Washing symbols on clothes: decoding and meaning

Knowing what washing symbols mean on clothing can have a significant impact on how well your clothes are maintained. To keep your clothes looking their best and lasting longer, these symbols provide vital information on how to wash, dry, and iron them.

We’ll deconstruct the various washing symbols found on clothing labels in this article. We’ll go over the meaning of each symbol and how to follow the directions to keep your clothes undamaged. Understanding these symbols can help you save time and money when dealing with delicate blouses or sturdy jeans.

Understanding how to properly read these care instructions will help you to make sure your clothes stay in excellent condition and continue to fit and feel the way you want them to. Let’s explore the realm of symbol washing and lighten up laundry day!

Symbol Meaning
Wash in water at 30°C
Do not tumble dry
Iron at medium temperature
Do not bleach
Can be dry cleaned

Why are they needed?

We’ll start by talking about the rationale behind the washing symbols found on clothing labels. First of all, this is a manufacturer’s tip for proper maintenance, which will help to preserve the product and increase its lifespan.

The following is the general meaning of the washing symbols on clothing:

  • Bass – mode and temperature;
  • Iron – ironing;
  • Circle – dry cleaning;
  • Triangle – bleaching;
  • Square – drying.

Where to look for symbols on things?

  • They are placed on the tag on the seams of the clothes on the inside;
  • Can be on the side or back;
  • Sometimes they are printed under the collar on the back.

It is advised not to cut off the tag in order to preserve crucial care instructions. Take a picture of any fabric that pricks or otherwise bothers you before cutting it off, or store the torn strip in a special box.

Now that we know what the care symbols on clothing labels mean, let’s examine each one in detail.

Washing

Understanding the meaning of the care and washing symbols on clothing is crucial if you want to maintain the fabric’s quality and color. We will discuss the images that serve as a guide for the general care guidelines in this section of the review. Examine the following table to learn how to interpret the labels on laundry-worthy clothing.

Symbol Meaning
Hand wash icon – a basin with a lowered hand, such things are washed only by hand at a temperature of up to 40 degrees. Most often, this applies to delicate fabrics
A basin with water – this is the ability to wash in a machine and pre-soak the fabric
A crossed-out basin means that such things are subject to dry cleaning, self-cleaning is not expected (most often you can see on a jacket or other outerwear)
A washing machine in a circle indicates that the possibility of using the machine mode is excluded;
A number with a degree symbol is an acceptable temperature mode for washing clothes
Indication "95C" – the possibility of boiling
A basin icon with one dot – wash at thirty degrees in cool water
A basin with two dots means you can wash at temperatures up to 45C using powder
A basin icon with three dots – machine wash in hot water (up to 60C)
A basin with a lower line – gentle wash without high speed
A basin with two lines – only delicate mode for washing clothes without spinning

We looked over the table with the washing symbol on clothing labels. The question of whether it is possible or impossible to spin fabrics after washing is our next step. Check out another review to learn how to wash sneakers in an automatic washing machine.

Spinning

This section of the review includes a table that decodes spinning-related symbols found on clothing. Selecting the appropriate spinning mode is crucial to prevent fabric distortion.

Symbol Meaning
A crossed-out circle on the label indicates a ban on spinning in an automatic machine
A circle enclosed in a square means the possibility of spinning at any speed (even at high speeds)
A circle in a square with one stripe at the bottom means you can spin your clothes in a gentle cycle
If a similar icon has two stripes at the bottom, you can turn on automatic spinning in delicate mode
Twisted fabric crossed out with a cross is a sign that you should not twist or wring things out. Such products dry only naturally

Now that we understand how to interpret the symbols for taking care of objects that spin, how do we proceed? Recommendations for correctly drying clothes for your home or closet are provided.

Drying

It’s critical to commit care labels’ symbols—which indicate appropriate drying—to memory. After stains have been removed, you need to be able to properly dry the material to avoid damaging its external properties.

You can correctly read the symbols with the aid of our sign:

Symbol Meaning
The square indicates the possibility of automatic drying or hanging on a line
A crossed-out square prohibits automatic drying
A horizontal stripe in a square indicates that the items are dried only in a horizontal position
Three vertical stripes indicate the appropriate drying position (twisting is prohibited)
Two diagonal stripes in the corner of the square indicate that drying in the sun is prohibited
An icon supplemented with a horizontal stripe is applied to items that are dried in a horizontal position; sun rays should be avoided
Drying in the shade in a vertical position is an icon with two diagonal and three vertical stripes in a square
A curved line at the top of the square means that drying on a rope is possible
A similar picture supplemented with diagonal stripes means drying in the shade in a vertical position
If a circle with one dot is enclosed in a square, it means that you can dry at a low temperature
If a circle with two dots is drawn in a square, a medium temperature is available
Three dots inside a circle (in a square) means a high drying temperature

A table detailing the icons for final stage clothing care—flattening creases and folds—is located directly below.

Ironing

Every housewife understands the importance of ironing items correctly because using the incorrect setting can cause the fabric to burn, create holes, and cause other issues. You must thus acquire the skill of reading symbols.

Symbol Meaning
The iron indicates the ability to iron things in any mode
A crossed out iron means a ban on the use of a household appliance
Iron with one point inside – ironing at low temperature (up to 110 degrees)
Iron with two points – ironing at medium temperatures (up to 150C) through gauze or using a steam humidifier
Iron with three points – ironing at high temperature (up to 200C) and steaming option
See the crossed out steam icon under the iron? That"s right, steaming is prohibited

Moving on to other functions, let’s examine how to interpret pictures and symbols on clothes that need to be washed before bleaching.

Bleaching

You’ll receive a brief instruction that will assist you in determining whether or not you should proceed with the bleaching mode.

Symbol Meaning
A white/black triangle crossed out by two lines means bleaching is prohibited
An empty triangle means bleaching is permissible
The letters "Cl" imply the possibility of using products that contain chlorine
A triangle with three parallel lines means bleaching with products that do not contain chlorine

What should you do if the "Machine wash prohibited" icon appears—it is not advised to wash by hand. Continue reading!

Take note! Visit the link to read our most recent review to learn how and what to use to clean your iron.

Dry cleaning

Not every item can be washed by you; certain fabrics need to be treated differently. We offer a table explaining the symbols for clothes washing with specific products.

Symbol Meaning
Empty circle – dry cleaning permitted
Crossed circle – dry cleaning prohibited
Circle with the letter “A” – solvents may be used
Letter “F” – hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane may be used
Letter “F” with a horizontal stripe – gentle mode
Letter “F” with two stripes – delicate dry cleaning
Circle with the letter “P” – dry cleaning with hydrocarbon, monofluorotrichloromethane and chlorine
Letter “P” with one stripe – gentle cleaning
Letter “P” with two stripes – delicate dry cleaning
Icon “W” means wet cleaning
Icon “W” with a stripe – delicate wet cleaning
Letter “W” with two stripes – especially delicate handling
Icon “W” crossed out with a cross – no wet cleaning of clothes

The primary symbolic images that are frequently seen on clothing labels are shown in the picture below. Since it is impossible to remember every symbol for washing, save this image to have it handy at all times!

Maintaining the longevity and quality of your clothing requires that you comprehend the meaning of the washing symbols on the labels. These symbols guarantee that you can prevent frequent errors that result in wear or damage by giving important instructions on how to take care of each piece. By following these guidelines, you’ll end up saving time and money in addition to safeguarding your clothing.

Every symbol denotes a distinct care instruction, ranging from recommended washing temperatures to techniques for drying and ironing. Knowing these symbols will help you select the proper settings for your washing machine and steer clear of potential problems like color bleeding or shrinking.

A simple way to keep your clothes looking their best and extending their life is to incorporate this knowledge into your laundry routine. Wash after wash, your wardrobe will stay in excellent shape if you pay a little attention to detail.

It’s crucial to comprehend washing symbols on clothing if you want to keep your clothes looking their best. These symbols help you prevent damage and prolong the life of your clothing by clearly indicating how to clean and take care of various fabrics. Gaining the ability to interpret these symbols will help you avoid common laundry errors and maintain the best-looking wardrobe by making sure every item is washed, dried, and ironed correctly.

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Elena Gromova

I have been involved in fashion design for over 15 years. For me, fabric is the foundation from which any outfit begins. I love experimenting with textures and colors, creating new looks and inspiring others. Here I talk about how to choose the perfect material for your wardrobe and how to care for your favorite things.

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Tkani-Furnitura.com
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