Laundry Symbols Meaning: Decode Any Clothing Care Label
The Laundry Symbols Guide explains the meaning of every washing symbol on your clothing labels, from the washtub and triangle to the square, iron, and circle. Search or browse 39 standard ISO 3758 care symbols and read exactly what each one tells you to do.
It is built for anyone staring at a confusing care tag — to avoid shrinking a sweater, fading a shirt, or ruining a silk blouse. Look up a symbol by name, fabric, or temperature, then follow the plain-English instruction for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, or professional care.
How to Use the Laundry Symbols Guide
Browse by category
Use the category tabs to filter symbols by type — Washing, Bleaching, Drying, Ironing, or Professional Care. Choose All to see every symbol at once.
Search for a symbol
Type in the search bar to find symbols by name (e.g. "hand wash"), fabric (e.g. "silk", "cotton", "wool"), temperature (e.g. "30", "40", "60"), or keyword (e.g. "gentle", "no heat").
Read what it means
Each symbol card shows a clear icon, its name, and a plain-English description so you know the correct temperature, cycle, or treatment for that garment.
Save your favorites
Tap the heart on any card to save it, then use the favorites button in the toolbar to show only your saved symbols — a personal quick-reference list for your wardrobe.
When reading a real care label, look at the symbols from left to right; they usually appear in this order: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and professional care. Match each one to the cards here for the full care instructions.
Features
39 Standard Care Symbols
A complete library of 39 care symbols defined by the ISO 3758 international standard, each with a clear visual icon.
Five Categories
Symbols are grouped into washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and professional care, each with its own accent color.
Smart Search
Find symbols instantly by name, description, or common fabric — searching "silk" surfaces every symbol relevant to silk.
Category Filtering
Color-coded tabs let you narrow down to just the category you need, with a live count of matching symbols.
Save Favorites
Heart the symbols you look up most so they persist between visits as your personal quick-reference list.
Symbol Legend
A built-in legend explains the base shapes plus the dot, bar, and cross modifiers so you can decode symbols not in the library.
Responsive Grid
The layout adapts from a wide multi-column grid on desktop down to two columns on mobile, staying clear at any size.
Dark Mode
A polished dark theme keeps every symbol icon crisp and easy to read in low light.
The Five Symbol Categories
Every care label uses symbols from five basic categories, and each category has its own distinct shape. Learn the shapes and you can group any symbol at a glance.
Washtub — Washing
Tells you whether to machine or hand wash, at what temperature, and on which cycle. A number inside is the maximum wash temperature in °C.
Triangle — Bleaching
Shows whether bleach is allowed: any bleach, non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach only, or no bleach at all.
Square — Drying
Covers tumble drying, line drying, drip drying, and drying flat — including heat level and drying in the shade.
Iron — Ironing
Indicates the safe ironing temperature, whether steam is allowed, or whether you should not iron at all.
Circle — Professional Care
Used by dry cleaners and wet cleaners; letters inside name which solvents and processes the garment can take.
Modifiers
Dots set the temperature (1 = low, 2 = medium, 3 = high), lines underneath mean a gentler cycle, and a cross means "do not".
Frequently Asked Questions
What standard do these laundry symbols follow?
They follow ISO 3758, the international standard for textile care labeling maintained by GINETEX. These symbols appear on clothing labels worldwide, so the meanings in this guide apply to most garments you own.
What does the washtub symbol with a number mean?
The washtub is the washing symbol, and the number inside is the maximum wash temperature in degrees Celsius. For example, "40" means wash at no more than 40°C (104°F). A hand inside the tub means hand wash only, while a crossed-out tub means do not wash with water.
What does a triangle (bleach) symbol mean?
The triangle is the bleaching symbol. A plain triangle means any bleach is allowed, a triangle with two diagonal lines means non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach only, and a crossed-out triangle means do not bleach at all.
What do the dots inside ironing and drying symbols mean?
Dots indicate the temperature level: one dot is low heat, two dots are medium, and three dots are high. On an iron, one dot is roughly 110°C, two dots 150°C, and three dots 200°C; on a drying square they set the dryer's heat.
What's the difference between one line and two lines under a symbol?
Lines underneath a symbol call for a gentler treatment. One line means a gentle or permanent-press cycle with reduced agitation, while two lines mean a delicate or very gentle cycle with minimal agitation and a slow spin.
What does a circle (dry clean) symbol with a letter mean?
The circle is the professional-care symbol, and the letter names which process is allowed: A = any solvent, P = tetrachloroethylene (perc) and hydrocarbon solvents, F = hydrocarbon solvents only, and W = professional wet cleaning. A crossed-out circle means do not dry clean.
What does a crossed-out symbol mean?
A cross (X) through any symbol is a prohibition — it means do not perform that action. So a crossed-out iron means do not iron, a crossed-out drying square means do not tumble dry, and a crossed-out triangle means do not bleach.
Are my favorite symbols saved?
Yes. Your favorites are stored in your browser, so they are still there when you return on the same device. If you sign in, they also sync to your account so you can reach them from your other devices.
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