August 11, 2025

Laundry Symbols Explained

Ever wonder what those tiny hieroglyphics on your clothing tags actually mean? Let's break it down.

Let’s be honest. Most of us have glanced at a laundry label and then tossed the item into the wash, hoping for the best. Maybe you’ve even ruined a favorite sweater or shrunk a pair of jeans that used to fit perfectly. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The truth is, those little laundry symbols are like secret codes designed to help your clothes live their best lives. Once you know what they mean, you’ll feel like you’ve unlocked a new adulting skill.

Let’s start with the basics: the washing tub symbol. It looks like a tiny bucket of water. If there’s just the plain tub, you’re safe to machine wash with normal settings. A number inside the tub tells you the maximum temperature. For example, 40 means 40 degrees Celsius, or about 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Lines underneath the tub mean gentle cycles. One line is for a permanent press cycle. Two lines? That’s the delicate setting. If you see a hand in the tub, that means hand wash only. And if the tub has a big X through it, don’t wash it at all. It probably needs to be dry cleaned.

Now onto drying. The square with a circle inside is your tumble dry symbol. If there’s just the circle, you’re good to toss it in the dryer. Dots inside the circle tell you the heat level. One dot means low heat, two is medium, and three is high. If there’s an X through it, skip the dryer and air dry. Sometimes you’ll see a square with lines inside it. A single horizontal line means lay it flat to dry, which is great for knits that might stretch. A vertical line means hang it to dry. Multiple lines usually mean drip dry without wringing.

Let’s talk ironing. The iron symbol is easy to spot. Again, dots matter here. One dot means low heat, two for medium, and three for hot. If you see a little X through the iron, put it down. That fabric is not meant to be ironed. Sometimes there’s also a steam symbol with the iron. If that’s crossed out, avoid using steam settings.

Bleach has its own icon too. It’s a triangle. If it’s empty, you can use any kind of bleach. If it has diagonal lines, stick to non-chlorine bleach. And yes, if it’s crossed out, no bleach at all.

Finally, let’s touch on dry cleaning. A plain circle means it can be dry cleaned. Letters inside the circle are mainly for the professionals to know what chemicals to use. If the circle has an X through it, avoid dry cleaning.

Learning these symbols might take a minute, but it’s worth it. Your clothes will thank you with fewer wrinkles, no more shrinking disasters, and longer wear. Stick a laundry symbol cheat sheet in your laundry room, or snap a picture of one for your phone. Next time you look at a clothing tag, you’ll actually know what it’s trying to say. Who knew laundry could feel like decoding a secret message?