A favourite jumper can come out of the wash looking like it belongs to somebody else, and a silky blouse can pick up a dull mark from an iron that was slightly too hot. The small icons on a clothing label are there to prevent those moments. This fabric care symbols guide explains what they mean, so you can read any label in a few seconds.
Care labels follow a set order: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. Once you know the five basic shapes, you only need to notice the dots, lines or crosses and choose the gentlest suitable option.
The 5 fabric care symbols at a glance
- Tub: washing. A number is the maximum temperature; a hand means hand wash.
- Triangle: bleaching. Two diagonal lines mean non-chlorine bleach only.
- Square: drying. A circle inside means tumble drying is allowed.
- Iron: ironing. One, two or three dots show the safe heat.
- Circle: professional cleaning. Letters inside are instructions for the dry cleaner.
A cross through any symbol means do not do it.
Why fabric care symbols are worth checking
The label tells you what a garment can handle after the fabric has been dyed, stitched, lined and finished. That matters most for blended fibres, delicate trims, prints, tailoring and stretch. A cotton T-shirt may cope with a warm wash, but the same temperature can damage the elastic fibres in sportswear or felt a wool blend. When in doubt, the lowest temperature and gentlest setting give you the most room for error. If you are not sure how often an item needs washing at all, our guide on how often to wash clothes can help.
Washing symbols: the tub
The wash symbol looks like a small tub of water. The number inside is the maximum wash temperature, not a target. Washing at 30°C rather than 40°C is often kinder to colour, shape and delicate fibres, as long as the item is not heavily soiled.
- Plain tub: a normal machine cycle.
- One line underneath: a synthetic or easy-care cycle, with gentler movement and a reduced spin.
- Two lines underneath: a delicate or wool cycle, for lightweight fabrics, lingerie and anything that snags.
- Hand in the tub: hand wash only. Use cool or lukewarm water, a little suitable detergent, and press the water out rather than wringing.
- Crossed-out tub: do not wash in water. Common on structured coats and tailored pieces.
What the temperature numbers mean
The usual temperatures are 30°C, 40°C, 60°C and 95°C. Think of 30°C as the everyday setting for mixed colours, synthetics and more delicate clothes, and 40°C for many cottons, bedding and everyday garments. Higher temperatures are generally for towels and white cottons. Dark denim, bright colours and stretchy fabrics last longer when washed cooler and inside out, and you can steam denim between wears to freshen it.
Bleaching symbols: the triangle
An empty triangle means any bleach may be used if needed, although it is rarely essential. A triangle with two diagonal lines means oxygen or non-chlorine bleach only, the safer option for many coloured garments. A crossed-out triangle means no bleach at all. Chlorine bleach can strip colour and weaken fibres, so for stains on these clothes use a colour-safe stain remover and test it on a hidden area first.
Drying symbols: the square
A circle inside the square means tumble drying is allowed. Dots show the heat: one dot for low, two for normal. A crossed-out circle means do not tumble dry. This is one of the most useful symbols to follow, because heat can shrink natural fibres, damage elastane and set creases into delicate fabrics.
Lines inside the square tell you how to air dry:
- One vertical line: line dry.
- Three vertical lines: drip dry, hung up while still wet.
- One horizontal line: dry flat, which helps knitwear keep its shape.
- Diagonal lines in the corner: dry in the shade, to protect dark colours and prints from fading.
When drying a wool jumper flat, reshape it while damp on a clean towel. Hanging wet knitwear stretches the shoulders. Our guide to steaming knitwear covers how to refresh it once dry.
Ironing symbols: the iron
One dot means a cool iron, two dots medium and three dots hot. A crossed-out iron means do not iron. As a rough guide, one dot suits synthetics such as acrylic, nylon and acetate, two dots suit wool, silk and polyester blends, and three dots are for cotton and linen. Blends change the rule: a linen and viscose dress may need a lower setting than pure linen.
Turn printed, embellished or dark garments inside out, and use a thin pressing cloth on delicate fabrics to avoid shine. For clothes that are clean but creased, steaming is often easier. A handheld steamer suits shirts and dresses that are awkward on a board. The f10 Handheld Clothes Steamer is compact for quick touch-ups, while the f20 Handheld Clothes Steamer Pro with Suction pulls fabric onto its heated plate for a crisper finish on collars and cuffs. For curtains or a week of shirts, the upright f1200 Clothes Steamer Pro gives 2200W of continuous steam.
Some fabrics marked do not iron are still sensitive to heat and moisture, so check the label and keep the steamer moving. Our guide to the best steamer for delicate fabrics explains what to look for.
Professional cleaning symbols: the circle
A plain circle means the garment can be dry cleaned. Letters inside, such as P or F, tell the cleaner which solvent to use, and a W means professional wet cleaning. A crossed-out circle means do not dry clean. A tailored wool coat or a beaded dress is usually best left to a specialist, but for simpler items, spot cleaning and airing between wears can cut down how often they need to go.
Common care label mistakes
- Treating the maximum temperature as the default. Cooler is usually fine for everyday loads.
- Using the dryer for everything. Tumble dry only what the label allows, and air dry the rest.
- Too much fabric conditioner. It can make towels less absorbent and affect some activewear and water-repellent fabrics.
- Overfilling the drum. Clothes need space for water and detergent to reach them.
- Guessing when a label has faded. Choose a cool wash, mild detergent, low spin and air drying.
Between washes, a fabric shaver such as the f40 Fabric Shaver removes bobbles from jumpers and coats. Use a light touch and avoid seams and very delicate knits; our guide on removing bobbles from knitwear has the full method. You can browse all our garment care tools in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What do the dots mean on clothing care labels?
Dots show temperature or heat. Inside a wash tub, one dot is about 30°C, two dots 40°C and so on, although most labels now show the number instead. On a tumble dry or iron symbol, one dot means low heat, two dots medium, and three dots on an iron mean a hot setting.
What does a square with a circle in it mean?
A square with a circle inside means the garment can be tumble dried. Dots inside the circle show the heat level, with one dot for low and two for normal. If the circle is crossed out, do not tumble dry the item. Air dry it instead, following any lines shown in the square.
What does the triangle symbol mean on clothes?
The triangle is the bleach symbol. An empty triangle means any bleach can be used, a triangle with two diagonal lines means only oxygen or non-chlorine bleach, and a crossed-out triangle means no bleach at all. For whites, many people never need bleach if they wash at the right temperature.
Can I wash a dry clean only garment at home?
Sometimes, but it is a risk. Dry clean only usually means water could shrink, distort or mark the fabric, especially wool, silk, structured tailoring and items with linings. For simple pieces, airing, spot cleaning and steaming between wears can keep them fresh and reduce trips to the cleaner without washing them.
What does a crossed-out iron mean?
A crossed-out iron means do not iron the garment, usually because heat and pressure could melt, shine or flatten the fabric or its print. A handheld steamer held a little away from the fabric can often relax creases instead, but test a hidden area first and keep the steam head moving.