Manufacturer · Fashion Accessories
Laundry symbols chart: below you will find all the symbols from the ISO 3758 standard, divided into five groups: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. For each symbol the shape and meaning are described. Use it as a reference when reading a label or when preparing your own care labels.
Laundry symbols chart – how to use it
The symbols are described in words because their shapes are simple and easy to recognise: washtub, triangle, square, iron and circle. Each symbol shows the maximum permitted treatment – a gentler process is always allowed. A cross over a symbol means it is prohibited.
1. Washing with water
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Washtub with 95 | Wash up to 95 °C, normal process |
| Washtub with 70 | Wash up to 70 °C, normal process |
| Washtub with 60 | Wash up to 60 °C, normal process |
| Washtub with 60 and one bar | Wash up to 60 °C, gentle process |
| Washtub with 50 | Wash up to 50 °C, normal process (less common) |
| Washtub with 40 | Wash up to 40 °C, normal process |
| Washtub with 40 and one bar | Wash up to 40 °C, gentle process (synthetics) |
| Washtub with 40 and two bars | Wash up to 40 °C, very gentle process |
| Washtub with 30 | Wash up to 30 °C, normal process |
| Washtub with 30 and one bar | Wash up to 30 °C, gentle process |
| Washtub with 30 and two bars | Wash up to 30 °C, very gentle process (wool, delicates) |
| Washtub with a hand | Hand wash only, up to 40 °C |
| Crossed-out washtub | Do not wash with water |
2. Bleaching
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Empty triangle | Any bleaching agent allowed, including chlorine |
| Triangle with two diagonal lines | Oxygen (non-chlorine) bleach only |
| Crossed-out solid triangle | Do not bleach |
3. Drying
Tumble drying
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Square with a circle and two dots | Tumble dry at normal temperature |
| Square with a circle and one dot | Tumble dry at low temperature |
| Crossed-out square with a circle | Do not tumble dry |
Natural drying
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Square with one vertical line | Line dry |
| Square with three vertical lines | Drip dry, without wringing or spinning |
| Square with a horizontal line | Dry flat |
| Square with two horizontal lines | Dry flat while wet, without wringing |
| Diagonal line in the top left corner | Added to the above – dry in the shade |
4. Ironing
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Iron with three dots | Iron at a maximum of 200 °C (cotton, linen) |
| Iron with two dots | Iron at a maximum of 150 °C (wool, polyester, viscose) |
| Iron with one dot | Iron at a maximum of 110 °C, without steam (polyamide, acrylic, delicates) |
| Crossed-out iron | Do not iron |
5. Professional cleaning
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Circle with P | Dry cleaning with tetrachloroethylene and hydrocarbon solvents, normal process |
| Circle with P and a bar | The same, gentle process |
| Circle with F | Dry cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents only |
| Circle with F and a bar | The same, gentle process |
| Crossed-out circle | Do not dry clean |
| Circle with W | Professional wet cleaning, normal process |
| Circle with W and one or two bars | Professional wet cleaning, gentle or very gentle process |
| Crossed-out circle with W | Do not professionally wet clean |
Example combinations by fabric type
The chart becomes more useful when you link it to real fabrics. Here are indicative combinations that garment technologists use as a starting point before confirming them with a wash test:
- Cotton and linen – wash at 40 or 60 °C, no chlorine bleach for coloured items, tumble dry with one dot, iron with three dots.
- Polyester – wash at 40 °C with one bar, tumble dry with one dot, iron with one or two dots.
- Viscose – wash at 30 °C with one bar or by hand, no tumble drying, iron with two dots.
- Wool – hand wash or 30 °C with two bars, dry flat, iron with two dots.
- Fabrics with elastane – wash up to 40 °C, no bleach, no tumble drying, iron with one dot.
These are general guidelines, not a rule – individual fabrics differ in dyeing, finishing and density.
Notes on the chart
- The symbols in the professional cleaning group are instructions for the dry cleaner, not for home use.
- Older labels may contain a circle with the letter A, which is no longer used in the current version of the standard.
- On the label the symbols are arranged in the order of the groups: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional cleaning.
- If a step is missing (for example there is no tumble drying symbol), this does not automatically mean it is allowed – the manufacturer simply has not given an instruction.
The chart as a basis for your labels
When preparing care and composition labels for your own collection, use the chart to check that the combination is logical. A typical mistake is, for example, allowing a 60 °C wash for a product with viscose, or three dots on the iron for polyamide. The symbols must match the most sensitive material in the product, including the lining, elastic and appliqués.
Care labels are most often combined with a main brand label from the textile labels group. Also browse the whole labels category if you are looking for a set for a new collection.
Polkom – manufacturer of labels with care symbols
Polkom has been producing and supplying labels and clothing accessories for over 30 years. We print the symbols, composition and your logo on satin or taffeta, with a sample before series production and delivery across the EU. Send us your details via our contact page to request a quote.
