Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Among washing and dry cleaning symbols, the circle is the last sign on the label and is intended for professional cleaning. A circle with the letter P means dry cleaning with tetrachloroethylene and hydrocarbon solvents, with F – only with hydrocarbon solvents, and with W – professional wet cleaning. A bar under the circle means a gentle process, and a crossed-out circle means that the relevant cleaning is not permitted.
Washing and dry cleaning symbols – why they are a separate group
The first four groups of symbols (washing, bleaching, drying and ironing) are for the consumer at home. The circle is addressed to the dry cleaner. The letter in it tells the operator which solvent or process may be used, and the bars how carefully the item must be treated. So the consumer does not need to know the details; it is enough to take the garment to a dry cleaner.
Symbols for dry cleaning with solvents
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Circle with P | Professional dry cleaning with tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) and all solvents permitted for the F symbol; normal process |
| Circle with P and one bar | The same solvents, gentle process |
| Circle with F | Professional dry cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents only; normal process |
| Circle with F and one bar | Hydrocarbon solvents only, gentle process |
| Crossed-out circle | Do not dry clean |
The letter A, which you may see on older labels, meant cleaning with any solvent. It has been dropped from the current version of the ISO 3758 standard and is no longer used on new labels.
Difference between P and F
Tetrachloroethylene is a more aggressive solvent and cleans greasy soiling better, but it can damage some coatings, adhesives, plastic buttons and prints. Hydrocarbon solvents are gentler. So an item with the F symbol must not be cleaned with perchloroethylene, while an item with P can be cleaned with both types.
Professional wet cleaning – the W symbol
Professional wet cleaning is an alternative to dry cleaning that uses water, special detergents and controlled washing and drying machines. It is gentler on the environment and increasingly common at dry cleaners.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Circle with W | Professional wet cleaning, normal process |
| Circle with W and one bar | Gentle process |
| Circle with W and two bars | Very gentle process |
| Crossed-out circle with W | Do not professionally wet clean |
It is important to understand that the W symbol does not permit home washing. If the washtub is crossed out and there is a circle with W next to it, the garment must go to professional cleaning, where the process is controlled.
Which garments carry dry cleaning symbols
- Jackets, suits and coats – a multi-layer construction with linings, interlinings and shoulder pads that deforms when washed in water.
- Woven wool items – the risk of felting and shrinking in the wash is high.
- Evening dresses – with sequins, beads, lace and delicate linings.
- Items with leather details – leather reacts differently from textiles and needs separate care.
- Curtains and heavy home textiles – difficult to wash at home because of their size.
How to choose a professional cleaning symbol as a manufacturer
The choice depends on all the components of the item. The fabric may tolerate perchloroethylene, but fused interlinings, prints or plastic buttons may not. In that case F is used instead of P. If the item has leather or faux leather details, it is usually also checked with the dry cleaner the brand works with.
Some brands use only a professional cleaning symbol and a crossed-out washtub to protect themselves from complaints about home washing. This is sensible for complex items, but on simple garments it puts buyers off. A good label tells the truth about the product – no more, no less.
Leather details and labels
If the garment has a leather or faux leather brand label, it must also withstand the chosen process. Genuine leather can harden or change colour with some solvents. For dry-clean items, it is sensible to check the material of the leather labels in advance. The textile products regulation also requires a statement if the item contains non-textile parts of animal origin – for example "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin".
Where the circle goes on the care label
The professional cleaning symbol is the fifth and last in the row. For garments that require dry cleaning only, the care and composition label often carries a short text such as "Dry clean only" in the language of the market, so there is no doubt. If the label is multilingual, the text is repeated in each language, while the symbols appear once. For the main brand label, see our full labels category.
How the dry cleaner reads the label
Good dry cleaners look at the label before accepting the garment. If it is missing or illegible, the operator chooses the gentlest process or refuses the order. So for expensive items it is sensible for the label to be made of a material that remains legible after repeated cleaning, with the symbols printed clearly and at a sufficient size.
Labels for professional cleaning from Polkom
Polkom has been manufacturing and supplying labels and garment accessories for over 30 years. We print care and composition labels with washing and dry cleaning symbols, composition and your logo on materials that withstand professional treatment. We offer samples and delivery across the EU. Send an inquiry via our contact page.
