The 44 symbols you might see on your washing labels and what they really mean – so how many do YOU know?
YOU might take a quick glimpse at a laundry label before shoving something into the washing machine.
But other than noting the temperature it needs to be washed at, do you ever look at any of the other symbols?
And do you even know what any of the others actually mean?
In fact, people are so bemused about the meaning of some of the pictures that the search term ‘what do laundry labels mean‘ has received a 9.9000% uplift in the past week alone, according to Google Trend Data.
But in order to keep your clothing in the best condition they can be – and the size and colour you originally bought them in – it’s important to be aware of what the laundry label is telling you.
There are actually a whopping 44 symbols you need to be able to decode – so how many of them do you know?
Washing symbols
Arguably the most important symbols to keep an eye on are the washing symbols – almost all of which will be based on an image that looks like a bowl of water.
Machine washable – this is the basic symbol of a bowl of water. In most cases, you’ll get another symbol with it to give you more information.
Wash cold – a bowl of water with 30°C printed inside it, or a single dot.
Wash warm – a bowl of water with 40°C printed inside it, or two dots.
Wash hot – a bowl of water with 60°C printed inside it, or four dots.
And while 30, 40 and 60 degrees are the most common temperature symbols, it is also possible to have others – so keep that in mind.
How you should wash the item
Use a synthetics cycle – a bowl of water with a single horizontal line underneath it.
Use a gentle or wool wash cycle – a bowl of water with two horizontal lines underneath it.
Hand wash – a bowl of water with an image of a hand inside. This symbol means you should either wash the item by hand, or you could use your machine’s hand wash cycle if it has one.
Do not wash – a bowl of water with a cross over it.
Bleaching symbols
Bleaching symbols are all based on an equilateral triangle shape, and it’s vital to pay attention, as they can indicate which bleach is safe to use, and which is not.
Using the wrong kind of bleach can dramatically damage the condition of your garments.
Bleaching allowed – a single, empty triangle with the point facing upwards.
Use non-chlorine bleach – a triangle with two parallel diagonal lines inside.
Do not bleach – a triangle with a cross over it.
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.
Drying symbols
While washing and bleaching your items incorrectly can cause damage, drying them wrong can do so too.
Firstly, there are tumble dryer symbols – all of which feature a circle inside a square.
Tumble dry allowed (on any heat) – a square with a circle inside it, touching each edge of the square. It can be easier to remember if you see the image as a picture of a tumble dryer, with the circle representing the door.
Tumble dry on low heat – a square with a circle inside it, and a single dot at the centre of the circle.
Tumble dry on medium heat – a square with a circle inside it, and two dots in the middle of the circle.
Tumble dry on high heat – a square with a circle inside it, and three dots in the middle of the circle.
Permanent press or synthetics cycle – a square with a circle inside it, and a single horizontal line underneath the square.
Delicate or gentle cycle – a square with a circle inside it, and two horizontal lines underneath the square.
Do not tumble dry – a square with a circle inside it, with a cross over the whole symbol.
If the label says you shouldn’t tumble dry it, it may also give more instructions on how to get it dry without a tumble dryer.
Drip dry – a square with three vertical lines inside.
Dry flat – a square with a single horizontal line inside.
Hang to dry – a square with a curved line inside going from one upper corner to the other. This looks a bit like a washing line suspended from the top of the square.
Ironing symbols
Ironing symbols are usually easy to spot because they are, unsurprisingly, shaped like an iron.
As with the washing and drying symbols, the majority of ironing symbols relate to the temperature a garment can be ironed at.
Iron cool (max 110°C) – an iron with a single dot inside.
Iron medium (max 150°C) – an iron with two dots inside.
Iron hot (max 200°C) – an iron with three dots inside.
If there are no dots within the image of the iron, that means you can iron at any temperature you like.
Do not iron – an iron with a cross over it.
Steaming not allowed – an iron with two lines jetting out from the base. These lines have a cross over them, meaning you shouldn’t use the steam function on that garment.
Dry cleaning symbols
Dry clean only – an empty circle.
Suitable for dry cleaning with any solvent – a circle with a capital ‘A’ inside.
Suitable for dry cleaning with any solvent except for Trichloroethylene – a circle with a capital ‘P’ inside.
Suitable for dry cleaning with a petroleum solvent only – a circle with a capital ‘F’ inside.
Do not dry clean – a circle with a cross over it.