Washing symbols on clothing labels: understanding incomprehensible drawings

Have you ever wondered what all of the tiny symbols on the labels of your clothing meant? Although those little illustrations contain valuable information about how to take care of your clothing, they frequently have the feel of a secret code.

Maintaining the best possible appearance of your favorite outfits requires an understanding of these washing symbols. Every symbol indicates exactly what to do—and what not to do—when washing, drying, ironing, or dry cleaning your clothing to prevent damage.

We’ll explain the most typical washing symbols on clothing labels in this post so you can finally understand those enigmatic drawings. Knowing this will help you take better care of your clothing so that it looks great and lasts longer between washes.

Why are they needed

The hostess can rely on signs on clothing as a reliable guide. The item can become spoiled either quickly or gradually by improper care, and dry cleaning isn’t always an option. Before purchasing and washing something for the first time, carefully read the manufacturer’s recommendations to make sure that delicate and simple items last a long time and maintain a respectable appearance. What happens if there’s no way to wash your coat?

Where to look for signs on things

Typically, labels are sewn from the inside out. This is the hip, waistband, or pocket on pants; the side seam on shirts; and the hem on dresses and skirts. Moreover, marking-adorned fabric strips are fastened behind the collar. International symbols known as pictograms must be indicated on every textile product by the manufacturer.

Counsel The label’s placement isn’t always practical; it sometimes rubs or shows through. In this instance, after cutting the label off, save it or take a picture of it.

While it may seem like a secret code to decipher, understanding the symbols on clothing labels is essential to maintaining the best possible appearance for your clothes. This post will explain these confusing icons and make it simple for you to understand what they mean so you can properly wash, dry, and take care of your clothes.

Washing: machine and hand

A basin of water serves as the emblem for any wash. The product can be washed if it is present and isn’t crossed out by two lines. How?

Let’s examine the basin in more detail:

1. Under the basin there may be one or two stripes. One – gentle washing and delicate spinning are required, two – the most gentle washing in a large amount of water and with a quick spin. Stripes are sometimes combined with high water temperature, which means that you need to set the minimum time and slow drum speed.
2. The number inside the basin indicates the water temperature for washing. Usually from 30 is indicated – delicate wash, up to 95 degrees – boiling.
3. Another way to indicate the water temperature is dots. The more of them, the hotter the water is allowed. From one to six dots are used.
4. Exclusively hand wash for clothes is indicated by a hand in the basin, such a thing cannot be washed in the machine. Empty basin – safely send it to the washing machine. Washing in the drum is sometimes indicated by a picture of the device.

Counsel Mild detergents should also be used, as indicated by delicate wash symbols and low water temperatures.

Table 1: Symbols indicating product washing

	Can be washed
	Cannot be washed
	Delicate wash at 40 °C
	Maximum gentle wash in cold water
	Machine wash
	Hand wash
	Hand wash in cold water
	Wash in water 30 °C
	Normal wash at 60 °C
	Can be boiled
	Delicate wash in hot water

General designations

Almost all icons have one or two underscores, which signify the delicate mode.

Using two lines to cross out is expressly forbidden.

Dry cleaning (dry cleaning and wet cleaning)

Recommendations for using a professional dry cleaner are shown in circles. We interpret the symbols and letters:

1. Empty circle – dry cleaning allowed.
2. Crossed out – prohibited.
3. Inside the letter “A” – cleaning with any solvent.
4. Inside the letter “P” – procedures with hydrocarbons, ethylene chloride, monofluorotrichloromethane are allowed. An additional horizontal line under the circle means a more gentle regime with the same solvents.
5. Letter “F” – tetrachlorethylene and hydrocarbons are allowed. An additional feature is a delicate mode with the same solvents.

Icons for dry cleaning are not worth your time unless the circle is removed. A staff member will determine the best way to clean a fragile object.

Table 2. Icons for dry cleaning

	Dry cleaning allowed
	Dry cleaning prohibited
	Any solvents
	Normal or delicate bleaching with substances allowed for P
	Normal or delicate bleaching with substances allowed for F

"Wet cleaning" has its own designation. These suggestions are indicated by the letter "W" enclosed in a circle.

1. No additions – wet cleaning allowed.
2. Crossed circle with "W" or crossed filled circle – wet cleaning prohibited.
3. One horizontal line under the circle – gentle wet cleaning.
4. Double line – the most delicate wet cleaning mode.

Table 3: Icons for wet cleaning

	Professional wet cleaning allowed
	Gentle wet cleaning mode
	The most gentle cleaning
	Wet cleaning prohibited

Spin and dry

A square is used to indicate this category. Now let’s examine the other designations:

1. A horizontal line in the center of the square means drying things on a flat horizontal surface. If there are two horizontal lines in a square, it is not recommended to wring out the product.
2. A vertical line inside a square — you can dry on a hanger, rope or drying rack. Two vertical lines — you can hang up straight away and not wring out. Sometimes vertical drying is indicated by an arc at the top of the square, but this pictogram is outdated.
3. A crossed-out square is usually found next to a crossed-out basin. This means that the item cannot be washed, wrung out or dried.
4. Additional stripes in the upper left corner of the square — it is forbidden to dry in the sun (only drying in the shade is allowed).
5. A circle inside a square — machine drying is allowed. A crossed-out circle in a square — machine drying is prohibited.
6. A dot in a circle (from one to three) indicates the drying temperature.

A sign with a twisted rope and two lines crossed out is also used in addition to the square. It indicates that wringing out the item after washing and wringing is prohibited.

Table 4: Symbols for dehydrating an object

	Can be wrung out and dried
	Drying in the drum
	Excess is prohibited
	Drying in the drum is prohibited
	Ordinary or delicate drying, maximum temperature 60 ° C
	Ordinary or delicate drying, maximum temperature 80 ° C
	Drying at high temperature
	Dry vertically, do not push
	Dry horizontally
	Dry in the shade
	Do not twist

Ironing

The iron symbol is used to represent the intuitive understanding of recommended products for ironing. Interpreting the designations:

1. One point inside the iron is to iron with a warm iron, the temperature is up to 110 degrees. This designation is exhibited on silk and woolen products, for many samples of synthetics.
2. Two points – average mode, temperature up to 150 degrees.
3. Three points mean a hot iron (up to 200 degrees), such ironing is recommended only to dense natural things. The points coincide with the designations on the iron, so you can not worry about temperature indicators.
4. Two vertical lines from the sole of the iron allow the use of steam mode.
5. Crossed-out iron — the fabric should not be ironed at all.
6. Crossed-out lines under the sole indicate dry ironing of linen, do not use steam.

Table 5: Icons illustrating the process of ironing the item

	Iron at the minimum temperature of the iron sole, without steam.
	Iron at the temperature of the iron sole up to 150⁰С.
	Iron at the maximum temperature with steam.
	Do not iron.
	Do not steam.

Bleaching

Bleaching is represented by a triangle. A geometric figure that is empty suggests that bleaching agents won’t harm the product. These are typically natural white textiles.

Other symbols in the vicinity of the triangle:

1. Two oblique lines inside the figure warn against using chlorine. Only oxygen compounds. The same is indicated by a crossed-out triangle with the abbreviation "Cl" inside.
2. A triangle icon with the letters "Cl" without an oblique cross — feel free to use a chlorine compound.
3. You should not bleach the product if there is a crossed-out triangle on the label. Use a gentle stain remover.

Table 5: Symbols illustrating how to get rid of stubborn stains on the item

	Bleaching allowed
	Do not bleach
	No chlorine

Letter marking

There are graphic symbols and English marking in addition to that. Let’s examine these inscriptions’ meanings.

Table 6: English symbol translation

Hand wash only	Hand wash only
Machine wash	Can be machine washed
No wash or Do not wash	Do not wash
Do not dry clean	Dry cleaning prohibited
Do not bleach	Do not bleach
Wash separately	Wash separately from other items
Do not iron	Do not iron
Do not wring or twist	Do not wring or twist
Do not tumble dry	Machine drying prohibited
Dry in shade	Dry in the shade

Additional unusual symbols on items

There are recommendations for unusual care symbols in addition to the standard ones.

Table7: A list of uncommon pictograms along with their definitions

	Drying machine
	Vertical loading
	Withstands high humidity
	Dry cleaning symbols: shortened cycle, low humidity, low temperature, no steam finishing
	Line or hanger drying

Funny jokes like "Not edible," "Superman T-shirt does not give the ability to fly," or "Give this to your mother, she will figure it out" are printed on clothing tags.

Significant Clothes look different after drying, ironing, and washing. Inadequate clothing maintenance results in a variety of problems, including fading of the color after a few months of wear, pellets, and torn patterns.

Washing Symbol	Meaning
Machine Wash	Can be washed in a washing machine
Hand Wash	Wash by hand only
Do Not Wash	Do not wash this item
Temperature Indicator	Shows the maximum temperature for washing
Bleach	Can use bleach
Do Not Bleach	Do not use bleach
Dry Clean	Take to a professional dry cleaner
Do Not Dry Clean	Avoid dry cleaning
Tumble Dry	Can be dried in a tumble dryer
Do Not Tumble Dry	Do not use a tumble dryer
Iron	Safe to iron
Do Not Iron	Do not iron

Although it may initially seem difficult, knowing how to interpret the washing symbols on clothing labels is a necessary skill for maintaining the quality of your clothing. These symbols give you important guidance on how to prevent common laundry errors like shrinking, fading, or causing damage to your favorite clothes.

You’ll be able to take better care of your clothes with ease once you know the basic symbols, such as those for ironing, drying, washing, and dry cleaning. Your clothes will look their best and last longer between washes if you take note of these tiny drawings.

Thus, make sure to read the label the next time you do laundry. It’s a simple step that has a big impact on the way your clothes look. You can continue to enjoy your favorite pieces for many years to come by adhering to the guidelines indicated by these symbols.

Video on the topic

WASHING – Deciphering the symbol on clothing labels. Video Lesson 2

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