A comprehensive guide to common symbols encountered in daily life, from laundry care to electronics.
A collection of commonly encountered symbols that often leave people wondering "what does that mean?"
International standards for textile care labeling are defined by GINETEX and ISO 3758. These symbols provide universal instructions for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and professional cleaning of textiles.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ⓦ | Machine wash, normal |
| ⓦ + bar | Machine wash, permanent press |
| ⓦ + double bar | Machine wash, delicate |
| ⓦ + 30 | Machine wash, cold (30°C/86°F) |
| ⓦ + 40 | Machine wash, warm (40°C/104°F) |
| ⓦ + 60 | Machine wash, hot (60°C/140°F) |
| ⓗ | Hand wash only |
| ⃠ + ⓦ | Do not wash |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| △ | Any bleach allowed |
| △ + Cl | Chlorine bleach allowed |
| △ + lines | Non-chlorine bleach only |
| ⃠ + △ | Do not bleach |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ⚪ | Tumble dry allowed |
| ⚪ + dot | Tumble dry low heat |
| ⚪ + dots | Tumble dry normal heat |
| ⃠ + ⚪ | Do not tumble dry |
| ▭ | Line dry |
| ▭ + drip | Drip dry |
| ▭ + flat | Dry flat |
| ▭ + shade | Dry in shade |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ♨ | Iron any temperature |
| ♨ + dot | Iron low temp (110°C/230°F) |
| ♨ + dots | Iron medium temp (150°C/302°F) |
| ♨ + dots | Iron high temp (200°C/392°F) |
| ⃠ + ♨ | Do not iron |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ⓟ | Dry clean |
| ⓦ + circle | Wet clean |
| ⓟ + bar | Gentle dry clean |
| ⓟ + F | Petroleum solvent only |
| ⃠ + ⓟ | Do not dry clean |
Note: These symbols are standardized internationally but may vary slightly by region. Always follow the specific care instructions provided on the garment's label.
This guide is a living document. More symbol categories will be added to help decode common symbols encountered in daily life.