Laundry symbol decoder
Every main care symbol from ISO 3758 — the tub, triangle, square, iron and circle — with its exact documented meaning. Tap any symbol for the detail card, or search for what you see on the label.
Find your symbol
31 symbols, drawn and explained. Meanings verified against GINETEX's published definitions (Last verified: October 2026).
Symbol details
The same symbols, one card each, with the documented meaning and the practical translation. Symbols appear on the label in a fixed order: wash → bleach → dry → iron → professional care.
Washing — the tub
Machine wash 30 °C
The number is the maximum water temperature in °C, which must not be exceeded. With no bars underneath, this is a normal wash cycle — GINETEX groups 30 °C cycles as "fine wash".
Machine wash 30 °C, mild
One bar under the tub means a milder cycle with reduced mechanical action — on most machines, the easy-care or gentle cycle. The 30 °C limit still applies.
Machine wash 40 °C
Maximum water temperature 40 °C — the most common label value. GINETEX describes 40 °C cycles as "coloured wash". See what the temperature numbers really mean.
Machine wash 40 °C, mild
One bar = reduced mechanical action. On US brands this reads as "permanent press"; in ISO terms it is simply a gentler programme at or below 40 °C.
Machine wash 40 °C, very mild
Two bars = a very mild washing cycle — GINETEX's own example is woollens. Use the wool or hand-wash programme, low spin. More in one bar vs two bars.
Machine wash 60 °C
Maximum water temperature 60 °C. Typical for towels, bedding and sturdy cottons; a 60 °C mild (one-bar) "easy care" variant also exists.
Machine wash 95 °C
The boil wash — maximum water temperature 95 °C. Reserved for sturdy white cottons and linens that can take it.
Hand wash only
No machine agitation. GINETEX's current definition gives a maximum of 40 °C for hand washing; the 2023 revision of ISO 3758 also added an "ambient" hand-wash symbol (roughly 20–30 °C). Short, gentle treatment — never soak for long, wring, or scrub.
Do not wash
The article must not be washed — it may be sensitive to any wet treatment. That includes hand washing. The usual route is professional cleaning (check the circle symbol on the same label).
Bleaching — the triangle
Any bleach allowed
An empty triangle means both chlorine and oxygen bleach are tolerated when needed. Still follow the detergent's directions and never pour undiluted bleach straight onto fabric.
Oxygen bleach only
Two oblique lines inside the triangle mean only oxygen (non-chlorine) bleach may be used. Chlorine bleach is not permitted. Most "colour-safe" bleaches are oxygen-based.
Do not bleach
No bleaching agents of any kind — this includes chlorine bleach and oxygen bleach, and bleach-containing detergents or stain removers.
Drying — the square
Tumble dry, reduced temperature
One dot means tumble drying at reduced temperature — about 60 °C in GINETEX's chart. Use the dryer's low/delicate heat setting. Details: what the dots mean.
Tumble dry, normal temperature
Two dots mean normal tumble drying — about 80 °C. Note that ISO 3758 stops at two dots; three dots appear only on US-made labels (see the dots article).
Do not tumble dry
No tumble drying at any temperature. Heat and tumbling can shrink, felt, or deform the item — dry it the way the plain-square symbols (line/flat) indicate instead.
Line dry
A square with a vertical line: dry the item on a clothesline or hanger, after spinning. The natural-dry squares were added to ISO 3758 in 2012.
Drip line dry
Two vertical lines: hang the item dripping wet, without spinning, and let the water drip out on the line.
Dry flat
A square with a horizontal line: lay the item flat to dry — the standard instruction for knits and sweaters that stretch on hangers.
Drip dry flat
Two horizontal lines: lay the item flat while dripping wet, without spinning — used for heavy or stretch-prone pieces.
Dry in the shade
A diagonal line in the corner of the square modifies any natural-drying symbol: keep the item out of direct sun while it dries, to protect colours and fibres.
Ironing — the iron
Iron at low temperature
One dot = maximum sole-plate temperature of 110–120 °C (references differ — see the dots article), typical for polyamide (nylon), acetate and acrylic. Iron dry or with a press cloth; the 2023 revision added a no-steam variant of this symbol.
Iron at medium temperature
Two dots = maximum sole-plate temperature of 150–160 °C — the setting for wool, silk, polyester and viscose.
Iron at high temperature
Three dots = maximum sole-plate temperature of 200–210 °C — cotton and linen. This is where steam works best.
Do not iron
Ironing may cause irreversible changes — typically a print, finish or fibre that melts or glazes. Hang the item to release creases instead (a steamy bathroom helps).
Professional care — the circle
Dry clean, letter P
Professional dry-cleaning in tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene) or hydrocarbons — in ISO 3758:2012 wording, any solvent except trichloroethylene. This is the most common dry-clean letter.
Dry clean P, mild
A bar under the circle asks the cleaner to use a restricted process — reduced mechanical action, limited moisture and lower drying temperature. Show the label to the cleaner.
Dry clean, letter F
Professional dry-cleaning in hydrocarbons only (petroleum solvents) — a milder solvent class than P. Common on delicate or trimmed garments.
Dry clean, letter A
Any solvent. The letter A is a legacy marking you'll mostly meet on older labels — GINETEX's current chart shows P and F.
Professional wet clean, W
A circle with W means professional wet cleaning — water-based, but done by a professional with controlled machines and detergents. Not the same as home washing.
Wet clean, mild
The bar asks for a very sensitive wet-cleaning process with reduced mechanical action; a double bar marks the gentlest grade.
Do not dry clean
No solvent cleaning. Also a hint: avoid solvent-based stain removers on this article — treat spots with water-based methods instead.
About the symbols on this page
The meanings above are based on the ISO 3758 / GINETEX care labelling system, as published by GINETEX (the owner of the standard). The official symbols are protected trademarks; every glyph on this page is LaundryCode's own simplified drawing, not official artwork. Symbols were last verified against GINETEX's published list and Maytag's care-symbol guide in October 2026. The 2023 revision of ISO 3758 is summarized by SGS.