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Complete guide to 79+ laundry care symbols. Use our free AI image search to identify symbols from a photo, or browse and search. Understand every care label symbol instantly with ISO 3758 compliant explanations. Never shrink your favorite sweater again.

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🇺🇸United StatesASTM D5489

ASTM D5489 standard - Uses Fahrenheit for temperatures

Regional notes and temperature conversions are shown based on your selection

Filter by Category

Washing

How to wash your garment

Drying

Tumble dry and line dry guidelines

Dry Clean

Professional cleaning requirements

Quick Reference

Printable Quick Reference Guide

Download or print a comprehensive guide of all laundry symbols. Perfect for keeping in your laundry room for quick reference.

Most Common Symbols

Machine Wash 30°C laundry symbolMachine Wash 30°C laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.30Machine Wash 30°C
Machine Wash 40°C laundry symbolMachine Wash 40°C laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.40Machine Wash 40°C
Machine Wash 60°C laundry symbolMachine Wash 60°C laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.60Machine Wash 60°C
Hand Wash Only laundry symbolHand Wash Only laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Hand Wash Only
Do Not Wash laundry symbolDo Not Wash laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Do Not Wash
Any Bleach Allowed laundry symbolAny Bleach Allowed laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Any Bleach Allowed
Do Not Bleach laundry symbolDo Not Bleach laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Do Not Bleach
Tumble Dry Normal laundry symbolTumble Dry Normal laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Tumble Dry Normal
Tumble Dry Low Heat laundry symbolTumble Dry Low Heat laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Tumble Dry Low Heat
Do Not Tumble Dry laundry symbolDo Not Tumble Dry laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Do Not Tumble Dry
Line Dry laundry symbolLine Dry laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Line Dry
Dry Flat laundry symbolDry Flat laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Dry Flat
Iron High Heat laundry symbolIron High Heat laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Iron High Heat
Iron Medium Heat laundry symbolIron Medium Heat laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Iron Medium Heat
Iron Low Heat laundry symbolIron Low Heat laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Iron Low Heat
Do Not Iron laundry symbolDo Not Iron laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Do Not Iron
Dry Clean - Any Solvent laundry symbolDry Clean - Any Solvent laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.ADry Clean - Any Solvent
Do Not Dry Clean laundry symbolDo Not Dry Clean laundry symbol. Laundry care symbol.Do Not Dry Clean

Select Categories to Include

Includes all 79 symbols with explanations

Symbol Comparison

Compare Symbols Side-by-Side

Select up to 4 symbols to compare their meanings, instructions, and differences

Add Symbols to Compare

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🏷️Interactive Tag Builder

Build Your Care Tag

Select symbols from your clothing label to get complete care instructions

Select Symbols

Your Tag

Click symbols on the left to add them to your tag

Reading Care Labels

How to Read Symbol Combinations

Care labels show multiple symbols together. Learn how to read them as a complete set of instructions.

Understanding the Sequence

Care labels are read from left to right in this order:

  1. 1Washing: How to wash (machine/hand/temperature)
  2. 2Bleaching: Whether bleach is allowed and what type
  3. 3Drying: How to dry (tumble dry/line dry/flat dry)
  4. 4Ironing: Iron temperature and steam settings
  5. 5Professional Cleaning: Dry clean or wet clean instructions

Everyday Cotton Shirt

Standard machine washable cotton

40Machine Wash 40°C
Non-Chlorine Bleach Only
Tumble Dry Medium Heat
Iron Medium Heat

This combination means: wash warm (40°C), use color-safe bleach if needed, tumble dry on medium heat, and iron on medium setting. Safe for most everyday cotton clothing.

Delicate Silk Blouse

Requires gentle handling

Hand Wash Only
Do Not Bleach
Dry Flat
Iron Low Heat

Hand wash only, no bleach, lay flat to dry, and iron on low heat. This is the most gentle care combination for delicate fabrics like silk.

Wool Sweater

Needs special care to prevent shrinking

30Machine Wash 30°C
Do Not Bleach
Dry Flat
Iron Medium Heat

Wash cold (30°C), no bleach, lay flat to dry (never hang or tumble dry), and iron on medium if needed. The flat drying prevents stretching.

White Cotton Towels

Can handle more aggressive cleaning

60Machine Wash 60°C
Any Bleach Allowed
Tumble Dry High Heat
Iron High Heat

Hot wash (60°C), any bleach allowed, high heat tumble dry, and high heat ironing. This combination is for sturdy white cotton items that need sanitization.

Dry Clean Only Suit

Professional cleaning required

Do Not Wash
Do Not Bleach
Do Not Tumble Dry
ADry Clean - Any Solvent

No washing, no bleaching, no tumble drying. Must be professionally dry cleaned. This is common for formal wear and structured garments.

Activewear / Performance Fabric

Synthetic materials need special care

30Machine Wash 30°C
Do Not Bleach
Tumble Dry Low Heat
Do Not Iron

Cold wash, no bleach, low heat tumble dry, and no ironing. High heat can damage synthetic performance fabrics and reduce moisture-wicking properties.

💡 Pro Tip

When you see multiple symbols, read them together as one complete instruction. If any symbol says "Do Not," that overrides other instructions. For example, if you see "Do Not Wash" and "Dry Clean," you must dry clean and cannot wash at all, even if other symbols suggest washing might be possible.

Learn from Mistakes

Common Laundry Mistakes & Tips

Avoid costly mistakes and learn best practices for garment care

Ignoring the "Do Not Tumble Dry" symbol

high severity

Consequence:

Causes shrinking, stretching, or permanent damage to delicate fabrics like wool, silk, and knitwear

Solution:

Always hang or lay flat to dry when you see this symbol. Use a drying rack or clean towel.

Using hot water when label says 30°C or cold

high severity

Consequence:

Colors fade, fabrics shrink, and delicate materials get damaged

Solution:

Respect temperature limits. Cold water (30°C) preserves colors and prevents shrinking.

Using chlorine bleach on colored fabrics

high severity

Consequence:

Bleach removes color, weakens fabric, and can cause yellowing

Solution:

Only use bleach on white items with the triangle symbol. Use color-safe bleach for colored items if allowed.

Tumble drying items that say "Lay Flat"

high severity

Consequence:

Knitwear and sweaters stretch out of shape permanently

Solution:

Lay flat on a clean towel or drying rack. Reshape while damp.

Ironing at high heat when label says low heat

high severity

Consequence:

Fabric melts, gets shiny, or burns (especially synthetics)

Solution:

Check the dots on iron symbol: 1 dot = low, 2 dots = medium, 3 dots = high

Washing "Dry Clean Only" items

high severity

Consequence:

Water damages fabric, causes shrinking, color bleeding, or structural damage

Solution:

Take to professional dry cleaner. Spot clean only if absolutely necessary.

Using fabric softener on towels

medium severity

Consequence:

Reduces absorbency and makes towels less effective

Solution:

Skip fabric softener on towels, athletic wear, and moisture-wicking fabrics.

Over-drying in the dryer

medium severity

Consequence:

Causes excessive wrinkling, shrinkage, and wears out fabric faster

Solution:

Remove items promptly when dry. Use moisture sensor if available.

Wringing delicate items

medium severity

Consequence:

Stretches and damages fabric permanently

Solution:

Gently press water out or roll in a towel. Never twist or wring.

Washing items inside out when not needed

low severity

Consequence:

Not a mistake, but washing inside out helps preserve colors and prints

Solution:

Always wash dark colors, prints, and embellished items inside out.

🧶Material Guide

Care Tips by Fabric

Learn the do's and don'ts for each fabric type

Select a material above to see care tips

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Laundry Symbols

Find answers to the most common questions about reading and following laundry care labels

Need More Help?

Check out our comprehensive guides for detailed instructions and tips.

More Resources & Guides

Explore our comprehensive guides to learn more about laundry symbols and care labeling

Appliance Symbols Hub

Washing machine, dryer & dishwasher symbols—match appliance settings to care labels

ISO 3758 Standard

Learn about the international standard for textile care labeling

Regional Differences

Understand US vs EU vs Asia variations in laundry symbols

History of Symbols

Discover how laundry symbols evolved from 1963 to today

Symbols by Brand

Learn how brands like Jockey and Uniqlo use care symbols

Quick Cheat Sheet

Essential reference guide for decoding symbols at a glance

Fabric Care Guide

Learn care tips and symbol recommendations for each fabric type

Washing Symbols

Complete guide to washing symbols, washing labels, and washing icons

Laundry Symbols Meaning

Learn laundry symbols meaning, washing symbols meaning, and laundry signs meaning

Laundry Symbols on Clothes

Find and read laundry symbols on clothes, washing signs on clothes guide

Clothes Washing Symbols

Complete guide to clothes washing symbols and garment washing symbols

Washing Instruction Symbols

Learn washing instruction symbols, icons, and signs

Care Label Symbols

Complete guide to care label symbols and laundry care labels

Cleaning Symbols

Learn cleaning symbols, laundering symbols, and laundry cleaning symbols

    Free Laundry Symbols Chart & Guide 2026 | AI Image Search | Decode 79+ Care Labels | LaundrySymbols.org