Understanding The Laundry Symbols On Your Clothes

In the past, doing the laundry meant separating lights from darks. No longer. These days, tags in clothing are covered with symbols for washing, drying, and ironing instructions.

Initially, these hieroglyphics can seem confusing. But once you see the pattern, they’re easy to understand. Knowing and following the instructions will prolong the life of your clothing and get the best results.

WASHING

The washing symbol looks like a washtub with water; there’s usually a wavy line at the top.

• Tub with one dot: Machine wash with cold water (maximum 80°F)
• Tub with five dots: Machine wash with very hot water (maximum 160°F)

DRYING

If you see a knot of fabric with an X, do not wring the clothing after washing. Drying directions are squares; many have a circle in the center. In short, they’re rudimentary drawings of a front-loading dryer.

• Square with a circle and two lines underneath: Tumble dry, gentle, or delicate
• Square with a dark circle: Tumble dry but do not use heat—just air

NON-MACHINE DRYING SYMBOLS

Not all fabrics fare well in the dryer, so review these symbols carefully.

• Square with a clothesline “smile” at the top: Line dry

IRONING

This symbol is easy to identify because it’s an iron.

• Iron with two dots: Use medium heat (maximum 300°F)

DRY CLEANING

This icon is a circle, and some of the symbols are directions for the professional dry cleaners, not the owner.

• Circle with a P: Use any solvent except tetrachlorethylene
• Circle with a line at the top left: Use reduced moisture

RESOURCES

Several websites offer instructions or printable explanations, including Tide and The Laundress.

You can also buy wall art that is as attractive as it is instructional. You’ll find some choices at Wayfair, Amazon, and Etsy.