The circle with an F

Short answer: A circle with an F means professional cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents. It is a milder form of cleaning than the one with a P. Here is what it means and what you need to do yourself.

What the symbol means

A circle with an F on the label means the item may be professionally cleaned with hydrocarbon solvents. It is information for the dry cleaner, not for you. The symbol stands for a milder form of cleaning than the one with a P, and it says which method suits the fabric, should you ever choose to have the item cleaned.

The letter picks the agent

An F tells the dry cleaner to use a gentler solvent than the usual one. The letter in the circle steers the choice, and the cleaner knows the meaning. You do not have to choose the agent or explain the difference. It appears on items with details, less often on women's bamboo tops.

Hydrocarbons at the dry cleaner

Hydrocarbon solvents are one of the methods a dry cleaner can use. The letter F points to exactly that one. You do not need to be able to explain it in detail. What matters is that the label shows which method the maker tested, and that the cleaner follows it. Then the item is treated as intended, without anyone guessing.

Why it is on some items

The maker has tested that the fabric tolerates the mild cleaning but not the strong one. That is why F is on the label instead of a P. It gives the cleaner a clear message to go carefully. It typically does not apply to basics such as a bamboo slip, which can be washed at home, so the symbol is nothing you need to think about.

Why F is milder than P

Yes, F is milder than P. Hydrocarbons are less aggressive on colour and elastane, so they are used for items that cannot take the stronger cleaning. It does not mean the item is delicate, only that the maker chose the most gentle method. The cleaner knows the difference and follows the letter, so you only need to show the label.

What you need to do yourself

Nothing. Show the label at the dry cleaner and let them follow the symbol. You do not need to explain the method or choose the agent, because the letter in the circle says what to do. That is the big advantage of the symbols: they are made to be understood by people who work with cleaning every day, and they save guessing.

Wash everything you can at home

Wash everything you can wash at home, including bamboo sweatpants for women. The dry cleaner is only for items where the label requires it. If an item has both a wash symbol and a circle, the wash symbol says what you may do yourself. And since cleaning usually costs a little more, it is best used sparingly.

If there is only a circle

If the label has only a circle and no washing instruction, the item must be cleaned. An item with an F may only be washed in water if a wash symbol is also shown. Without it, the circle is the only message, and then the dry cleaner is the way to go. So always read the whole label, not just one symbol, before you decide how to care for the item.

Frequently asked questions

Is F milder than P

Yes, hydrocarbons are less aggressive on colour and elastane. That is why F appears on items that cannot take the stronger cleaning, and the cleaner follows the letter.

Does it cost more

Usually a little, because fewer dry cleaners have the equipment. That is a reason to wash at home where the label allows it and use the dry cleaner only when needed.

Can you wash an item with an F in water

Only if a wash symbol is also shown. If there is only a circle, the item must be cleaned, so read the whole label before you decide how to care for it.