Read the tag

Every laundry care symbol, drawn and explained in one place. Type to filter, or open a family for the fine print. We tell you what the tag means — never how to do your laundry.

Washing symbols details

Machine Wash, Normal: the garment may be laundered through the use of hottest available water, detergent or soap, agitation, and a machine designed for this purpose.
A plain washtub with no temperature, bar, or X modifier
30Machine Wash, Cold: initial water temperature should not exceed 30°C or 65 to 85°F.
A washtub containing the number 30°C
40Machine Wash, Warm: initial water temperature should not exceed 40°C or 105°F.
A washtub containing the number 40°C
50Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 50°C or 120°F.
A washtub containing the number 50°C
60Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 60°C or 140°F.
A washtub containing the number 60°C
70Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 70°C or 160°F.
A washtub containing the number 70°C
95Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 95°C or 200°F.
A washtub containing the number 95°C
Machine Wash, Permanent Press: the garment may be machine laundered only on the setting designed to preserve Permanent Press with cool down or cold rinse prior to reduced spin.
A washtub with one bar underneath
Machine Wash, Gentle or Delicate: the garment may be machine laundered only on the setting designed for gentle agitation and/or reduced time for delicate items.
A washtub with two bars underneath
Do Not Wash: the garment may not be safely laundered by any process.
A washtub crossed by an X

Hand wash symbol details

Hand Wash: the garment may be laundered through the use of water, detergent or soap and gentle hand manipulation.
A washtub with a hand inside and no other modifier
The verified evidence does not state the meaning of this modifier.
A washtub with a hand inside and one dot
The verified evidence does not state the meaning of this modifier.
A washtub with a hand inside and two dots
The verified evidence does not state the meaning of this modifier.
A washtub with a hand inside and one bar beneath it

Bleach symbols details

Any commercially available bleach product may be used in the laundering process.
An empty triangle outline
Only a non-chlorine, color-safe bleach may be used in the laundering process. Chlorine bleach may not be used.
An empty triangle outline with two diagonal lines inside it
No bleach product may be used. The garment is not colorfast or structurally able to withstand any bleach.
An empty triangle outline crossed by an X
No verified meaning is established for this glyph in the supplied standard evidence.
An empty triangle outline with one diagonal line inside it

Tumble dry symbols details

Tumble dry, normal cycle, any heat.
A circle inside a square with no bars, dots, or X
Tumble dry at high heat.
A circle inside a square with three small dots
Tumble dry at medium heat.
A circle inside a square with two small dots
Tumble dry at low heat.
A circle inside a square with one small dot
Tumble dry with no heat or air.
A circle inside a square with a large solid center and no small heat dots
Tumble dry on the permanent-press cycle.
A circle inside a square with one horizontal bar beneath it
Tumble dry on the delicate or gentle cycle.
A circle inside a square with two horizontal bars beneath it
Do not tumble dry.
A circle inside a square crossed by an X

Drying symbols details

Line dry: a damp garment suspended from a line or bar, indoors or outdoors.
A square with a curved line near its top
Drip dry: a dripping-wet garment suspended from a line or bar, indoors or outdoors, without hand shaping or smoothing.
A square with three vertical lines inside
Dry flat: the garment laid out horizontally for drying.
A square with one horizontal line inside
Dry in shade: dry away from direct sunlight.
A square with two diagonal lines in its upper-left corner
Line dry in shade: line dry, away from direct sunlight.
A square with a curved line near its top and two diagonal lines in its upper-left corner
Drip dry in shade: drip dry, away from direct sunlight.
A square with three vertical lines inside and two diagonal lines in its upper-left corner

Ironing symbols details

Ironing, dry or steam, at a maximum temperature of 200°C (390°F), high.
An iron shape with three dots in its center
Ironing, dry or steam, at a maximum temperature of 150°C (300°F), medium.
An iron shape with two dots in its center
Ironing, dry or steam, at a maximum temperature of 110°C (230°F), low.
An iron shape with one dot in its center
No steam.
An iron shape with steam lines beneath it crossed out
Do not iron.
An iron shape with an X across it

Dry cleaning symbols details

Dry clean with any solvent, any cycle, any moisture, and any heat.
An unlettered circle
ADry clean with any solvent.
A capital A inside a circle
FDry clean using only petroleum solvent.
A capital F inside a circle
PAny dry-cleaning solvent other than trichloroethylene may be safely used.
A capital P inside a circle
The garment may not be commercially drycleaned.
A circle crossed by an X
Grounded in: blogs.ifas.ufl.edu, fcs.tennessee.edu, news.mgcafe.uky.edu.
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