GUIDE TO CARE SYMBOLS

Laundry symbols seem like another language, but the washing symbols on your garments’ care labels tell you exactly how to do the washing and drying as well as give extra information on bleaching and ironing. understanding care symbols is crucial, they provide instructions for preper care, preventing damage and maintaining quality. following care symbols saves time and money, preserves garment appearance, and promotes sustainability.

WASHING SYMBOLS

NORMAL

It’s okay to use a normal wash cycle.

PERMANENT PRESS

The fabric has been treated with chemicals to prevent wrinkles and protect the original shape. Avoid ironing the item.

DELICATE/GENTLE

If you have this symbol on your tag, it’s probably a wool, silk, or other type of delicate.

HAND WASH

Hand wash and never machine wash. Use a hand-wash-friendly detergent.

DO NOT WASH

Never machine or hand wash the item. The item likely can only be dry cleaned.

DO NOT WRING

Never hand wring the item to squeeze out water.

WATER TEMPERATURE

Some tags have a number inside the bucket instead of dots. This number is the maximum allowable temperature.

(30°C/65-85°F)

Wash at up to 30 degrees Celsius

(40°C/105°F)

Wash at up to 40 degrees Celsius

(50°C/120°F)

Wash at up to 50 degrees Celsius

(60°C/140°F)

Wash at up to 60 degrees Celsius

(70°C/160°F)

Wash at up to 70 degrees Celsius

(95°C/200°F)

Wash at up to 95 degrees Celsius

BLEACHING SYMBOLS

ANY BLEACH WHEN NEEDED

Use bleach as needed to make your whites even whiter.

NON-CHLORINE BLEACH ONLY

Use only non-chlorine bleach, as needed.

DO NOT BLEACH

Never use bleach on that clothing item

DRYING SYMBOLS

NORMAL TUMBLE DRY

Use the normal tumble dry cycle.

PERMANENT PRESS DRY

Use the permanent press dry cycle.

DELICATE/GENTLE DRY

Use the delicate/gentle dry cycle.

LINE DRY

Hang it to dry or line dry it.

DRIP DRY

The item should drip dry.

DRY FLAT

The item should be laid flat for drying

IN THE SHADE

The item should be dried in the shade, whether line, drip or flat drying is recommended.

DO NOT DRY

Usually comes with the Do Not Wash symbol and it means you shouldn’t dry the item.

DO NOT TUMBLE DAY

Never tumble dry the item.

HEAT SETTING

Some might have dots inside the tumble dry circle.

ANY HEAT

No dots means any heat setting is fine

LOW

One dot means to use the low heat setting

MEDIUM

Two dots means to use the medium heat setting

HIGH

Three dots means it’s okay to use the high heat setting.

NO HEAT OR AIR

A coloured in (black) dots means you should only use the No Heat or Air Dry setting.

IRONING SYMBOLS

DO NOT IRON

Do not iron the item.

NO STEAM

Avoid using the steam setting while ironing.

TEMPERATURE SETTING

If the iron symbol on the tag doesn’t have any dots in it, that means you can iron your fabric at any temperature setting.

(110°C/230°F) LOW

One dot inside the iron means it’s okay to iron at up to 110 degrees Celsius.

(150°C/300°F) MEDIUM

Two dots inside the iron means it’s fine to iron your clothing item at temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius.

(200°C/390°F) HIGH

Three dots inside the iron symbol means it’s okay to iron the item at a heat setting of up to 200 degree Celsius.

DRY CLEANING SYMBOLS

ANY SOLVENT

Dry clean the item on a normal cycle using any solvent.

NO TRICHLOROETHYLENE

Dry cleaning on a normal cycle with any solvent except for Trichloroethylene.

PETROLEUM SOLVENT ONLY

Normal-cycle dry cleaning with petroleum solvents only.

SHORT CYCLE

Dry clean on a short cycle

REDUCED MOISTURE

Dry clean on a reduced-moisture cycle

LOW HEAT

Dry clean on a low-heat cycle.

NO STEAM FINISHING

No steam finishing should be used.

NO DRY CLEAN

Do not dry clean the item