The little symbols on a care label look like a secret code, and most people ignore them until something shrinks or bleeds in the wash. Learning the handful that matter saves clothes you like and the money spent replacing them.
The core symbols
You do not need to memorize all of them. A few cover the vast majority of decisions, and the rest you can look up when they appear.
- The tub: washing instructions; a number is the maximum temperature, a hand means hand-wash only.
- The triangle: bleaching; crossed out means no bleach.
- The square: drying; a circle inside means tumble dry, dots show the heat level.
- The iron: dots indicate how hot, and a cross means do not iron.
A bar changes the meaning
Lines under a symbol signal gentler handling. One line means a mild cycle, two means very gentle. The more lines, the more delicate the garment, so adjust the machine accordingly.
When in doubt, go gentle
Cooler water, lower heat, and slower spins rarely harm anything and protect the items that would be ruined by guessing. Air-drying is the safest default for anything you care about.
Learn the tub, triangle, square, and iron, watch for the bars, and default to gentle. A few minutes with the labels keeps your wardrobe intact far longer.