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Laundry care symbols explained

Has laundry day got your head spinning? Do you wash on cold or warm? Does this shirt require ironing? Can that sweater go in the dryer? You’ve got a lot of questions. And on top of it, the washing symbols on your clothes’ care tags can look less like instructions and more like hieroglyphics or your kids’ geometry homework.

All those clothing care symbols can get a little overwhelming, but not to worry—this comprehensive guide will help you become fluent in laundry care symbols in no time. Learn the meaning behind 37 washing, drying, ironing and dry cleaning symbols and get ready to tackle laundry day—the right way.

Whirlpool brand is here to help you crack the code with this quick, effective guide. Bookmark it or print it out and stick it in your laundry room. Then share it with your family and friends. Because laundry day should be just a little bit easier.

How do you read a clothing label?

It is easy to read a clothing label once you know what you are looking for. There are typically two tags to analyze. The first provides information about the brand, where the clothing was made, the size and type of fabric. The second tag contains care instructions indicated by universal laundry symbols. To know how to best take care of your clothing, it is important to know what each of these symbols mean.

What are the universal laundry symbols?

Universal laundry symbols signal to owners how to properly care for their clothes. Whether washing, drying, ironing or dry cleaning, these symbols help you navigate clothing care so that you don’t have to guess the best way to treat your clothes.

Washing symbols guide

The wash tub symbol tells you exactly how to wash a garment, with underscored lines indicating the recommended cycle and black dots representing water temperature. An X, of course, warns to not machine wash at all. If your whites are looking a little dingy, consult the triangle on the clothes’ label (if there is one) for bleaching instructions.

What does 30, 40, 50 and 60 mean in laundry symbols?

The numbers 30, 40, 50 and 60 reference water temperature in degrees Celsius. A cold wash is around 30°C (85°F), warm is 40°C (105°F), warm/hot is 50°C (120°F) and hot is 60°C (140°F). These temperatures should be considered the maximum recommended for safely washing that garment.

What does the triangle laundry symbol mean?

The triangle laundry symbol represents bleach usage. An empty triangle indicates that bleach can be used on that item. A triangle with a cross through it means that you should absolutely not wash the item in bleach. A triangle with two diagonal lines inside it means non-chlorine bleach can be used.

Wash care symbols

Laundry symbols are essential guides that help you properly care for your clothes. These symbols, usually found on clothing tags, provide instructions on how to wash, dry and iron your garments. Understanding these symbols can help you figure out how to sort your laundry based on the care needed and extend the life of your garments.

Do not wash icon
Do not wash

This symbol indicates that the garment should not be washed with water. It's typically used for delicate items that require dry cleaning or special care. When you see this symbol, it's best to take the item to a professional cleaner.

Machine wash icon
Machine wash

The machine wash symbol indicates that the garment can be washed in a washing machine. However, always check for additional symbols that specify water temperature and cycle type for best results.

Hand wash icon
Hand wash

Items with the hand wash symbol should be washed by hand to help prevent damage. This is often used for delicate fabrics like wool or cashmere or items with intricate details, such as garments that have been hand-knitted.

Machine wash: permanent press icon
Machine wash: permanent press

The permanent press symbol indicates that the garment should be washed using the permanent press cycle. This cycle is designed to minimize wrinkles and is ideal for dress shirts and other items that tend to crease easily.

Machine wash: gentle or delicate icon
Machine wash: gentle or delicate

This symbol indicates that the garment should be washed using the gentle or delicate cycle. This cycle uses slower spin speeds and less agitation to protect delicate fabrics and might be useful for items like jeans and bras.

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Water temperature symbols

Water temperature is crucial in laundry care as it can affect cleaning effectiveness, color retention and fabric care. Read on to learn more about water temperature symbols and how they indicate the recommended water temperature.

Machine wash cold: 30°C or 85°F icon
Machine wash cold: 30°C or 85°F

Cold water washing is gentle on fabrics and helps prevent color fading and shrinkage. It's ideal for delicate items and dark-colored clothes.

Machine wash warm: 40°C or 105°F icon
Machine wash warm: 40°C or 105°F

Warm water can work well for cleaning most everyday items. It provides a good balance between cleaning power and fabric care, making it suitable for moderately soiled clothes.

Machine wash warm/hot: 50°C or 120°F icon
Machine wash warm/hot: 50°C or 120°F

This temperature is effective for cleaning more heavily soiled items. It's particularly good for whites, colorfast fabrics and towels.

Machine wash hot: 60°C or 140°F
Machine wash hot: 60°C or 140°F

Hot water is best for heavily soiled items, whites and durable fabrics. It provides the most thorough cleaning but may cause shrinkage, fading and wrinkling in some fabrics.

Machine wash sanitize: 70°C or 160°F icon
Machine wash sanitize: 70°C or 160°F

This high temperature setting is used to sanitize items and can help kill germs and bacteria. It's particularly useful for items that need disinfection.

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Bleach laundry symbols

Bleach can be an effective cleaning agent, but it's not suitable for all fabrics. These symbols indicate whether and how bleach can be used on a garment.

OK to bleach icon
OK to bleach

This symbol indicates that chlorine bleach can be safely used on the garment. It's typically used for white cotton or linen items that can withstand strong cleaning agents.

Do not bleach icon
Do not bleach

When you see this symbol, avoid using any type of bleach on the garment. Bleaching could damage the fabric or cause discoloration.

Non-chlorine bleach if needed icon
Non-chlorine bleach if needed

This symbol means that only non-chlorine, color-safe bleach should be used if bleaching is necessary. This type of bleach is gentler and safe for most colorfast fabrics.

Drying symbols

Laundry symbols will tell you not just how to wash, but also how to dry. First, determine whether the item should be air or tumble dried. The lines inside the square will tell you how an item should be air dried.

If it can be tumble dried (dried in a dryer), the symbol will also tell you how. Just like with wash symbols, underscored lines indicate cycle and black dots represent temperature. Once again, the symbol will be X’d out if you shouldn’t tumble dry at all. If you're wondering if you should add dryer sheets to your load, read this article about what dryer sheets do.

Air drying symbols

Air drying is a gentle method of drying clothes that can help preserve delicate fabrics and prevent shrinkage. Just like washing and drying, there are also laundry care symbols to indicate that you should air dry.

Drip dry icon
Drip dry

This symbol indicates that the garment should be hung up wet and allowed to dry naturally without wringing or twisting. Drip drying works well for delicate fabrics that may stretch or lose their shape if handled roughly when wet.

Dry in the shade icon
Dry in the shade

When you see this symbol, it means the item should be dried away from direct sunlight. This method helps prevent fading and damage to sensitive fabrics that may react poorly to prolonged sun exposure.

Hang dry icon
Hang dry

The hang dry symbol suggests that the garment should be hung on a clothesline or hanger to dry. This method is great for items that might lose their shape if laid flat, such as activewear or jeans.

Dry flat icon
Dry flat

This symbol indicates that the item should be laid flat on a clean surface to dry. Drying flat is often recommended for delicate knits or items that may stretch if hung, helping them maintain their original shape.

Person removing clothes from a dryer Person removing clothes from a dryer

Dryer cycle symbols

When machine drying is an option, it's important to use the right cycle and heat setting to protect your clothes. Get to know common dryer cycle symbols to help you make the right choice.

Tumble dry icon
Tumble dry

This symbol gives the green light for using a dryer. It's suitable for most everyday fabrics that can withstand the mechanical action and heat of a dryer.

Do not tumble dry icon
Do not tumble dry

When you see this symbol, avoid using a dryer. The item may be too delicate for machine drying.

No heat dry icon
No heat dry

This symbol indicates that you can use the dryer, but only on a no-heat or air-only setting. It's ideal for items that can withstand tumbling but are sensitive to heat.

Normal dry cycle: low heat icon
Normal dry cycle: low heat

This setting is suitable for delicate fabrics that can handle some heat. It uses a lower temperature to gently dry clothes while reducing the risk of shrinkage or damage.

Normal dry cycle: medium heat icon
Normal dry cycle: medium heat

Medium heat is appropriate for most everyday items like cotton and blended fabrics. It provides a balance between drying efficiency and fabric care.

Normal dry cycle: high heat icon
Normal dry cycle: high heat

High heat is best for heavy fabrics like towels and jeans. It may help clothes dry faster but can be harsh on delicate items.

Person removing clothes from a dryer Person removing clothes from a dryer

Permanent press dry cycle symbols

Permanent press cycles use medium heat and a cool-down period to help reduce wrinkles. Learn more about the permanent press symbols and what they indicate.

Permanent press: no heat icon
Permanent press: no heat

This setting uses the permanent press cycle without heat, relying on tumbling action to help remove wrinkles. It's suitable for items that are sensitive to heat but benefit from the wrinkle-reducing action.

Permanent press: low heat icon
Permanent press: low heat

Low heat permanent press is ideal for synthetic fabrics and blends. It uses gentle heat to dry clothes while minimizing wrinkles.

Permanent press: medium heat icon
Permanent press: medium heat

This setting is best for cotton and everyday items that tend to wrinkle. The medium heat helps dry clothes efficiently while the cool-down cycle reduces creasing.

Gentle dry cycle symbols

The gentle cycle uses low heat and slow tumbling to protect delicate fabrics. These symbols will indicate if you need to use a gentle dry cycle.

Gentle dry cycle: no heat icon
Gentle dry cycle: no heat

This setting uses the gentle tumbling action without any heat. It's perfect for very delicate items that can withstand some movement but are highly sensitive to heat.

Gentle dry cycle: low heat icon
Gentle dry cycle: low heat

Low heat on the gentle cycle provides a careful balance of drying power and fabric protection. It's suitable for delicates that can handle a small amount of heat.

Gentle dry cycle: medium heat icon
Gentle dry cycle: medium heat

This setting uses medium heat with gentle tumbling, suitable for items that need a bit more drying power but still require careful handling. It's a good choice for lightweight knits and blended fabrics.

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Ironing symbols

Ironing can help remove wrinkles and create a crisp, polished look for certain garments. However, not all fabrics can withstand the heat and pressure of an iron. The ironing symbols on clothing labels, typically shaped like an iron, provide guidance on how to properly care for each item. These symbols indicate whether ironing is safe for the garment and, if so, at what temperature and settings. Understanding these symbols can help you maintain the quality and appearance of your clothes while preventing damage from improper care.

Cool iron: 110°C or 230°F icon
Cool iron: 110°C or 230°F

This symbol indicates that the garment should be ironed at a low temperature, around 110°C or 230°F. Cool iron settings are typically used for delicate fabrics such as silk and nylon.

Warm iron: 150°C or 300°F icon
Warm iron: 150°C or 300°F

The warm iron symbol suggests using a medium temperature, approximately 150°C or 300°F. This setting is suitable for synthetic fibers like polyester, rayon or wool. It provides enough heat to remove wrinkles effectively without risking damage to these moderately heat-resistant fabrics.

Hot iron: 200°C or 390°F icon
Hot iron: 200°C or 390°F

A hot iron symbol indicates that the garment can withstand high temperatures, around 200°C or 390°F. This setting is typically safe for durable fabrics like cotton, linen and denim. The high heat helps to smooth out tough wrinkles and create sharp creases.

No steam iron icon
No steam iron

When you see the no steam iron symbol, it means you should iron the garment without using the steam function. This is often necessary for fabrics that are sensitive to moisture or those with special finishes that could be affected by steam. Dry ironing helps prevent water spots and other moisture-related damage while still allowing you to remove wrinkles and create a smooth appearance.

Do not iron icon
Do not iron

The do not iron symbol is a clear indication that the garment should not be ironed under any circumstances. This symbol is often found on highly delicate fabrics, items with heat-sensitive embellishments or materials that could melt or become damaged when exposed to heat. For these garments, it's best to use alternative methods for wrinkle removal, such as hanging the item in a steamy bathroom or using a fabric steamer on its lowest setting, if safe to do so.

Dry cleaning symbols

Some garments are still best left to the professionals. A simple circle will tell you whether the item should be dry cleaned or not.

What does A, F or P mean in laundry symbols?

The letters A, F or P inside a circle on your garment’s care tag indicates that the item should be dry cleaned and instructs the dry cleaner what type of cleaner to use. An A means they can use any solvent, an F means any solvent except Trichloroethylene and a P directs them to use petroleum solvents only.

Dry clean icon
Dry clean

This symbol, represented by a plain circle, indicates that the garment should be professionally dry cleaned. Dry cleaning uses special solvents to clean clothes without water, making it ideal for delicate fabrics or items that may shrink, fade or lose their shape in water. When you see this symbol, it's best to take the item to a professional dry cleaner rather than attempting to wash it at home.

Do not dry clean icon
Do not dry clean

A circle with an X through it means the garment should not be dry cleaned. This symbol is often found on items that may be damaged by dry cleaning solvents or processes. These garments typically need to be washed at home following other care instructions on the label, such as hand washing or gentle machine washing.

“A” symbol: any solvent icon
“A” symbol: any solvent

A circle with the letter "A" inside indicates that the dry cleaner can use any type of solvent in the cleaning process. This symbol is typically found on sturdy fabrics that can withstand a variety of cleaning methods.

“F” symbol: any solvent except Trichloroethylene icon
“F” symbol: any solvent except Trichloroethylene

When you see a circle with the letter "F" inside, it means the garment can be cleaned with any dry cleaning solvent except trichloroethylene.

“P” symbol: petroleum solvents only icon
“P” symbol: petroleum solvents only

A circle containing the letter "P" directs the dry cleaner to use only petroleum-based solvents in the cleaning process. This symbol is often found on garments that may be damaged by other types of dry cleaning solvents. Petroleum-based solvents are generally gentler and are used for more delicate fabrics or items with special finishes.

Shop Whirlpool® Washers

A better clean means better care, and Whirlpool® Washers have the clean you need in a style that fits you. With a variety of washing machines with innovative features, such as the Load & Go Dispenser and the 12-Hour Fan Fresh® Option, you can customize every load and care for clothes the way you want to make laundry day a breeze.

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