Washing Symbols Explainer

Washing symbols explained: read care labels on clothes correctly

Almost every garment carries a small label with care symbols, yet many people are unsure what the marks mean. Our care symbol explainer translates the official care marks into plain, understandable guidance. You immediately know whether you can wash, bleach, iron or dry-clean the item, and you keep your clothes in better shape.

What are care symbols and which standard do they follow?

Care labelling follows the international ISO 3758 standard (GINETEX). The symbols are usually printed on a small label sewn into the garment. Labelling is recommended but not legally compulsory in the EU. The five main groups are: washing (wash tub), bleaching (triangle), drying (square or dryer circle), ironing (iron) and professional cleaning (circle).

The five symbol groups at a glance

• Washing (wash tub): the number in the tub gives the maximum water temperature (e.g. 30 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C, 95 °C). A hand in the tub means hand wash, a crossed-out tub means do not wash.
• Bleaching (triangle): an empty triangle allows bleaching. Two diagonal lines inside mean non-chlorine bleach only. A crossed-out triangle means do not bleach.
• Drying (square): a circle in a square means tumble dryer, dots in the circle give the heat setting. A horizontal line means line dry, three vertical lines mean drip dry.
• Ironing (iron): dots in the iron give the temperature (one dot: 110 °C, two dots: 150 °C, three dots: 200 °C). A crossed-out iron means do not iron.
• Professional cleaning (circle): an empty circle means dry clean. Letters in the circle (P, F, W) indicate the cleaning process.

Why reading care symbols matters

Incorrect washing or drying is one of the most common reasons clothes shrink, felt or lose their shape. Reading the care instructions keeps your textiles longer and avoids unnecessary repurchases. Especially for delicate materials such as wool, silk or technical fibres, a look at the label is worthwhile.

Best before, use by and care symbols

Unlike food, textiles have no best-before date, only the manufacturer's binding care instructions. The label gives recommended limits, but the actual resilience can vary by fabric and finish. This tool provides general guidance based on the ISO 3758 standard and does not replace the individual label in your garment.

Who is the care symbol explainer for?

• First-time renters and students: when setting up a first home, care symbols are often new, and a quick overview helps.
• Households with delicate laundry: those who want to protect wool, silk or sportswear.
• Laundry and household planning: as a reference next to the washing machine.

Frequently asked questions