Laundry symbols are almost like another language in themselves! And it’s a language you should learn if you want to avoid laundry disasters.
f you’re confused about what you can clean in the washing machine, that’s just half the problem! While it may not seem like a big problem to wash a cotton top at 40°C instead of 30°C, wools and silks are a different story.
Today we’re talking you through the mystery meaning behind washing labels so you can avoid ever ruining your clothes again. As well as explaining each mysterious symbol individually, we also have a printable washing label guide for you to keep so you’ll always have knowledge on hand.
Ready to get washing? Check your tags and let’s get started!
Washing symbols
The symbol shown above indicated an instruction to do with the washing process itself. There are many variations of this washing machine symbol to give you more details on exactly how to wash your items for best results, including what temperature, method and cycle to use.
Terminology
Do not wash – Items with this symbol should not be washed at home. Instead, they will need to be dry cleaned – we’ll discuss the corresponding symbols in detail later on.
Permanent press – Permanent press items are those that have been treated to prevent wrinkles and any shape-distortion. They don’t usually need to be ironed.
Gentle cycle – Garments that require a gentle cycle are usually made from delicate fabrics such as wool or silk, or those that have details that could be damaged by a normal cycle.
Hand wash – Clothes marked with a hand wash symbol should never be put in the washing machine. Instead, wash them by hand in a small basin with some special detergent (those intended for hand wash use are normally much milder).
Dots – each dot signifies a different temperature:
1 = 30ºC
2 = 40ºC
3 = 50ºC
4 = 60ºC
Tumble dry symbols
The basic symbol for tumble drying is a square with a circle inside. There are variations to the symbol which tell you exactly how to dry your clothes and also what temperature to use to ensure they do not fade or worse, shrink, in the wash.
The laundry symbol of a square without the accompanying circle signifies drying without the use of a tumble dryer, and again, has several variations shown below.
Terminology
Drip dry –synthetic garments are usually ok to be hung up straight out of the wash, even when dripping wet. They usually dry without wrinkles when hung up to ‘drip-dry’ and therefore don’t need ironing either.
Hang to dry – items that are marked with the ‘hang to dry’ symbol can be popped over a drying rack or hung up to dry on hangers.
Dry flat – garments that need to be dried flat are usually relatively heavy, and therefore shouldn’t be hung in case the weight alters their shape. Place on flat surfaces or flat across drying racks to dry.
Dots – as before, dots signify different temperatures:
1 = low heat
2 = medium heat
3 = high heat
Ironing symbols
Ever burnt a hole through a piece of clothing? Getting clued up on the different ironing symbols will ensure it never happens again. The symbol above stands for ironing and variations on it help you determine what temperature or setting to use.
Terminology
No steam – Some materials don’t react well to steam, or to put it another way, the combination of water and heat. If you see this label, be sure to turn off the steam function on your iron before ironing.
Dry cleaning symbols
We’ve arrived – the dreaded dry clean only symbol! This one means your garment could be damaged in the wash and should be laundered professionally. It may be more expensive, but trust us, it’s not worth risking.
Terminology
Letters – dry cleaning symbols with letters insides are there to tell the professionals how to treat the garment, so you don’t need to pay too much attention to these.
How to do dry cleaning at home
If a garment has a dry clean symbol on the label, do you really have to pay out every time it needs washing? Watch this video to find out more!
Q&A
What does the cross symbol mean?
A cross on any laundry symbol means that you should not carry out the depicted action. For example, a circle with a cross in it means do not dry clean.
What does 40 mean for washing clothes?
40 refers to the temperature you should wash your clothes at. Your machine should have a setting for a 40-degree wash.
What does wash separately mean?
If a garment is labelled with “wash separately”, it’s because the fabric is highly pigmented or it could cause damage to other delicate fabrics. You should wash these items singularly because the colour could bleed, staining your other clothes. This is not the most eco-friendly option, so you might want to hand wash the garment instead.
What’s the difference between washing clothes in cold water over hot water?
The temperature you use to wash your clothes could vary for a number of reasons. Cold water is best for washing stains like blood and sweat – these stains will only set further into the fabric if you wash them on a hot setting.
Hot water is better for sanitising fabrics – some will use higher temperatures to kill germs on towels and bedding or to get underwear cleaner. Hot water can damage certain fabrics and cause them to shrink.
