What a care symbol guide is

Short answer: Care symbols are five fixed signs on the label. They tell you about temperature, bleaching, drying, ironing and dry cleaning, and they mean the same across Europe. Once you know the five basic shapes, you can read any care label in a few seconds.

Five basic shapes

Every care symbol is built on five shapes: a tub for washing, a triangle for bleaching, a square for drying, an iron for ironing and a circle for dry cleaning. Lines, dots and crosses change the meaning. A cross over any symbol always means that treatment is not allowed.

The tub is the temperature

The number in the tub is the highest temperature the fabric can be washed at. Cooler is fine, warmer is not. One line under the tub means a delicate programme, two lines mean extra gentle. A hand in the tub means hand wash. A cross over it means do not wash. See bamboo sweatshirt for women.

The triangle is bleach

An empty triangle means bleach is allowed. A crossed out triangle means it is not. Coloured and soft everyday clothing rarely needs bleaching, and bleach can leave marks and weaken the fibres. A regular colour detergent is usually enough, even for clothes you wear often.

The square is drying

A circle in the square means tumble dryer. The dots in the circle show how much heat is allowed: one dot is low heat, two dots are normal heat. If the square with a circle is crossed out, the item must not go in the dryer. Lines in a square without a circle show how to hang or lay it. See bamboo jogging suit.

The iron is the heat of the iron

The dots in the iron show how hot it may be. One dot is low heat, two dots are medium and three dots are high. Crossed out means do not iron. If in doubt, iron inside out and start on the lowest setting. Soft clothing hung up neatly often needs no ironing at all. See the women's range.

The circle is dry cleaning

An empty circle on its own is about professional dry cleaning. The letters inside are meant for the cleaner and show which agents may be used. A cross over the circle means the item must not be dry cleaned. For most everyday items this symbol does not matter to you, but it is good to know.

Read the label before the first wash

It is tempting to cut the label off, but it is the only reliable guide for that exact item. Look at it before the first wash and sort by the lowest requirement in the machine. If you wash with sturdier clothes, choose the programme the most delicate item needs.

When the label has faded

After many washes the label can become hard to read. Take a photo of it while it is new, so you always have it on your phone. If you can no longer see the symbols, wash cold on a delicate programme and let the item air dry. It is the most careful option.

Frequently asked questions

What does the number in the tub mean

The highest temperature the fabric can be washed at. One line under the tub means a delicate programme, and two lines mean an even gentler wash.

What does a crossed out square with a circle mean

That the item must not go in the tumble dryer. Hang it up to dry instead, ideally flat if it is heavy, so its own weight does not pull it out of shape.

What do the dots on the iron mean

How hot the iron may be. One dot is low heat, two are medium and three are high. If in doubt, start low and iron the garment inside out.