Decode Any Laundry Symbol
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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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New? Take the 60-second guide →ASTM D5489 standard - Uses Fahrenheit for temperatures
Regional notes and temperature conversions are shown based on your selection
Washing
How to wash your garment
Machine Wash Normal
Machine wash at any temperature with normal agitation
Machine Wash 30°C
Machine wash at maximum 30°C (86°F) - cold wash
Machine Wash 40°C
Machine wash at maximum 40°C (104°F) - warm wash
Machine Wash 50°C
Machine wash at maximum 50°C (122°F) - warm wash
Machine Wash 60°C
Machine wash at maximum 60°C (140°F) - hot wash
Machine Wash 70°C
Machine wash at maximum 70°C (158°F) - very hot wash
Machine Wash 95°C
Machine wash at maximum 95°C (203°F) - boil wash
Gentle/Delicate Wash
Machine wash on gentle or delicate cycle with reduced agitation
Very Gentle Wash
Machine wash on very gentle cycle with minimal agitation (two lines under bucket)
Hand Wash Only
Hand wash only - do not use washing machine
Do Not Wash
Do not wash with water - professional cleaning only
Machine Wash Permanent Press
Machine wash on permanent press cycle
Wash with Reduced Moisture
Machine wash with reduced water level
Machine Wash 30°C Permanent Press
Machine wash at 30°C on permanent press cycle
Machine Wash 40°C Permanent Press
Machine wash at 40°C on permanent press cycle
Machine Wash 60°C Permanent Press
Machine wash at 60°C on permanent press cycle
Machine Wash 30°C Gentle
Machine wash at maximum 30°C (86°F) on gentle cycle
Machine Wash 30°C Very Gentle
Machine wash at maximum 30°C (86°F) on very gentle cycle
Machine Wash 40°C Gentle
Machine wash at maximum 40°C (104°F) on gentle cycle
Machine Wash 40°C Very Gentle
Machine wash at maximum 40°C (104°F) on very gentle cycle
Machine Wash 60°C Gentle
Machine wash at maximum 60°C (140°F) on gentle cycle
Machine Wash Delicate (Japan)
Machine wash on delicate cycle (Japan JIS standard)
Machine Wash 50°C Gentle
Machine wash at maximum 50°C (122°F) on gentle cycle
Machine Wash 70°C Gentle
Machine wash at maximum 70°C (158°F) on gentle cycle
Bleaching
Bleach and whitening instructions
Any Bleach Allowed
Any type of bleach can be used when needed
Non-Chlorine Bleach Only
Only non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach is safe - no chlorine bleach
Do Not Bleach
Do not use any type of bleach
Drying
Tumble dry and line dry guidelines
Tumble Dry Normal
Tumble dry at normal/high heat setting
Tumble Dry Low Heat
Tumble dry on low heat setting only (one dot)
Tumble Dry Medium Heat
Tumble dry on medium heat setting (two dots)
Tumble Dry High Heat
Tumble dry on high heat setting (three dots)
Tumble Dry No Heat
Tumble dry with no heat - air fluff only
Do Not Tumble Dry
Do not use tumble dryer - air dry only
Line Dry
Hang on clothesline or drying rack to dry
Dry Flat
Lay flat on clean surface to dry - do not hang
Drip Dry
Hang dripping wet without wringing
Dry in Shade
Dry away from direct sunlight
Drip Line Dry
Hang dripping wet on line without wringing
Drip Flat Dry
Lay flat dripping wet without wringing
Drip Dry in Shade
Hang dripping wet in shade without wringing
Drip Line Dry in Shade
Hang dripping wet on line in shade without wringing
Drip Flat Dry in Shade
Lay flat dripping wet in shade without wringing
Tumble Dry Permanent Press
Tumble dry on permanent press cycle (medium heat with line)
Tumble Dry Gentle
Tumble dry on gentle cycle with low heat (one dot with line)
Tumble Dry Very Gentle
Tumble dry on very gentle cycle (one dot with two lines)
Dry on Hanger
Hang on hanger to dry - do not lay flat
Dry in Shade on Line
Hang on line in shaded area - avoid direct sunlight
Dry Flat in Shade
Lay flat to dry in shaded area
Hang to Dry (Japan)
Hang on hanger to dry (Japan JIS standard)
Ironing
Iron temperature and steam settings
Iron High Heat
Iron at high temperature - up to 200°C (390°F)
Iron Medium Heat
Iron at medium temperature - up to 150°C (300°F)
Iron Low Heat
Iron at low temperature only - up to 110°C (230°F)
Iron Without Steam
Iron without steam - dry iron only
Iron With Steam
Iron with steam allowed - steam is safe to use
Do Not Iron
Do not iron - heat will damage the fabric
Iron Any Temperature
Iron at any temperature setting
Iron with Steam (Japan)
Iron with steam allowed (Japan JIS standard)
Dry Clean
Professional cleaning requirements
Dry Clean - Any Solvent
Dry clean using any solvent
Dry Clean - Petroleum Solvent
Dry clean with petroleum solvent only
Dry Clean - Gentle/Petroleum
Dry clean with petroleum solvent only - gentle process
Do Not Dry Clean
Do not dry clean - solvents will damage the fabric
Professional Wet Clean
Professional wet cleaning recommended
Dry Clean - Any Solvent (A)
Dry clean with any solvent - standard process
Dry Clean - Gentle (A with bar)
Dry clean with any solvent - gentle process
Dry Clean - Very Gentle (A with double bar)
Dry clean with any solvent - very gentle process
Dry Clean - Tetrachloroethylene
Dry clean with tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) only
Dry Clean - Tetrachloroethylene Gentle
Dry clean with tetrachloroethylene - gentle process
Dry Clean - Hydrocarbon Solvent
Dry clean with hydrocarbon solvent only
Dry Clean - Hydrocarbon Gentle
Dry clean with hydrocarbon solvent - gentle process
Professional Wet Clean Gentle
Professional wet cleaning - gentle process
Professional Wet Clean Very Gentle
Professional wet cleaning - very gentle process
Do Not Wet Clean
Do not use professional wet cleaning - solvents will damage the fabric
Dry Clean P Very Gentle
Dry clean with tetrachloroethylene (P) - very gentle process
Dry Clean F Gentle
Dry clean with petroleum solvent (F) - gentle process
Dry Clean F Very Gentle
Dry clean with petroleum solvent (F) - very gentle process
Dry Clean Hydrocarbon Very Gentle
Dry clean with hydrocarbon solvent - very gentle process
Dry Clean A Delicate
Dry clean with any solvent - delicate process
Special Care
Additional care instructions
Do Not Wring
Do not wring or twist the fabric
Wringing Allowed
Wringing or twisting is acceptable
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
Select Categories to Include
Includes all 79 symbols with explanations
Compare Symbols Side-by-Side
Select up to 4 symbols to compare their meanings, instructions, and differences
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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
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:
- 1Washing: How to wash (machine/hand/temperature)
- 2Bleaching: Whether bleach is allowed and what type
- 3Drying: How to dry (tumble dry/line dry/flat dry)
- 4Ironing: Iron temperature and steam settings
- 5Professional Cleaning: Dry clean or wet clean instructions
Everyday Cotton Shirt
Standard machine washable cotton
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, 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
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
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
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
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.
Common Laundry Mistakes & Tips
Avoid costly mistakes and learn best practices for garment care
Ignoring the "Do Not Tumble Dry" symbol
high severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
Causes excessive wrinkling, shrinkage, and wears out fabric faster
Solution:
Remove items promptly when dry. Use moisture sensor if available.
Wringing delicate items
medium severityConsequence:
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 severityConsequence:
Not a mistake, but washing inside out helps preserve colors and prints
Solution:
Always wash dark colors, prints, and embellished items inside out.
Care Tips by Fabric
Learn the do's and don'ts for each fabric type
Select a material above to see care tips
More Resources & Guides
Explore our comprehensive guides to learn more about laundry symbols and care labeling