Laundry symbols and what they mean
Laundry symbols are five basic shapes. The washtub is for washing, the triangle is for bleach, the square is for drying, the iron is for ironing and the circle is for dry cleaning. Dots inside show the heat, lines underneath ask for a gentler cycle, and a cross through any symbol means don't.
Decode your care label
Tap each symbol you see on the label and you'll get the instructions in plain English. Tap a symbol again to remove it.
Washing
Bleaching
Drying
Ironing
Dry cleaning
Get the printable symbol chart
All 53 symbols from this page on one sheet, with what each one means. Print it and stick it up in the laundry room.
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Laundry symbols chart
These are the 53 symbols you'll actually see on US and European care labels, grouped by what they're for. US labels mostly show temperature as dots, and European labels often print the number instead. Each symbol has its own link, so you can send someone straight to the one they're stuck on.
How we made this chart. We drew each symbol to match ISO 3758:2023 and ASTM D5489-25, the care labelling standards clothing brands follow in Europe and the US (the FTC's Care Labeling Rule accepts ASTM care symbols, as set out in the standard's 1996 edition, in place of words). Temperatures are the limits those standards set. Last updated October 23, 2026.
What do washing symbols mean?
The washtub tells you how to wash. Dots or a number give the hottest water to use, and lines underneath ask for a gentler cycle.
Machine wash
Machine wash on a normal cycle. No dots or number means any water temperature is fine.
Machine wash cold, one dot
One dot in the tub: machine wash cold, with water no hotter than 30°C (85°F).
Machine wash warm, two dots
Two dots in the tub: machine wash warm, with water no hotter than 40°C (105°F).
Machine wash hot, three dots
Three dots in the tub: machine wash hot, with water no hotter than 50°C (120°F).
Machine wash hot, four dots
Four dots in the tub: machine wash hot, with water no hotter than 60°C (140°F).
Machine wash hot, five dots
Five dots in the tub: machine wash hot, with water no hotter than 70°C (160°F).
Machine wash hot, six dots
Six dots in the tub: machine wash hot, with water no hotter than 95°C (200°F).
Machine wash at 30°C
Machine wash with water no hotter than 30°C (85°F). It means the same as one dot.
Machine wash at 40°C
Machine wash with water no hotter than 40°C (105°F). It means the same as two dots.
Machine wash at 50°C
Machine wash with water no hotter than 50°C (120°F). It means the same as three dots.
Machine wash at 60°C
Machine wash with water no hotter than 60°C (140°F). It means the same as four dots.
Machine wash at 70°C
Machine wash with water no hotter than 70°C (160°F). It means the same as five dots.
Machine wash at 95°C
Machine wash with water no hotter than 95°C (200°F). It means the same as six dots.
Permanent press cycle
One line under the tub: use the permanent press cycle. It rinses cool and spins slower, which keeps wrinkles down.
Gentle or delicate cycle
Two lines under the tub: use the gentle or delicate cycle, with low agitation and a slow, short spin.
Hand wash
Wash by hand in water no warmer than 40°C (105°F). Squeeze it gently, don't scrub or wring it.
Do not wash
Don't wash it in water at home. Labels with this one usually show a dry cleaning symbol too.
Do not wring
Don't twist or wring it out. Press the water out, or roll it up in a towel.
What do bleach symbols mean?
The triangle is about bleach: whether you can use it, and which kind.
Any bleach
Any bleach is fine when you need it, chlorine or non-chlorine.
Non-chlorine bleach only
Only use non-chlorine bleach, the oxygen-based, color-safe kind. No chlorine bleach.
Chlorine bleach allowed
Chlorine bleach is fine when you need it. You'll mostly see this one on older labels.
Do not bleach
No bleach of any kind, chlorine or oxygen.
What do drying symbols mean?
A square is about drying. A circle inside means the tumble dryer, and lines inside mean air drying.
Tumble dry
Tumble dry at any heat setting.
Tumble dry low
One dot in the circle: tumble dry on low heat.
Tumble dry medium
Two dots in the circle: tumble dry on medium heat. European labels (ISO 3758:2023) have no three-dot dryer symbol, so there two dots means normal heat.
Tumble dry high
Three dots in the circle: tumble dry on high heat.
Tumble dry, no heat
A filled-in circle: tumble dry on the air or no-heat setting.
Tumble dry, permanent press
One line under the dryer symbol: use the permanent press setting, which ends with a cool-down to stop creases.
Tumble dry, gentle
Two lines under the dryer symbol: use the gentle or delicate setting.
Do not tumble dry
Keep it out of the dryer. Air dry it instead.
Line dry
Hang it on a clothesline or a hanger to dry.
Line dry (vertical line)
Also line dry. European labels draw it as one straight line down the middle.
Drip dry
Hang it up soaking wet, without wringing or spinning it first, and let it drip dry. European labels (ISO 3758:2023) draw drip dry as two vertical lines instead of three.
Dry flat
Lay it flat on a towel or a rack to dry. This stops knits stretching out of shape.
Dry in the shade
Dry it out of direct sunlight, so colors don't fade.
Line dry in the shade
Hang it up to dry somewhere out of direct sunlight.
Drip dry in the shade
Hang it up wet and let it drip dry, out of direct sunlight.
Dry flat in the shade
Lay it flat to dry, out of direct sunlight.
Do not dry
Don't dry it in a machine or in the air at home. It usually sits next to a do not wash symbol.
What do ironing symbols mean?
The iron shows the highest heat setting. More dots, hotter iron.
Iron, any temperature
Iron at any heat setting.
Iron low
One dot: iron on low, no hotter than 110°C (230°F). Nylon and acrylic often carry this one.
Iron medium
Two dots: iron on medium, no hotter than 150°C (300°F). Wool and polyester often carry this one.
Iron high
Three dots: iron on high, no hotter than 200°C (390°F). Cotton and linen often carry this one.
Do not iron
Don't iron it.
Iron without steam
A cross under the iron: you can iron it, but turn the steam off.
What do dry cleaning symbols mean?
A circle is for your dry cleaner. The letter tells them which process to use.
Dry clean
It can be professionally dry cleaned.
Dry clean, any solvent
The A tells the dry cleaner any solvent is fine.
Dry clean, P
Dry clean with any solvent except trichloroethylene. This is the most common dry cleaning symbol.
Dry clean, F
Dry clean with petroleum (hydrocarbon) solvent only.
Do not dry clean
Don't take it to the dry cleaner.
Professional wet clean
A dry cleaner can wet clean it. That's a water-based process they run on special machines, not a home wash.
Wet clean, gentle
A line under the W: the cleaner should use a gentle wet cleaning process.
Do not wet clean
Don't have it professionally wet cleaned.
What temperature is each dot?
| Dots | Celsius | Fahrenheit | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 dot | 30°C | 85°F | Cold |
| 2 dots | 40°C | 105°F | Warm |
| 3 dots | 50°C | 120°F | Hot |
| 4 dots | 60°C | 140°F | Hot |
| 5 dots | 70°C | 160°F | Hot |
| 6 dots | 95°C | 200°F | Hot |
| Dots | Celsius | Fahrenheit | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 dot | 110°C | 230°F | Low |
| 2 dots | 150°C | 300°F | Medium |
| 3 dots | 200°C | 390°F | High |
US vs European care labels
Both use the same five shapes. These are the places they differ.
| US labels (ASTM D5489-25) | European labels (ISO 3758:2023) | |
|---|---|---|
| Washing temperature | Dots in the washtub, from 1 dot (30°C, 85°F) to 6 dots (95°C, 200°F) | Usually the number in °C inside the washtub, like 30 or 40 |
| Tumble dryer heat | 1, 2 or 3 dots: low, medium or high | 1 or 2 dots: low or normal. There is no 3-dot dryer symbol |
| Line dry | A curved line at the top of the square | One vertical line inside the square |
| Drip dry | Three vertical lines inside the square | Two vertical lines inside the square |
| Iron heat | 1, 2 or 3 dots: low, medium or high | The same 1, 2 or 3 dots |
Cite or embed this chart
You're welcome to use the chart on your blog, in an article or in class notes. Please keep the credit link.
To link to one symbol, add its name to the end of the address, like heysunday.com/pages/laundry-symbols#do-not-tumble-dry.
Laundry symbol questions
What do the dots mean on laundry symbols?
Dots show temperature. In the washtub, one dot means cold water, up to 30°C (85°F), and each extra dot is hotter, up to six dots for 95°C (200°F). On a tumble dryer or iron symbol, one dot is low heat, two is medium and three is high.
What does the triangle mean on a clothing label?
The triangle is about bleach. An empty triangle means any bleach is fine, a triangle with two diagonal lines means non-chlorine bleach only, and a crossed-out triangle means no bleach at all.
What do the lines under the washtub mean?
One line means the permanent press cycle, which rinses cool and spins slower to keep wrinkles down. Two lines mean the gentle or delicate cycle. No line means a normal cycle is fine. The same lines under a tumble dryer symbol mean the matching dryer setting.
What does a circle mean on a care label?
A circle is for professional cleaning. The letter inside tells the dry cleaner which process to use: A for any solvent, P for any solvent except trichloroethylene, F for petroleum solvent only and W for professional wet cleaning. A crossed-out circle means don't dry clean it.
What does a cross mean on a laundry symbol?
A cross through any symbol means don't do it. A crossed-out washtub means don't wash it at home, a crossed-out triangle means no bleach, a crossed-out square with a circle means keep it out of the dryer, and a crossed-out iron means don't iron it.
Are US and European laundry symbols the same?
Mostly, yes. Both use the same five shapes. US labels follow ASTM D5489-25 and usually show water temperature as dots, while European labels follow ISO 3758:2023 and often print the temperature in Celsius inside the washtub instead. One dot is the same as 30°C, two dots is 40°C, and so on up to six dots for 95°C.
More laundry guides
- Stain remover guidePick the stain and the fabric, and get the steps to get it out.
- How hard is your water?Type your zip code to see your water hardness.
- How to wash a wool sweater without shrinking itFor the labels that say hand wash or dry flat.
- Cold water laundryWhen the one-dot setting is all you need.
- Laundry sorting systemsSort by care label before it goes in the machine.
- HeySunday laundry sheetsLaundry detergent sheets, 60 to a flat pack.