The document summarizes common apparel and textile care symbols. It explains the symbols for machine washing, dry/chemical cleaning, bleaching, tumble drying, natural drying, ironing, and wet cleaning. The symbols provide instructions on how items should be washed, dried, bleached, and cleaned to avoid damage. Following the care labels and symbols is important to properly maintain clothing and textiles.

1. APPAREL AND TEXTILE CARE SYMBOLS

2. * Remember, the care label is in your garments to help you clean
them safely.
* Follow them and you should end up with good results and if
things go wrong it will be someone else's fault. Ignore them and
it's likely to be your fault if your clothes get ruined.
* The order of the washing symbols have been formalised so that
all countries should now follow the same order and anyone
anywhere should be able to understand the system
SYMBOL TYPES

3. MACHINE WASH SYMBOL
• This symbol solely refers to machine washing.
• Previously the correct temperature for washing
has been indicated by a number inside the tub
but now there will be a series of dots that do
the same job.

4. MACHINE WASH SYMBOL
• A bar under the tub signifies a gentler treatment
in the machine.
gentler treatment

5. MACHINE WASH SYMBOL
• A stylized washtub is shown, and the number in
the tub means the maximum wash temperature
(degrees Celsius).
Wash at or below 30°C

6. MACHINE WASH SYMBOL
• A double bar signifies very gentle handling.
very gentle handling

7. MACHINE WASH SYMBOL
• A hand in the tub signifies that only (gentle)
hand washing (not above 40°C) is allowed.
hand washing

8. MACHINE WASH SYMBOL
• A cross through washtub means that the textile
may not be washed under normal household
conditions.
may not be washed under normal

9. DRY/CHEMICAL CLEANING SYMBOL
• This is the dry cleaning symbol, but the symbol itself
doesn't tell the full story.
• There should be an additional letter inside the circle,
indicating what type of dry cleaning a garment can be
put through.
• In addition, the bar underneath the symbol gives
additional information.

10. DRY/CHEMICAL CLEANING SYMBOL
• A circle identifies the possibilities of professional
cleaning.
• A bar under the symbol means clean gently, and two
bars means very gentle cleaning.

11. DRY/CHEMICAL CLEANING SYMBOL
• The letters P and F in a circle are for the different solvents
used by professional dry cleaners.
Dry clean,
hydrocarbon
solvent only
(HCS)
Gentle cleaning
with hydrocarbon
solvents
Very gentle
cleaning with
hydrocarbon
solvents

12. DRY/CHEMICAL CLEANING SYMBOL
• The letters P and F in a circle are for the different solvents
used by professional dry cleaners.
Dryclean,
tetrachloroethyle
ne (PCE) only
Gentle cleaning
with PCE
Very gentle
cleaning with
PCE

13. DRY/CHEMICAL CLEANING SYMBOL
• A cross symbol means do not dry-clean, Polyolefins.
• Items with special finishes or additions
Do not dry clean

14. BLEACHING SYMBOL
• An empty triangle (formerly lettered Cl) allows the
bleaching with chlorine or non-chlorine bleach.
• Two oblique lines in the triangle prohibit chlorine
bleaching.
• A crossed triangle prohibits any bleaching.

15. BLEACHING SYMBOL
• Non-chlorine bleach
only
• Some wools & silks,
anything OK with
chlorine bleach.
Bleaching with chlorine
allowed (obsolete)

16. BLEACHING SYMBOL
Do not bleach
• Do not bleach
• Wool, silk.

17. TUMBLE DRYING SYMBOL
• A circle in the square symbolizes a dryer.
• One dot requires drying at reduced temperature and
two dots for normal temperature.
• The crossed symbol means that the clothing does not
tolerate machine drying. In the U.S. and Japan, there
are other icons for natural drying.

18. Tumble drying
(low
temperature)
Tumble drying
(normal)
Do not tumble
dry
TUMBLE DRYING SYMBOL

19. NATURAL DRYING SYMBOL

20. Line dry Dry flat Drip dry
Dry in the
shade
NATURAL DRYING SYMBOL

21. Line dry in the
shade
Dry flat in shade Drip dry in shade
NATURAL DRYING SYMBOL

22. IRONING SYMBOL
• The ironing symbol lets you know that you can iron a
garment or fabric.
• However the dots let you know what temperature you
can iron at.

23. • The iron with up to three dots allows for ironing.
• The number of dots are assigned temperatures: One point
means 110°C, two points means 150°C and three points means
200°C.
• An iron with a cross prohibits ironing.
Iron at low
temperature
Iron at
medium
temperature
Iron at high
temperature
Do not iron
IRONING SYMBOL

24. WET CLEANING SYMBOL
• The letter W in a circle is for professional wet cleaning.

25. Gentle wet
cleaning
Very gentle wet
cleaning
Professional wet
cleaning is not
allowed
WET CLEANING SYMBOL

26. 1. Washing Symbols
2. Bleaching Symbols
3. Drying Symbols
4. Ironing/Pressing
Symbols
5. Temperature of Water
(dry-cleaning) Symbols
SYMBOL TYPES