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How often do you, when washing something, look for a special label on it with all the information about washing, ironing or drying? Do you know all the meanings of the symbols on it? Our article about icons on clothes for washing, decoding and other information about which will also be given, will help you remember what you have forgotten, learn something new, and learn something useful from advice.

The manufacturer of the item has taken care of you by attaching a special label to its product, which, in addition to the signs that we will introduce you to in detail, contains information about it, the composition of the product, and warning labels.

There are eight main basic and accompanying symbols on the label. First, let's get to know them themselves, and then move on to specifics.

Drying Ironing
Bleaching Professional cleaning Prohibition
Temperature designation

About washing

The washing rules on any label are explained by this icon - a schematic image of a basin with water.

Let's look at what it can be - deciphering the symbols on clothes for washing in the table.

Just a basin with water, as in the photo	The product can be washed in a machine or by hand.
The basin with water is crossed out	Do not wash under any circumstances - dry clean only.
One horizontal line under the pelvis	Gentle washing sign: observe the specified water temperature when washing; when spinning, turn on the lowest speed; Do not expose the material to strong mechanical stress.
Two horizontal lines under the pelvis	Delicate mode sign: use plenty of water when washing, do not subject to mechanical stress; In the washing machine, activate the quick spin.
Hand dipped into a basin of water	Hand wash only - the product cannot be cleaned in a washing machine. During the process itself, do not twist or squeeze. Maintain a water temperature not exceeding 30-40 degrees Celsius.

A more detailed description of each sign can be found in the article “”, indicating which fabrics they may be present on.

Sometimes inside the pelvis you can see points like these:

Inside the icon " basin» the manufacturer can place information about the maximum water temperature using both dots and digital symbols - they will mean the same thing. Explanation of washing icons on clothes is in the table.

One point	30°C	Gentle wash in a washing machine at a maximum water temperature of 30°C. Preferably cold water using neutral powder. Usually for woolen products.
Two points	40°C	Neutral washing powders and warm water up to 40°C when washing in a machine. The symbol can be marked on dark or colored cotton, melange, polyester, synthetic or viscose fine linen.
Three dots	60°C	Machine washable in hot water, maximum temperature 60°C. Mark for fine cotton or polyester linen.
—	95°С	The product can withstand boiling. The badge can be found on white or colored cotton or linen products.

You will learn how to set one or another mode on a machine, the parameters of which generally indicate gentle or delicate washing.

About drying and spinning

Information about drying and spinning can be found in the icon " squared circle"- such a schematic representation of a washing machine. All these features, circles and prohibitory signs are conveniently deciphered in the photo below - for your attention, deciphering the icons on clothes when washing.

If nothing is written on the label, read the recommendations in to set the correct parameters for machine or hand washing. This way you won’t spoil the item, and you will know in what modes you can definitely wash fabric of a particular composition and color.

Ironing

Ironing instructions are logically represented by an iron icon.

Let's take a look at the symbols in the photo above in order:

Iron with three points - the product can be ironed at high temperatures - up to 200°C, and also steamed. Typically, a cotton or linen product is equipped with such a sign.
Iron with two points - it is permissible to iron at medium temperatures ( up to 150°С). It is recommended to carry out the process using a steam humidifier or through a slightly damp cloth. Suitable for silk, polyester, viscose and wool.
Single point iron - iron quickly at low temperature ( up to 110°С). This applies to products made from acetate, polyester, polyamide, and polyacrylic.
Iron on crossed out " legs» - do not steam the fabric.
Crossed out iron – ironing of the product is not recommended.

Whitening

Four types of triangles on clothes tell about the rules for bleaching clothes.

Advice! If clothing labels bother you or look unpresentable, then you can do this: take a photo of the necessary information on it, make an identifying signature ( winter jumper, green jacket, red polka dot skirt) and save the photo in a special album on your gadget. The label can now be cut off and thrown away, but everything you need for washing and ironing will remain preserved.

Dry cleaning

The attitude of an item to dry cleaning can be judged by a circle with symbols placed inside it:

Let's decipher the notation:

A circle without symbols means dry cleaning is acceptable.
Crossed out circle – do not chemically clean.
The letter “A” in a circle – it is permissible to clean using any solvent.
The letter “P” in a circle – it is possible to clean only with ethylene chloride, hydrocarbons, monofluorotrichloromethane.
The letter “P” in a circle underlined by a horizontal line – cleaning with the above products for “P”, but more gentle.
The letter "F" in a circle is a chemical treatment using trifluorotrichloromethane or hydrocarbon.
The letter “F” in a circle underlined by a horizontal line means cleaning using the means described above, but in a gentle manner.

Aqua laundry cleaning

You can also find an icon in the label informing about wet professional laundry cleaning - aqua-cleaning. These are different variations with the "W" placed in a circle. The following sign will tell you how not to get confused in them:

Getting around without a shortcut

If it so happens that the label with all the information that we have presented is not on your product, or you cut it off and threw it away/lost it, then pay attention to the composition of the fabric and the following table:

Cotton	Universal material - can be washed both by hand and in the machine. It easily tolerates many washing powders and shrinks slightly.
Wool	It is preferable to wash by hand or in a special mode " for wool» in a washing machine at a temperature of no more than 30 °C. You need to use special detergents for this material. The product cannot be squeezed out; it is permissible to dry it only when laid out on a horizontal surface.
Silk	Only delicate hand wash at a temperature not exceeding 30 ° C and using specialized powder. It is unacceptable to soak and wash white, colored and black silk items together.
Artificial fabrics (viscose, modal, rayon, etc.)	Hand washing at low temperatures using “soft” powders is recommended. The product may shrink after washing.
Synthetics (polyester, elastane, lycra, polyamide, etc.)	Machine washable at a temperature not exceeding 40 °C. Iron the product with extreme caution. The cost of an oversight is too high - the strong heat of the iron can easily melt the item.

Otherwise, before refueling the washing machine, check whether it has the same washing modes in the standard graphical representation. If not, we suggest looking at what the signs on the panels of the machines look like, which indicate the same mode under different signs in the article “”.

General rules

Regardless of what is indicated on the label, when washing and everything associated with it, rely on the following:

It is preferable to wash dark, black items separately from everything else and by hand.
Wash synthetics and artificial fabrics separately from natural ones.
When the “delicate mode” sign is indicated, it is advisable to fill the washing machine drum only halfway - this will protect things from additional damaging curling. You will learn more about half loading from the article “”.
Always sort your laundry by color. It is advisable to wash new colored items separately from others. Regarding the temperature regime, read the sections in the article “”.

Try to tumble dry items only in the most extreme cases.
Remember - printed and colored fabrics do not tolerate soaking.
Use bleaches with caution, even if the label says it's okay.
Always monitor the dosage of detergent - more than necessary can damage things.

Deciphering the icons on clothes for washing, ironing, bleaching, spinning and drying is now a trifle for you. You are convinced that this small set of symbols on the label can tell everything about your item. But if you didn’t find it or accidentally deleted it, we hope that our tips helped you choose the right option for caring for the product.

When we buy something we like, we naturally want it to last longer. Manufacturers tell consumers about the rules for caring for their products using icons on labels. You just need to learn to read them.

Studying labels on clothes is the key to proper care of things

The care symbols on labels are international, which allows them to be interpreted correctly regardless of the country of origin. Labels are located on the wrong side (inside) of the product, sewn into the seams:

pants (trousers, jeans, Bermuda shorts, shorts, etc.) - at the back, on the side (in the waist seam) or in the pocket;
dresses, skirts - at hip level in the side seams;
shirts, blouses, turtlenecks, T-shirts, etc. - at the collar on the back or in the side seam;
outerwear - at waist level in the side seam on the left.

To use the information that symbols on labels carry, you need to know what they mean

Don't rush to cut the tags off your clothes right away. If they bother you, cut them off, but try to keep them. First of all, you will need labels for things that require special care, just mark them somehow so as not to get confused and forget what goes what.

On things for infants, labels are not sewn in, and information symbols are placed on special stickers.

All symbols that can be placed on labels are divided into six groups:

wash;
drying;
machine drying;
whitening;
ironing;
dry cleaning

for washing - a basin of water;
for drying - an inverted trapezoid with a wavy line instead of the top line;
for bleaching - triangle; drying - square;
for drying in a machine - a circle in a square;
for ironing - ironing;
for dry cleaning - circle.
according to the ban on squeezing the product - a twisted ribbon (looks like candy) crossed with a cross.

How are washing modes designated?

If you wash in a machine, then modern devices offer many modes, in particular, normal, gentle and delicate. Requirements for them are indicated by dashes under the wash sign: one - gentle, two (dotted or on top of each other) - delicate. The washing temperature can also be indicated by numbers or dots:

one point - 30 0 C;
two - 40 0 C;
three - 50 0 C;
four - 60 0 C;
five - 70 0 C;
six - 95 0 C.

A table of signs for washing things will help return soiled clothes to their original appearance.

Of course, there are general rules for washing things depending on the type of fabric from which they are made.

Material	Rules of care
Calico	We wash white or plain colored linen at temperatures up to 65 degrees, multi-colored ones - no more than 40 degrees. Air dry in the shade, straightened, vertically. Iron with a hot iron, slightly moistening the fabric.
Satin	White or plain colored linen should be washed in a machine at boiling temperature (95°C), multi-colored laundry at no more than 60°C, multi-colored laundry at no more than 40°C. Do not use bleaches for colored fabrics. Mechanical drying is not recommended. Dry flat. Iron with a hot iron and dampener.
Cotton and flannel	It is recommended to wash normally at 30–40 degrees. Heavily shedding items - in cold water (up to 30 0), if you add salt to the rinse water for hand washing (1 tablespoon per 10 liters) or in a special section of the machine, this will help preserve the color of the paints. Machine drying is possible, but keep in mind that in this case the products may shrink a lot. For ironing, it is better to use a moderate mode.
Linen	Should be washed at temperatures up to 60 degrees. Chlorine bleaches are not allowed. It is better to dry it in the open air, but do not overdry it. Ironing the front side with a hot iron will help give the product its original shine.
Chiffon	Use hand wash only. Use cool water (below 30 0). Press lightly, do not twist. It is better to wash with shampoo. You can dry it horizontally and vertically, but only in a straightened form. If the product is too wrinkled, use a slightly heated iron for ironing.
Silk	Wash only by hand at 30 degrees. Use shampoos or special products for silk and wool. Vinegar added to the rinsing water refreshes paints. You can't push it at all. Mechanical drying is not permitted. Dry like chiffon. You can iron, but only dry items or from the inside out through a dry cloth.
Knitwear	Wash in special bags. Temperature - 40 degrees. It is necessary to use a soap solution, delicate products or shampoo. Dry horizontally on a white cloth (sheet). You can iron it from the inside out with an iron heated to 110 0.
Felt	Felt products can shrink a lot when washed, so it is better to have them dry cleaned. If you wash at home, then only by hand, the temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. You can’t rub the felt when washing, just soak it for a few hours. Detergents containing lanolin are suitable for washing. Press the felt into a lump rather than twist it, as the product may become irrevocably deformed. Dry on a horizontal surface. If there is a need to stroke, then do it immediately after squeezing. It is necessary to iron with steam (although the product is already wet) at a heating temperature of the iron of 130–160 degrees (two points).
Cashmere	Choose a delicate “silk” or “wool” wash cycle. The products must be placed in special nets, and instead of powder, it is better to take shampoo or liquid detergents for washing wool. Spin at 600 rpm. Dry only horizontally in a well-extended form. Do not iron.
Loden	Dry cleaning only. If necessary, you can iron by heating the iron to 110 degrees.
Wool	Wash by hand or machine using a wool cycle (30-40 degrees). Place items in laundry bags. Use products with lanolin (powders or liquids). Spin at 600 rpm. When hand washing, do not twist. Dry horizontally. If necessary, you can iron it with a warm iron from the inside out through cotton fabric.
Bamboo	Wash in cool water (up to 30 0). Can be used manually or by machine. Beware of using bleach. For ironing, heat the iron no more than 170 0. Dry cleaning is contraindicated.
Velours	Wash by hand or machine without soaking. Temperature 30 degrees. Do not use bleaches or other active additives. Use powders marked color. Dry in the shade. Only an iron with a steam generator can be used.
Jacquard	Wash in cool water (up to 30 0). Choose products without bleaches and chlorine. It is strictly forbidden not only to twist it, but even to squeeze it out. Dry normally (mechanical drying is not acceptable), in a straightened state. If necessary, you can iron it, but only from the inside out and with the iron on low heat.
Rami	Wash by hand or mechanically in warm water (up to 40 0). Preferably detergents for silk and wool. We can spin it without twisting it manually; it can be done in a car - but only at low speeds. Iron slightly damp, setting the iron to “silk” setting.
Acrylic	Products made from acrylic do not lose their shape, they can be washed by hand and in a machine without any special restrictions (you still don’t need to boil them).
Acetate	Washing and drying machines are not used. Soak at 70 degrees and then rinse by hand. In the open air it dries very quickly. It is not advisable to use the iron, at least by setting it to the “wool” or “silk” modes.
Viscose and modal	Set a gentle mode and a temperature of 30–40 degrees. No spin. Products are hung wet. It is permissible to remove excess water using a terry towel or sheet (spread out and roll with a roller, squeezing lightly). Iron through a damp cloth at an iron temperature of 150 0.
Polyamide	The washing temperature is set no higher than 40 degrees. Cannot be dried in a special machine. You can iron it with a slightly warm iron without steaming.
Polyacrylic	Wash both by hand and in machine. Set the gentle mode at a temperature of 30 degrees. Drying - horizontal. Iron with a warm iron.
Polyester	The washing temperature is no higher than 40 degrees, the mode is gentle, so that wrinkles do not form, and subsequently it is almost impossible to get rid of them. For the same reason, squeezing is also not recommended. Dry items on hangers or horizontally.
Sintepon	You can wash it however you like, but only in cool water. If you use a machine, it is still better to set the delicate mode. When dried, the synthetic winterizer does not lose its shape. If necessary, it can be ironed with a slightly warm iron.

Bleaching signs

Today, the industry produces both chlorine- and oxygen-containing bleaches, and there are also many folk remedies for bleaching. Oxygen ones are more versatile, as they are more gentle on textiles. Triangles are responsible for whitening among the symbols. Empty - any bleaching agent can be used, with two slashes - bleach without chlorine (oxygen-containing), crossed out - bleaching is not allowed. There are two more outdated symbols that are no longer used, but are still found on old things: with the chlorine symbol inside (Cl) - feel free to use chlorine-containing bleach, crossed out with the chlorine symbol - use oxygen or improvised means.
The most common symbols used to display recommendations for whitening items are used by all clothing manufacturers

Product drying symbols

To indicate special conditions for normal drying of products, symbols in the form of squares with dashes inside are used.

Vertical and horizontal lines indicate whether your items need to be hung or laid out to dry. Their number indicates the characteristics of the spin cycle: one - spin, two - dry without spin. A slash in the upper left corner indicates that things should be dried in the shade. Drying symbols, like bleaching, have three obsolete symbols.

Symbols indicating the modes of normal drying of products are on each product It is now becoming popular to purchase a dryer in addition to a regular washing machine. This trend is also reflected in clothing care symbols. The squares with a circle inside will tell us about the rules of machine drying.
The dots indicate temperature conditions. One line under the square, as usual, means gentle mode, and two lines means delicate. A black circle in a square means drying without heating the air, and a crossed out design means machine drying is prohibited.

A table of symbols indicating machine drying should be at hand for any housewife who uses a dryer.

Ironing symbols on clothes Ironing symbols will explain the subtleties of ironing for each specific item.
A table of symbols indicating the ironing mode will help bring the item into perfect condition

Dry cleaning symbols

There are also symbols for dry cleaning - these are circles. They contain information for professionals, and there is no need to delve into these subtleties. It is important for you to know: a crossed out circle (there may be a letter in it) means that the item cannot be dry-cleaned, but circles with different symbols should. The lines under the circles (one or two) indicate, as usual, gentle and delicate cleaning. You can see what the other symbols mean in the table (exclusively for general development; this knowledge is unlikely to have practical significance).
The table of symbols for indicating the features of dry cleaning is relevant for professionals providing relevant services

How to sort laundry for washing, taking into account the signs

It is not enough to simply divide clothes by color; you also need to take into account the composition of the fabric. This point is also important: even if the temperature and other washing modes are the same for some items, they may require different spinning and drying conditions. Therefore, it is better not to mix products from different types of fabric in one machine load. And some things are generally better to wash by hand - they will be healthier (see the table with recommendations for different types of fabrics above).

We all want to look good and when buying new clothes we want them to always look fresh and clean. Therefore, such clothing care as washing is an integral procedure. But the fabrics of different wardrobe items are also different and therefore require different washing programs. But clothing manufacturers know how to wash their product and have shared this information with us.

Each item has washing instructions in the form of icons. Surely each of us has seen them, but not everyone knows what they mean. By the way, following these recommendations ensures that the clothes will last as long as possible. That is why we decided to write this article where we will look at the icons on clothes and learn how to wash things in accordance with them.

If you neglect the marks on your clothes and, for example, wash a woolen item in hot water, then it will certainly shrink in size. What to do if the size of clothes decreases after washing, how to return woolen items to their original size, read the article located at the link above.

Where are the laundry icons on clothes?

In order to find the symbols for washing an item, you need to know what the label on which they are located looks like. It consists of a small fabric tag on which the designations are located. At the same time, on the label you will also find the size of the item, its composition and manufacturer.

The label is usually located on the inner seams of clothing. On jackets they can be found inside on the side (usually on the left side) near the waist, or in the inside pocket. On jeans and trousers, it is most often located either on the side or on the back seam. On light clothing: T-shirts, shirts, sweaters, etc., a label with washing icons is located at the back under the collar, or, as in outerwear, on the side seam.

Designation of icons on clothes for washing

If we find a label with icons and don’t know what they are, then it’s time to look at the table below, where we have listed all the standard icon designations and described the machine wash recommendations for them.

Washing symbols

Icon	Description
	The sign indicating a bowl of water tells us that the item can be safely washed under normal conditions.
	Owners of items with this designation must come to terms with the fact that washing clothes is strictly prohibited.
	For such clothes, the washing machine is prohibited; you cannot wash them in it.
	If you have clothes with this designation, then you should use a more gentle washing and spinning mode in the washing machine. Select a delicate wash cycle and reduce the spin speed.
	When washing such items, you need to maintain a temperature of 30°C, and you need to use a delicate wash cycle and reduce the spin speed.
	Use a delicate wash cycle with minimal spin speed. It is advisable to wash in plenty of water.
	Washing items with this designation is only possible by hand. It is strictly forbidden to wash such clothes in a washing machine. The washing temperature should not exceed 40°C. Most washing machines have a special “Hand Wash” program.
	If this sign is located on your clothes, it means that you can wash them at high temperatures, and, if necessary, boil them.
	Clothing with this sign can withstand temperatures of no more than 60°C; usually this designation is located on colored underwear.
	Clothing with this sign can withstand temperatures of no more than 50°C; usually this designation is located on colored underwear.
	Linen can only be washed in warm water with non-aggressive washing powders at a temperature of 40°C
	Cold wash clothes at a temperature not exceeding 30°C
	As you can guess from the picture, underwear with this designation is strictly prohibited from being twisted or wrung out either in a machine or by hand.

Drying symbols

Icon	Description
	Items with this designation can be safely dried at very high temperatures and machine dried.
	High Heat Dry - This designation lets you know that your clothes can be dried at high temperatures. These temperatures are used in conventional machine drying.
	This is a sign of gentle drying at low temperatures - if you have the ability to lower the drying temperature or turn on the gentle mode in your washing machine or dryer, then by all means use it.
	Items with this symbol cannot be dried in a dryer or washing machine, and they cannot be wrung out in a washing machine.
	You can see this icon more often on any type of clothing. It means that the item can be safely dried and wrung out in a stylish automatic washing machine.
	This kind of designation is very often found on specific items that can only be dried vertically. It is also strictly forbidden to wring out such things; they must be hung wet, and the water will drain from them on their own.
	This symbol can be found on membrane clothing, and it will mean that the item can only be dried in a horizontal position and in no other way.
	It is very easy to remember this symbolism; it means that clothes should be dried on a clothesline.
	Clothes with such a label can be safely dried either by hanging or in the machine.
	If you see this sign, then know that drying the item in a dryer or washing machine is strictly prohibited.
	Clothing on which you saw such a square should be dried only in the shade and avoid exposure to sunlight.

Cleaning and whitening

Icon	Description
	Items can be dry cleaned and any solvents that are intended for this purpose can be used on them.
	During dry cleaning, only the following substances containing hydrocarbons, ethylene chloride, monofluorotrichloromethane should be used
	Such clothes can be cleaned using the well-known white alcohol; the use of other trifluorotrichloromethane and hydrocarbons is also allowed.
	Such items require more gentle washing and to clean them you need to use hydrocarbon, monofluorotrichloromethane or ethylene chloride.
	An even more gentle wash that can use hydrocarbons and trifluorotrichloromethane.
	Dry cleaning - items with this symbol can be cleaned without the use of liquid products.
	The sign tells us that dry cleaning of items with this designation is prohibited.
	Dry cleaning of such items is not prohibited, but requires special attention, since not all types of solvents are well tolerated. Can be cleaned with proven white alcohol.
	The designation indicates that the item can be bleached with any bleach, even those containing chlorine.
	Any bleaching is prohibited. Particularly avoid substances containing chlorine.
	You can bleach, but only in cold water and with the powder completely dissolved.
	The item can be bleached, but only with chlorine-free bleaches.
	Similar to the previous sign - you can only bleach without chlorine.

Ironing icons

Icon	Description
	Can be ironed - items on which you see this mark can be ironed without any concern for it. You can also use the machine ironing function for such items.
	Iron at temperatures up to 200°C - you will most often find such designations on linen and cotton products. Just like with the top designation, you can use machine ironing.
	Iron at a temperature no higher than 140° - with this icon you need to set the iron temperature to no more than 140°C; with a higher temperature you can easily ruin the item. If you don’t have a temperature symbol on your iron, set the temperature slider to the middle.
	Iron at a temperature not exceeding 130°C - this designation is very often found on items made of viscose, silk, wool, polyester, and polyester. By and large, it differs from the previous one by only 10°C.
	Iron at a temperature not exceeding 120°C - this mode should be used for more delicate fabrics, for example: polyamide, nylon, viscose, polyacrylic, nylon, acetate. You need to set the iron to the minimum temperature and iron very carefully.
	Do not iron - everything is simple here; ironing things with this sign is strictly prohibited, since damage during ironing is inevitable.
	Do not steam - if you have a steam function on your iron, then when you see this sign on your clothes, turn it off. Items with this designation cannot be steamed.

Badges and symbols on clothing

Decoding of symbols (signs) used on tags, labels, clothing tags

What do the icons and symbols on the tags of children's and adult clothing mean? Children's and adult clothes will last you longer and will not lose their original appearance if you follow the care instructions indicated on the product labels. How can you find out the decoding of clothing tags? There are things that cannot be washed in an automatic washing machine, and there are things that cannot be dry cleaned. How to understand strange icons on tags?

Simply, look at the table and everything will become clear.

Washing products

Delicate wash in plenty of water. Such items should undergo minimal mechanical processing and undergo a quick rinse.

Gentle washing mode at the specified temperature. Strong mechanical impact on the product is also unacceptable.

Washing is allowed.

Washing is prohibited. This product requires careful handling, so it is better to dry clean it.

Hand wash at maximum temperature 40°C.

Hand or machine wash at 30°C. Depending on the temperature at which the product can be washed, different numbers will be indicated: 30, 40, 50, 60, 95. This icon also has an analogue, but washing temperature modes are indicated by the number of dots. Thus, one point corresponds to a temperature of 30°C, two points - 40°C, etc.

Gentle washing mode at the specified temperature. Rinse mode - normal. But the spin should be weakened.

Delicate wash at temperature. The mechanical impact on the tissue should be weakened. This product should not be squeezed by hand.

Drying products

Drying of products is allowed.

Drying is prohibited. This sign will always accompany the no washing sign.

Spinning is prohibited. This icon also very often changes depending on the manufacturer. Sometimes it is drawn in the form of an inverted crossed out figure eight.

Washing machine and tumble drying or electric drying is allowed.

Do not tumble dry or tumble dry or use an electric dryer.

Tumble dry or use an electric dryer on low heat. As the number of dots on the icon increases, the allowed temperature for drying the product increases.

Gentle drying mode.

Delicate drying mode.

Drying the product without spinning.

Vertical drying of the product.

Horizontal drying of the product.

Drying in the shade.

Dry cleaning and bleaching

Dry cleaning of products.

Dry cleaning of products is prohibited.

Dry cleaning of the product with any solvent.

Dry cleaning of the product with common solvents, which are designated by the symbol P. These include hydrocarbons, monofluorotrichloromethane, ethylene chloride.

Dry cleaning using solvents identified by the symbol F. These include hydrocarbons and trifluorotrichloromethane.

Gentle dry wash using solvents marked F.

Bleaching of the product is allowed.

The use of any products containing chlorine or other bleaches is prohibited.

It is allowed to bleach the product with chlorine or chlorine-containing substances.

It is allowed to bleach the product without chlorine-containing substances or chlorine.

Ironing of products

Ironing of the product is permitted.

Ironing of the product is prohibited. Steam processing of the product is also prohibited.

Ironing of the product at low temperature up to 110°C. This sign also has variations: two or three dots that indicate the ironing temperature.

It is prohibited to iron the product, steam it or use steam treatment.

Clothes care and washing are important procedures that allow things to maintain their original appearance. However, all fabrics are different and require different care. That is why manufacturers place special symbols on clothing labels that you must be able to “read,” because this determines how you will properly care for your items.

Symbols on laundry labels - explanation

Washing is an integral part of product care. It is important to wash the item correctly so that it retains its shape and color longer and does not stretch. Washing recommendations on a clothing label can be recognized by the image of a rectangular container with water or the same container indicating the temperature setting.

So, there are 13 main designations of washing modes that can be found on clothing labels:

	Product can be washed
	Washing the product is strictly prohibited
	The product is not recommended to be machine washed
	It is recommended to wash the product only in a gentle cycle
	The product should be washed at a temperature not exceeding 30°C
	It is recommended to wash in the “delicate wash” mode
	The product can only be washed by hand, the temperature should not exceed 40°C
	Washing the product with boiling water is allowed
	Washing items made from colored fabrics, temperature – no more than 50°C
	Washing items made from colored fabrics, temperature – no more than 60°C
	Washing at a temperature not exceeding 40°C
	Recommended washing in warm water (not higher than 30°C)
	No squeezing or twisting!

What do the symbols on whitening clothing labels mean?

It often happens that something urgently needs to be bleached. But not all tissues tolerate this procedure equally. Therefore, you definitely need to pay attention to the triangle symbol located on the label of the item.

There are 4 main symbols related to bleaching:

Symbols on dryer labels

The product also needs to be dried properly. Manufacturers have taken care of this too, indicating on clothing labels recommendations for drying items. Drying is usually indicated on items with a square symbol.

So, there are 11 main characters:

	Allowed to dry the product at high temperatures
	Can be dried at medium (normal) temperature
	Drying at low (gentle) temperature
	It is not recommended to dry or squeeze the product in a machine.
	It is allowed to dry and squeeze the product in a machine
	Dry only in an upright position, without wringing
	Dry exclusively in a horizontal position
	Allowed to dry on a clothesline
	Drying allowed
	Drying is prohibited
	Dry only in a shaded place

What do the symbols on ironing labels mean?

Before you start ironing clothes, you need to read the manufacturers' recommendations, because if you choose the wrong ironing mode, the item can be damaged. On clothing labels, ironing information can be found by the recognizable iron symbol.

There are 7 basic symbols applicable to ironing:

	The product can be ironed
	Iron the product at maximum temperature (applicable for cotton and linen)
	Ironing temperature no more than 140°C
	Recommended ironing temperature 130°C (applicable for silk, wool, viscose and polyester)
	The recommended minimum ironing temperature is not higher than 120°C (applicable for nylon, nylon, polyacrylic, viscose)
	Do not iron the product!
	Do not steam the product!

Signs on dry cleaning clothing labels

Symbols related to dry cleaning of the product are intended for dry cleaning workers. They note whether the product can be cleaned with certain substances and whether the product can be dry cleaned in general. Information on the specifics of cleaning the product can be found by the circle symbol.

There are 8 main characters:

	Dry cleaning is strictly prohibited!
	Cleaning with well-known solvents is allowed
	Dry cleaning with perchlorethylene-based products
	Dry cleaning exclusively with freons (white spirit is allowed)
	Gentle dry cleaning
	Dry cleaning
	Take special care when dry cleaning!

Video: Symbols on clothing labels

The following video also suggests familiarizing yourself with the various signs on clothing labels:

So, the generally accepted designations on clothing labels are very convenient. A small piece attached to the clothing contains a maximum of useful and necessary information that will help you care for the product. All you need is to interpret the symbols correctly and follow their instructions.