The Only Guide You Need to Read Laundry Symbols
Learn how to properly wash, dry and iron your garments with care.
We know the feeling that comes when you put your brand-new shirt in the dryer, only to have it shrink and transform into something more fitting for your younger daughter. And if you struggle to read and understand your garment care labels, laundry day is more of a stressful experience than a fun one. Luckily, we're sharing our laundry symbols guide to help you decode everything you need to know about washing, drying and ironing your clothes.
From making sure you pick the right temperature and heat setting for the machine to knowing how to pinpoint what garments should never be bleached or dry cleaned, we take you through all the symbols you should know for the perfect wash day. And if you need more help, check out our step-by-step guide for the best tips and tricks to treat your clothes with care and our handy cheat sheet you can hang and frame in your laundry room.
Machine Wash
Good news: You don't have to take this garment to the dry cleaner. Just toss it into your washing machine at home.
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Hand Wash
To do this, fill your sink with water and detergent, per the bottle's instructions. Turn your item inside out and immerse it in the sudsy water. Let soak for 5 minutes, then empty the sink, refill it with cool water and re-immerse to rinse. Roll gently in a towel to remove excess moisture.
Do Not Wash
Unfortunately, this garment isn't immune to dirt and sweat. This symbol actually means you need to take said item to the dry cleaner, instead of washing it yourself at home.
Cold Temperature Wash
Chances are the garment you're about to wash includes a color that tends to bleed or is made of a delicate fabric, so you'll want to select the cold temperature setting. Cold water also saves energy.
Warm Temperature Wash
Most clothes can be washed in warm water to offer optimal cleaning without shrinking or fading.
Hot Temperature Wash
Washing clothes in hot water is best for removing heavy soil and killing germs, but since it's a bit harsh, make sure you spot this symbol before selecting this cycle.
Very Hot Temperature
Four dots indicate that you can use the hottest temperature to wash your clothes.
Bleach When Needed
If you have a batch of whites in dire need of some brightening, make sure they all feature this symbol on their care tag, which indicates it's safe to use any type of bleach. For colors, choose an non-chlorine version.
Non-Chlorine Bleach
The same goes for this symbol, except the additional two lines means the formula you use can't contain chlorine. Use a bleach that says it's color-safe.
Do Not Bleach
Bad news: Even if you got a stain on your shirt, any clothes with tags featuring this symbol means they shouldn't go near any type of bleach.
Dry Clean
This circle indicates that your item should be cleaned by a professional cleaner. Using your washing machine can damage or destroy the fabric.
Do Not Dry Clean
A circle with an "X" over it indicates dry cleaning might be too harsh for the item, so you'll likely need to hand or machine wash it instead.
Tumble Dry
This icon means you're safe to toss the item into the dryer, just make sure you check the temperature recommendation before you start up your machine.
Low Heat Dry
One dot in the middle of the dryer symbol indicates you should use a low heat temperature.
Medium Heat Dry
Two dots in the middle of the dryer indicates a medium heat setting should be used to dry your items of clothing.
High Heat Dry
And three dots means (how'd you know?) high heat is a safe temperature for the item you're trying to dry.
No Heat Dry
To save your piece of clothing from getting ruined, don't use heat if the dryer symbol features a filled-in circle. Select the air-only cycle.
Permanent Press
When you see this symbol, select your washer's "permanent press" or "casual" cycle for the best results. This cycle minimizes wrinkling to help casual fabrics — even those treated with permanent press finishes — to emerge smoother and less creased. That means less ironing for you.
Do Not Tumble Dry
If your garment features this symbol, it means you shouldn't put it in the dryer. Instead, you should dry it using one of the following methods.
Line Dry in Shade
To protect your garment from fading, this symbol indicates you should line dry your item in the shade — not in the sun.
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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