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Washing symbols and signs
What do the washing symbols and signs mean?
Washing symbols explained: How to read your laundry labels
General washing symbols
Do not wash
Hand wash
Do not wring
Gentle wash, delicates and spin cycles
Permanent press cycle
Gentle cycle or delicates
Gentle cycle with temperature
Home Appliances
Laundry labels contain loads of information. But once you understand the basic logic, they are
easy to decipher. Washing label symbols are divided into five basic categories: washing,
bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning and drying.
Different variations of the symbols provide detailed care instructions for each phase – always
read them before switching on your washing machine.
The tub is the most important washing symbol on the care label. It explains how your clothes
should be washed, with which programme and at which temperatures. If your laundry needs gentle
care, you will see one or more lines below the tub. In Europe, the proper washing temperature is
shown directly inside the tub icon. In the US, however, recommended washing temperatures are
indicated by dots inside the tub. The more dots, the higher the temperature.
Be careful whenever you see this symbol on your garments. Clothes with this washing symbol
on the label are not machine-washable. Never place them in the washing machine – and do not
wash them by hand. They most likely need dry cleaning (see below).
This washing symbol means that your garment may only be washed by hand. But don't worry,
because many washing machines have hand-washing programmes that are just as gentle on your
clothes.
The washing symbol with a line or a dash under the tub means that the laundry can be washed
with a shorter washing cycle (like a synthetic programme) and a short or low-speed spin cycle.
A tub with no line means that your clothes are machine washable. You'll find this on more robust
fabrics like denim. The correct washing temperature will usually appear inside the symbol
(see below).
A washing symbol with two lines under the tub means your clothes need an extra-gentle wash.
They should only be washed with a gentle programme (e.g. wool) and a suitable detergent.
Avoid the spin cycle if possible.
A tub with one or more lines underneath and a temperature simply means that your garment
should be washed gently at the prescribed temperature. Avoid the spin cycle if possible.
If you see this symbol, you should resist the urge to twist and turn fabrics to remove excess water,
because wringing could damage the fibres.
The tub explains everything about washing
The triangle explains everything about bleaching
The iron shows you how to iron your textiles
The circle informs you about dry cleaning
The square tells you everything about drying