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Laundry Care Symbols: A Complete Guide

The care symbols on a clothing tag are based on the ISO 3758 international standard and are used across most markets, though regions like North America sometimes use their own variant symbol set. Here is what the core symbols mean.

The washtub symbol

A tub filled with water indicates whether the item can be machine washed at home and shows the maximum recommended water temperature. The number inside the tub is that temperature limit. An X through the symbol means the item should not be washed at home.

The triangle symbol (bleach)

A triangle indicates whether the item can be bleached. An empty triangle means both chlorine and oxygen bleach are safe to use; a triangle with diagonal lines means only oxygen bleach is safe; an X through the triangle means no bleach of any kind.

The iron symbol

An iron icon with dots inside indicates the recommended ironing temperature -- more dots mean a higher temperature is safe to use. An X through the iron means the item should not be ironed at all.

The circle symbol (dry cleaning)

A circle indicates whether the item can be dry cleaned. A letter inside the circle (such as P or F) indicates which solvents are allowed, but even without that detail, simply noticing whether a circle is present at all gives a rough sense of whether dry cleaning is an option.

Drying symbols

A square symbol indicates how the item should be dried. A vertical line generally means line-dry (hang to dry), a horizontal line means dry flat, and diagonal lines inside the square typically mean dry in the shade.

The tumble-dry symbol

A square with a circle inside indicates whether the item can go in a tumble dryer, and at what temperature. As with the iron symbol, the number of dots indicates the recommended heat setting.

Symbols can vary between regions and standards

Most of the world's clothing labels follow the ISO 3758 standard, but a few regions -- notably the United States and Canada -- use a related but distinct symbol set defined by their own national standards body, so a symbol that looks unfamiliar may simply belong to a different regional system.

The simplest rule of thumb when in doubt

Even without memorizing every symbol precisely, an X through any symbol consistently means do not do this, so checking for an X first is often enough to avoid a costly mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the numbers on a care label mean?

The number inside the washtub symbol shows the maximum water temperature that fabric can safely handle. Washing at a higher temperature than indicated can cause shrinking or the garment losing its shape.

What should I do if the symbols on a label have faded and I cannot read them?

If the symbols are too worn to make out, following the general care instructions for a similar fabric or garment type is a reasonable fallback, and testing an inconspicuous area of the item before washing it fully can help you avoid ruining it.