Laundry symbols

Washing symbols

The tub on a label tells you three things: whether it can be washed, the maximum temperature, and the cycle – normal, mild or very mild.

Wash at 95 °CMachine wash at up to 95 °C on a normal cycle. The hottest wash there is – a boil wash.Wash at 70 °CMachine wash at up to 70 °C on a normal cycle.Wash at 60 °CMachine wash at up to 60 °C on a normal (cotton) cycle.Wash at 60 °C, mild cycleUp to 60 °C but with less agitation and a gentler spin (the synthetics or easy-care cycle). One bar under the tub = gentler.Wash at 50 °CMachine wash at up to 50 °C on a normal cycle.Wash at 50 °C, mild cycleUp to 50 °C on a synthetics (gentler) cycle.Wash at 40 °CMachine wash at up to 40 °C on a normal cycle. The most common label in the world.Wash at 40 °C, mild cycleUp to 40 °C on a synthetics cycle: less agitation, a gentler spin.Wash at 40 °C, very mild cycleUp to 40 °C on a very gentle (wool or delicates) cycle. Two bars = very gentle.Wash at 30 °CMachine wash at up to 30 °C on a normal cycle.Wash at 30 °C, mild cycleUp to 30 °C on a synthetics cycle.Wash at 30 °C, very mild cycleUp to 30 °C on a very gentle wool or delicates cycle.Hand wash onlyWash by hand in water up to 40 °C. No rubbing, wringing or twisting.Do not washNot washable, by machine or by hand. Usually there is a dry-clean symbol next to it.Machine washUS symbol: an empty tub with no number or dots – machine wash, any temperature, normal cycle.US

How to read them

The number is the maximum temperature. Cooler is fine, hotter never is.
No bar – cotton or everyday cycle. One bar – synthetics. Two bars – wool or delicates.
A hand in the tub – hand wash only, up to 40 °C. A crossed tub – no water at all.

°C	°F	US dots	For
30	86	•	Darks, brights, wool, silk, synthetics
40	104	••	Everyday clothes, denim, jersey
50	122	•••	Cotton blends
60	140	••••	Bedding, towels, underwear
70	158	•••••	Workwear
95	203	••••••	White cotton, boil wash

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Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Got the whole label?

Pick all its symbols and get the washer, dryer and iron settings in one place.

Decode the label Printable symbol chart →

01Should I wash at 30 or 40 °C?

If the label allows 40 °C, darks and brights still last longer at 30 °C. 40 °C is better at shifting greasy stains and sweat.

02What does a tub with no number mean?

That's a US label: machine wash, normal cycle, pick the temperature for the fabric. Dots in a US tub are the temperature: 1 dot 30 °C, 2 = 40 °C, 3 = 50 °C, 4 = 60 °C.