The wash symbol with a crossed out tub

Short answer: A crossed-out wash tub means the fabric must not be washed in water at all. It almost never appears on basics and never on ordinary knitwear. If it does appear on a label, treat it as a clear warning.

What the ban covers

The symbol is used on fabrics where water ruins the shape or the bonding, typically glued materials and some linings. These are special constructions, not ordinary everyday clothes. It does not apply to bamboo T-shirts for women, which handle machine washing without problems. Still, always check the label on each item.

Why you rarely see it

Ordinary clothes made of viscose, cotton and elastane handle water, and manufacturers give a temperature instead. That is why most people never meet the symbol in their own wardrobe. It also applies to bamboo panties, which need frequent washing. A crossed-out tub in place of a temperature signals something special.

Fabrics that tolerate water

Viscose, cotton and elastane belong to everyday laundry and tolerate water, soap and movement in the machine. The difference lies in temperature and programme, which you find on the label. As a rule, the label tells you how warm the water may be and how hard the programme may run. With a crossed-out tub there is no number to follow.

Underwear and everyday clothes

Underwear must be washed often, so the symbol is practically never found on it. The same goes for T-shirts, sweatshirts and socks that you wear daily and put back in the laundry again and again. If you receive an item where the symbol does appear, read the label carefully and consider whether it suits daily use.

If the symbol is there

Clean stains locally with a damp cloth and air the item instead of washing it. Dab the stain lightly and do not rub, so you do not pull the fabric. Let it dry on its own before putting it away. This is rarely needed for items like a bamboo sweatshirt for women, but the advice fits every item with the symbol.

The dry cleaning symbol is separate

A crossed-out tub does not automatically mean the item must be dry cleaned. The cleaning symbol is a circle and sits separately on the label. Read both symbols together to get the full instruction from the maker. If only the crossed-out tub is there, spot cleaning and airing are the safest choice.

Washing at your own risk

If you wash an item with the symbol anyway, it is at your own risk, and the shape may be lost permanently. The damage cannot be repaired afterwards, and a wash rarely restores the original shape. So skip the test and use spot cleaning and airing instead. That way the item keeps its shape and look for as long as possible.

Read the label with every purchase

Look at the care label when you get a new item and keep the instruction in mind. A crossed-out tub is a clear message that is easy to miss if the label sits in the side seam. Reading it takes a few seconds, and it is the safest way to avoid a wash that ruins the item.

Frequently asked questions

Does the symbol appear on underwear

Practically never. Underwear must be washable often, so manufacturers give a temperature on the label instead. You can therefore leave the symbol out of your mind when sorting daily laundry.

Does it mean the item must be dry cleaned

Not necessarily. The cleaning symbol is a circle and sits separately on the label. Read both symbols together, and use spot cleaning and airing if the label shows only the crossed-out tub.

Can you wash it anyway

It is at your own risk, and the shape may be lost permanently. The damage cannot be repaired, so try spot cleaning with a damp cloth and airing the item first.