.
Bottom line
Learn the five shapes and the two modifiers: dots for heat and lines for gentler cycles. An X always means do not. When a tag says “dry clean only,” take it seriously; when it just says “dry clean,” washing may be possible but carries some risk. Reading the tag first saves more clothes than any stain remover. For bulky items like a down comforter, the label also tells you whether to use a machine at all.
FAQ
What does the triangle with lines mean on a clothing label?
Use only non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach. A crossed-out or solid triangle means no bleach at all.
What if a garment has no care label?
Wash it cold on a gentle cycle or by hand with mild detergent, and air dry. Test any stain remover on a hidden spot.
Does one dot mean cold water?
Yes, roughly. One dot is a maximum of about 30°C (85°F), which corresponds to a cold or cool setting on most machines.
Can I hand wash something that says dry clean?
Sometimes, if it only says “dry clean” and the fabric is sturdy, but there is a risk of shrinking or color loss. If it says “dry clean only,” do not wash it.
