Fabric Care Symbols

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A closeup image of a fabric care tag attached to a garment

Ever spot those curious pictographs on the care tags attached to your clothing and wonder what they mean? REI's interpretive guide explains all:

Washing

Symbol  Written InstructionsNotes
Machine wash normal symbol  Machine wash:
Normal		Any water temp, any detergent
Machine wash cold symbolOrMachine wash cold symbolMachine wash:
Cold		Max water temp:
85°F (30°C)
Machine wash warm symbolOrMachine wash warm symbolMachine wash:
Warm		Max water temp:
105°F (40°C)
Machine wash hot symbolOrMachine wash hot symbolMachine wash:
Hot		Max water temp:
120°F (50°C)

Note: Additional hot-temperature symbols include up to 6 dots (200°F/95°C max).

Machine wash permanent press symbolMachine wash: Permanent press 
Machine wash gentle symbolMachine wash: Gentle or delicate 
Hand wash symbolHand wash 
Do not wash symbolDo not washLook for dry cleaning instructions

Note: Dots and underlines are sometimes used in combination with other symbols.

Bleach if needed symbolBleach (if needed)Any bleach OK
Non-chlorine bleach if needed symbolNon-chlorine bleach (if needed)Only color-safe bleach OK
Do not bleach symbolDo not bleach 

Dry Cleaning

Dry clean symbolDry clean
Do not dry clean symbolDo not dry clean

Note: Several special-situation symbols for dry cleaning are not included in this list.

Drying

Tumble dry normal symbolTumble dry: Normal
Tumble dry normal low heat symbolTumble dry: Normal, low heat
Tumble dry normal medium heat symbolTumble dry: Normal, medium heat
Tumble dry normal high heat symbolTumble dry: Normal, high heat
Tumble dry normal no heat symbolTumble dry: Normal, no heat
Tumble dry normal permanent press symbolTumble dry: Permanent press
Tumble dry gentle symbolTumble dry: Gentle
Do not tumble dry symbolDo not tumble dry
Do not dry symbolDo not dry
Line dry symbolLine dry
Drip dry symbolDrip dry
Dry flat symbolDry flat
Dry in shade symbolDry in shade
Do not wring symbolDo not wring

Ironing

Iron any temp with or without steam symbolIron: Any temp (with or without steam)
Iron low with or without steam symbolIron: Low (with or without steam)
Iron medium with or without steam symbolIron: Medium (with or without steam)
Iron high with or without steam symbolIron: High (with or without steam)
Do not steam symbolDo not steam
Do not iron symbolDo not iron

Examples

The following examples are common symbol combinations you might see displayed on care-instruction tags. We interpret each group:


Combination of 5 laundry symbols

Translation: Machine-wash in warm water on gentle cycle (note the 2 underlines beneath the wash basin; they indicate that the gentle cycle should be used); tumble dry low on gentle cycle (2 underlines again); non-chlorine bleach OK if needed; may be ironed on low heat (with or without steam); do not dry clean.


Combination of 5 laundry symbols

Translation: Hand-wash in any water temperature; line dry; do not dry clean; no bleach; do not iron.


Combination of 5 laundry symbols

Translation: Machine-wash in hot water; any bleach OK if needed; tumble dry on medium heat; may be ironed on medium heat (with or without steam); do not dry clean.