The Meaning of Care Symbols - Download Our Guide

Manufacturers use laundry symbols on care labels to tell consumers how to look after their clothes properly. Following these instructions carefully can significantly extend the life and quality of your textiles. Therefore, it is worth familiarising yourself with the meaning of these small pictograms, which provide instructions for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning.

1. Interpreting Care Symbols Correctly

The care labelling of textiles is based on the international GINETEX regulations. They provide a standardised, language-independent system for indicating washing and care instructions. GINETEX developed the globally recognised laundry symbols, which are defined as the standard in ISO 3758.
These symbols help consumers and manufacturers care for textiles correctly and extend their lifespan.

The most common washing symbols found on care labels are explained below: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning.

 Learn how to read laundry care symbols on your gargement tags in this video guide:

1.1. Washing Symbols - the Tub

All washing symbols are represented by a washing tub. The dots in the tub indicate the temperature and the lines indicate the spin cycle. Warning symbols are represented by a cross.

1.1.1. General Care Symbols

Machine wash: This symbol indicates that the machine can safely wash the garment at the specified temperature and wash cycle.

Do not wash: The cross on the tub indicates that garments and other textiles are not suitable for hand washing or machine washing.This mainly applies to delicate clothing such as suits, wedding dresses and the like.

Hand wash: The symbol with a hand in the tub indicates that the laundry may only be washed by hand.  If there is a bar underneath the tub, the item must be washed by hand at room temperature using a suitable detergent.

1.1.2. Washing Temperature Symbols

The washing symbol on the care label indicates the temperature at which the garment may be washed. The numbers in the tub indicate the water temperature in degrees Celsius.

30°C: A tub symbol with the number ‘30’ inside indicates that the garment should be washed at a maximum temperature of 30°C. It stands for delicate materials and gentle treatment in the washing machine, e.g. wool cycle for wool and silk.

40°C: A tub marked with the number ‘40’ indicates a maximum water temperature of 40°C and is suitable for easy-care or non-iron garments.

50°C: A wash basin with the number ‘50’ means that the laundry can be washed at up to 50°C. This temperature is often recommended for coloured or moderately durable fabrics.

60°C: A tub symbol with ‘60’ indicates that the garment can be washed at 60°C. This temperature is suitable for the hygienic care of robust textiles and laundry such as bed linen and towels.

70°C: A tub with the number ‘70’ is less common and indicates that the fabric can be washed at 70°C. This temperature is recommended for particularly heat-resistant fabrics.

95°C: A tub marked ‘95’ indicates the highest washing temperature, which is only suitable for very heat-resistant materials such as white cotton textiles, bed linen or towels, and is used to completely remove germs and bacteria.

1.1.3. Laundry Symbols for Spinning

The symbol represents spinning in a washing tub with no, one or two lines underneath.

Normal Cycle: This wash symbol is represented by a tub of water with no lines underneath. This means the machine is spinning the garment at normal speed. It is used for more durable and sturdy garments such as T-shirts, socks or jeans.

Permanent Press Cycle: The symbol for this cycle is a tub of water with a line underneath. This means that the continuous press cycle uses warmer water and slower spin speeds to loosen and reduce existing creases.

Delicate/Gentle Cycle: The symbol for this cycle is a water-filled container with two lines below it. It indicates the delicate wash cycle, which means a gentle wash at a low temperature and spin speed.

1.2. Bleaching Symbols - The Triangle

Bleach symbols on laundry labels indicate if and how the garment can be bleached. 

The most common bleaching symbols are

1. Bleaching allowed: An empty triangle or a triangle with a square inside it means that bleaching with chlorine or oxygen bleach is permitted.

2. Bleaching with oxygen bleach: A triangle with lines indicates that the laundry should only be bleached with oxygen bleach.

3. Bleaching not permitted: A crossed-out triangle means that you must not bleach the fabric. Therefore, do not use chlorine or oxygen bleach.

1.3. Dryer Symbols - the Square 

The square with a circle is the typical symbol for drying clothes. This symbol on a laundry label means that you can machine dry or air dry the garment.
However, if the symbol has a cross through it, the garment is not suitable for tumble drying. Different variations of this dryer symbol give instructions on which drying programs and temperature settings (indicated by dots) you should use.

1.3.1. General Dryer Symbols

The square symbol indicates drying the laundry. The circle with a dot symbolises the tumble dryer. The bars show whether the drying process is done hanging or lying flat.

1. Tumble dry: A square with a circle on a care label means that the garment can be tumble dried. 

2. Do not tumble dry: A standard tumble dry symbol with an "X" means that the garment should not be tumble dried under any circumstances. 

3. Hang to dry: This symbol is a square with a vertical line. Garments marked with this laundry symbol should be hung on a clothesline to dry. This drying method is gentler, saves energy, reduces creasing and odors.

4.  Dry flat: The symbol with a minus or dash in the middle of the square means the garment should be laid out to dry on a flat surface. This method is usually recommended for delicate fabrics such as wool, knitwear or fine silk to prevent loss of shape, shrinkage and other damage.

1.3.2. Drying on the Washing Line

1. Line drying: The square symbol with a vertical line in the middle means that drying on a washing line is permitted.

2. Line drying in the shade: If the care symbol is square with a vertical bar inside and a diagonal line in the upper left corner, the corresponding textiles should be dried on a washing line in the shade.

3. Drip line drying: A square symbol with two vertical bars inside means that textiles should be dried on a washing line while still dripping wet.

4. Drip line drying in the shade: The square symbol with two vertical bars and a slanted line in the upper left corner indicates that the clothing should be dried in the shade in a dripping wet state.

1.3.3. Dry Flat

1. Dry flat: A square with a horizontal minus sign inside means that you should dry the garment flat.

2. The square icon with a horizontal minus sign in the middle and a slanted line in the upper left corner means that the fabric should be dried flat in the shade.

3. Dry flat from a dripping wet state: The square symbol with two horizontal bars means that you should lie the garment flat to dry while it is still dripping wet.

4. Dry flat while dripping wet in the shade: If a square symbol has two horizontal lines inside and a diagonal line in the upper left corner, you should lay the laundry flat to dry in the shade while it is still dripping wet.

1.3.4. Tumble Dryer Temperature Symbols  

The dots in the square refer to the maximum temperature allowed in the tumble dryer.

1. Normal cycle: The symbol for low temperature is a square with a dot inside a circle. This means that the garment should be dried at a maximum temperature of 60°C.

2. Gentle cycle: The square symbol with two dots inside the circle indicates a medium heat of 80°C in the tumble dryer.

3. Do not tumble dry: The crossed-out square symbol means that you should not dry the garment in a tumble dryer.

1.4. Ironing Symbols

Some fabrics look great after ironing, while others, such as delicate fabrics, can be damaged. There are fabrics that require special attention when ironing. The number of dots on the iron indicates the maximum permissible heat.

Ironing symbols on clothing labels indicate how you should iron the garment and at what temperature this can be done safely. Here are some of the most common ironing symbols and their meanings:

Ironing up to 120°C: The ironing symbol with one dot stands for ironing at a low temperature (max. 120°C) without steam.

Iron up to 160°C: Two dots in the iron symbol mean that you should iron the fabric at a medium temperature of 160°C. Suitable for fabrics such as polyester or wool.

Ironing up to 210°C: Three dots in the iron symbol indicate that the garment should be ironed at a maximum temperature of 210°C. Suitable for durable fabrics such as cotton or linen.

Do not iron: A crossed-out iron symbol means that ironing a delicate garment is not recommended. Otherwise, you could damage it.

1.5 Professional Cleaning - Symbols A, W, P and F

The symbol ‘Professional cleaning’ or ‘Chemical textile care’ on care labels indicates that the garment requires professional textile cleaning. The washing symbol for this dry cleaning is a circle. The letters A, W, P and F indicate the use of specific solvents.

Below you will find an overview of the most common dry cleaning symbols and their meanings.

1.5.1 General Symbols - Professional Cleaning

1. A - General solvents: Internationally, the symbol ‘A’ means that you can use all types of solvents to clean the fabric.

2. P - Everything except trichloroethylene: The symbol ‘P’ on the label indicates that you can care for the garment with any solvent except trichloroethylene.

3. F - Cleaning with hydrocarbons: The symbol ‘F’ means that you should only clean the items with petroleum-based solvents. It is often used for the care of delicate fabrics.

4. W - Professional wet cleaning: The symbol with the circle and the letter ‘W’ inside stands for ‘wet cleaning’. It indicates that the textiles are suitable for wet cleaning. Water and special cleaning agents should be used instead of conventional chemical cleaning methods.

5. The symbol ‘Do not dry clean’ is often represented by a crossed-out circle. The garment should not be dry cleaned.

1.5.2 Chemical Cleaning

The symbol ‘Professional cleaning’ on clothing labels indicates that the garment has special cleaning and care requirements that are best met by professional cleaning services. Below are some common care symbols and their meanings.

P - Cleaning with Perchloroethylene or Hydrocarbons Only
 
The ‘P’ symbol refers to cleaning with perchloroethylene and hydrocarbons (except trichloroethylene).

Crossed-out circle: If the symbol is crossed out, dry cleaning is not permitted.

Circle with ‘P’: Dry cleaning is allowed with perchloroethylene, dibutyl methane and solvents in symbol group F (hydrocarbons (e.g. R113 and R11), fluorocarbons).

Circle with ‘P’ with a bar underneath it: Gentle cleaning with chemicals and limited mechanical stress, reduced moisture addition and/or reduced temperature; also with perchloroethylene, dibutyl methane and solvents from symbol group F.

Circle with ‘P’ with two bars underneath it: particularly gentle chemical care of textiles with limited mechanical stress, reduced moisture addition and/or reduced temperature; also with perchloroethylene, dibutyl ether and solvents of symbol group F.

F - Clean with Hydrocarbons Only

The symbol ‘F’ means that you should only clean the fabric with petroleum-based hydrocarbon solvents. This is used to care for delicate fabrics. The distillation temperature is between 150°C and 210°C, the flash point is between 38°C and 70°C, and it contains decamethylpentacyclosiloxane.

Circle with ‘F’ means that the garment may be dry cleaned: cleaning with petroleum-based solvents is permitted.

Circle with ‘F’ and a bar underneath it: gentle cleaning with petroleum solvents.

W - Professional Wet Cleaning
 
The circle with the letter ‘W’ inside stands for ‘wet cleaning’. It indicates that the garment is suitable for commercial wet cleaning. Water and special detergents should be used instead of conventional dry cleaning methods.

Crossed-out circle with ‘W’ → professional wet cleaning not permitted.

Circle with ‘W’: normal wet cleaning possible.

Circle with ‘W’ a bar underneath it: gentle wet cleaning with reduced mechanical stress, low temperature and/or less water.

Circle with ‘W’ with two bars underneath it: very gentle wet cleaning, particularly delicate fabrics.

2. Downloadable Guide to the Meaning of Care Symbols
 

What do the laundry symbols on care labels mean? You can download and print out our Wunderlabel guide, 'Meaning of Care Symbols', here >>. Designed according to the Ginetex standard, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of laundry symbols on your garments and helps you to care for your textiles properly.

The care symbols on Wunderlabel labels have been designed from the outset to be internationally standardised and easy to understand. Regardless of language or country of origin, they provide clear instructions on how to properly care for clothing.

Wunderlabel is a leading manufacturer of high-quality care labels, offering the highest quality and a wide range of products. With many years of experience in the industry, we offer bespoke solutions for all your laundry labelling needs.

Design your own care labels in the Wunderlabel shop: All the laundry symbols can be found in the online design tool and are each clearly labelled to allow you to choose symbols that perfectly suit your needs.