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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
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Washing
How to wash your garment
Bleaching
Bleach and whitening instructions
Drying
Tumble dry and line dry guidelines
Ironing
Iron temperature and steam settings
Dry Clean
Professional cleaning requirements
Special Care
Additional care instructions
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
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Includes all 79 symbols with explanations
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Build Your Care Tag
Select symbols from your clothing label to get complete care instructions
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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
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More Resources & Guides
Explore our comprehensive guides to learn more about laundry symbols and care labeling