Laundry Symbols and Meanings: Full Chart and Guide
October 05, 2026
9 min read
By Labeloom, a label manufacturer since 1996 · Last updated
Checked against the ISO 3758:2023 symbol list published by GINETEX and the US FTC Care Labeling Rule.
Laundry symbols, also called care symbols, are the small pictures on a garment label that show how to wash, bleach, dry, iron and dry clean it. There are five basic shapes and they always come in the same order: a wash tub, a triangle, a square, an iron and a circle. A cross through any of them means that treatment is not allowed.
If you make clothes or home textiles, you also need to know which symbols your own label has to carry. That depends on where you sell. Europe uses ISO 3758, the US accepts symbols from ASTM D5489 in place of written instructions, and the two are separate systems. ISO also updated its standard in 2023, so older charts can be out of date. We cover both below.
Wash tub: washing. The number inside is the hottest water the item can take, in °C.
Triangle: bleaching. An empty triangle means any bleach is fine.
Square: drying. A circle inside means tumble dryer, lines inside mean drying naturally.
Iron: ironing. The dots show how hot the iron can be.
Circle: professional cleaning. The letters tell the cleaner which solvents to use.
Three more rules apply to all of them. A cross means do not. Numbers and dots are maximums, never targets. Bars underneath mean a gentler process: one bar is mild, two bars is very mild.
About the symbols: care symbols are owned by GINETEX (ISO 3758) and, in the US, by ASTM International (ASTM D5489). We show them for information only and claim no rights over them. For official artwork and licensing, contact GINETEX.
What the washing symbols mean
The wash tub says whether the item can be washed at home, by hand or in a machine. The number is the hottest water it can take.
Washing symbols and what they mean
Symbol
Meaning
Wash at up to 30°C. A fine wash, for example for dark cotton and polyester.
A mild fine wash at up to 30°C, for example for modal, viscose, polyacrylic, polyester and polyamide. Use a smaller load.
A very mild fine wash at up to 30°C, for example for machine-washable wool.
A coloured wash at up to 40°C, for example for dark cotton, polyester and mixed fabrics. With one bar it is a mild wash for fine laundry in modal, viscose and synthetics. With two bars it is very mild, for example for machine-washable wool.
A coloured wash at up to 60°C, for coloured items that must not be washed at boiling temperature.
A boil wash at 70°C, for example for white cotton or linen that can be boiled.
A boil wash at 95°C, for example for white cotton or linen that can be boiled.
Hand wash only. Use plenty of water and a fine detergent, and do not rub, pull or wring.
Do not wash.
What the bleaching symbols mean
The triangle tells you whether you can bleach the item, and with which kind of bleach.
Bleaching symbols and what they mean
Symbol
Meaning
Any bleach is allowed, chlorine or oxygen.
Oxygen bleach only, the kind found in universal detergents. No chlorine bleach.
Do not bleach. Use a detergent without bleach.
What the drying symbols mean
The square is for drying. A circle inside it means tumble dryer. Lines inside it mean drying naturally after the wash.
Tumble drying symbols
Tumble drying symbols and what they mean
Symbol
Meaning
Normal tumble drying, at up to 80°C.
Gentler tumble drying, at up to 60°C, with a lower temperature and shorter time.
Do not tumble dry.
Natural drying symbols
Natural drying symbols and what they mean
Symbol
Meaning
Line drying: hang it up, for example colourfast textiles.
Drip line drying: hang it wet without wringing, which suits large colourfast items that need to dry without creases.
Flat drying: lay it flat, for example heavy colourfast textiles.
Drip flat drying: lay it flat without wringing, which suits colourfast but delicate textiles.
A diagonal line in the corner of any of these symbols means dry in the shade, for example silk, wool and other delicate textiles.
What the ironing symbols mean
The dots show the hottest the iron's sole plate may get. Follow the care label, not the fibre content.
Ironing symbols and what they mean
Symbol
Meaning
Low temperature, up to 120°C. Steam can cause permanent damage, and some items should be ironed inside out or under a cloth.
Medium temperature, up to 160°C. A steam iron can be used. Do not press hard.
High temperature, up to 210°C, for example for cotton and linen. A steam iron may be used.
Do not iron. Ironing can change the fabric permanently.
Some older charts show 110, 150 and 200°C for one, two and three dots. The current ISO 3758:2023 list from GINETEX gives 120, 160 and 210°C, so make sure you are using the current one.
What the professional cleaning symbols mean
The circle is for cleaning done by a professional. The letters inside it tell the cleaner which solvents are safe to use, and a bar underneath means a gentler process, with limits on mechanical action, moisture or drying temperature.
Professional cleaning symbols and what they mean
Symbol
Meaning
Professional dry cleaning is allowed, in the solvents the letter shows (perchloroethylene and hydrocarbons, or hydrocarbons only). A bar underneath means a mild process with stricter limits.
Do not dry clean. Do not use stain removers that contain solvents either.
Professional wet cleaning: water-based cleaning in professional equipment. Normal, mild with one bar, or very mild with two bars. A crossed-out wet cleaning symbol means do not wet clean.
Want to see the print and the feel before you order?
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules for each country where you sell.
If you sell in the US
The FTC Care Labeling Rule (16 CFR Part 423) requires a permanent care label that says how to care for the item: washing, drying, ironing, bleaching and any warnings. Since 1997 you can use symbols from ASTM D5489-96c instead of words. ISO symbols or your own icons do not count on their own, and need written terms next to them (source: Foley & Lardner, March 2026).
If you sell in the EU
Europe uses the ISO 3758 system, developed with GINETEX. Under the EU General Product Safety Regulation (2023/988), instructions must be in a language consumers easily understand, which has been interpreted as the official languages of the countries where you sell.
If you sell in both
Your label has to meet both sets of requirements, so it can get long. A QR code can carry extra detail such as translations, but as of March 2026 the US rule does not accept digital content in place of the required text or symbols. An industry petition from February 2025 asks the FTC to change that. We cover the practical side in our guide to adding QR codes to clothing labels.
Canada, Australia, China and Japan have their own labelling rules or standards too, so check each country where you sell. For the basics of why care labels matter, see why care labels are important.
Which material is best for care labels?
We usually recommend printed labels for care instructions, because they handle long text, small symbols and several colours. Woven taffeta is the firm, economical alternative. Our guide to printed labels compares the options in more detail.
Care labels are usually narrow and long, end-folded or centre-folded and sewn into a seam. Where the label goes matters as much as what is on it, so see our guide to where to sew labels on clothes, and compare materials in taffeta vs damask vs satin. List the symbols in order: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional cleaning.
Frequently asked questions about laundry symbols
What do the numbers in the wash tub mean?
They are the maximum washing temperature in degrees Celsius. For example, 40 means do not wash hotter than 40°C.
What does the bar under a symbol mean?
One bar means a milder process with reduced mechanical action. Two bars mean a very mild process, for example for woollens.
What does a cross through a symbol mean?
That treatment is not allowed, for example do not bleach, do not tumble dry or do not iron.
What does a circle inside a square mean?
Tumble drying. Two dots mean up to 80°C and one dot means a mild process up to 60°C.
What do the dots on the iron mean?
The maximum ironing temperature: one dot up to 120°C, two dots up to 160°C and three dots up to 210°C.
What is the difference between the ISO and US care symbol systems?
ISO 3758, developed with GINETEX, is the international system used in Europe. In the US, the FTC rule accepts symbols from ASTM D5489-96c in place of written terms, and ISO symbols or your own icons must be accompanied by written terms. If you sell in both markets, check the requirements of each.
Do I need care symbols on my clothing labels?
In the US, textile wearing apparel generally needs a permanent care label with care instructions, and ASTM symbols or written terms can be used. In the EU, care instructions have to be understandable in the language of the country where you sell. Check the rules for your markets.
