LAUNDRY SYMBOLS: WHAT CLOTHING LABELS MEAN

Have you ever picked up a favorite piece of clothing, looked at the label, and wondered what all those little symbols mean? You're not alone. Care symbols are there to help you keep your clothes, shoes and accessories beautiful and in top condition for as long as possible.

In this article we will explain in a simple way what each symbol means and how to properly care for your favorite pieces.

Basic Symbols You Should Know

• Tub: Washing with water
• Circle: Dry cleaning
• Triangle: Bleaching
• Iron: Ironing

Stick to the symbols, they’re the simplest “user manual” for protecting your clothes.

Washing

The following symbols indicate whether a garment should be washed by hand or machine and may be combined to provide further care instructions.

Do not wash with water.

Hand or machine wash with water.

Sensitive program

Hand wash

Machine wash max 30° Celsius

Note: a line beneath the symbol means the fabric is delicate and should be washed gently.

Dry Cleaning

The following symbols refer to dry cleaning and may be combined to provide more detailed information.

Dry cleaning not allowed.

Dry clean with all types of solvents.

Risk of fabric shrinkage.

Washing with all solvents.

Clean with hydrocarbons and trifluoro trichloroethane.

Clean with tetrachloroethylene, chlorinated solvents and petroleum products.

Bleaching

Bleach with any bleaching agent

Bleach with chlorine-based products

Drying

These symbols are identified by the dots inside the circle. One dot means the item should be dried on a gentle cycle, while two dots indicate normal drying is suitable.

Can be tumble dried.

Do not tumble dry.

Ironing

The fabric can be ironed.

Max temperature 110°C – no steam.

Max temperature 150°C.

Max temperature 200°C.

Do not iron.

Can Clothing Labels Help You Choose a Washing Program?

Yes! Labels provide useful guidance for adjusting your machine’s drum movement, rinse temperature, and spin speed.

• The lines under the wash tub symbol are especially important:
• No line: Normal wash (cotton program)
• One line: Gentle wash (synthetics program)
• Two lines: Very gentle wash (wool program)

General Tips:

• Wash colored items separately.
• Silk should be dry cleaned.
• Wool should be washed at low temperatures (max 40 °C), on short cycles, and laid flat to dry away from heat.

What applies to shoes & accessories?

For shoes and accessories, the symbols may be fewer or accompanied by written instructions. Here it is important:

• Avoid washing in the washing machine (unless explicitly stated)
• Clean with a damp cloth
• Store correctly so they don't lose their shape

Why is it important to follow the instructions?

Proper care:

• Keeps the garment looking like new
• Protects fabrics and colors
• Extends its lifespan
• Saves you from unpleasant surprises (shrinkage, fading)

Tip: Always follow the instructions on the garment’s care label. If a symbol is unclear, ask the retailer or a professional cleaner before washing.

We hope this guide will be useful to you and become the your ally in the daily care of your favorite pieces!