Laundry symbols

1. Laundry symbols

2. Washing temperatures & washing types

3. Bleaching

4. Drying

5. Ironing

6. Dry cleaning & special care

Laundry symbols on clothing provide important information on how to properly care for your textiles so that they remain beautiful for a long time. They help you keep colors bright, preserve the shape of your textiles, and prevent damage to materials. Once you understand the meaning of each symbol, caring for your clothes is easy. By following the washing instructions on the label, you can avoid unpleasant surprises after washing and ensure that your favorite items last as long as possible.

What do the washing symbols on clothing mean?

In general, laundry symbols are divided into five categories: washing, drying, ironing, dry cleaning, and bleaching. Each symbol represents a specific care instruction. The first symbol is a wash tub and provides information about the washing temperature and type of wash. The second laundry symbol is a triangle and provides information about bleaching. The square with the circle indicates drying and the iron symbol indicates the correct temperature for ironing. The last laundry symbol is a circle with information about dry cleaning. Some of the washing symbols may also have dots or underlines. These show you which program or precautions are required. For example, if a line is shown, you must treat this laundry with particular care.

Washing symbol overview:

Washing information	Information about bleaching	Information on drying	Information about ironing	Information on dry cleaning

Where can I find the washing symbols on my clothes?

You've probably noticed the care labels on your clothes, which people often cut out so they don't scratch or show through. But be careful: these labels contain important care instructions for your clothes. The labels are usually sewn into the side, neckline, or waistband. In addition to the care symbols for the textiles, you will also find information about the materials and countries of origin. Sometimes there is also additional text information about care. If you cut out the label, this information will be missing. To avoid losing it, one option is to sew the care label back on in an inconspicuous place or store it in a pocket. You can also find care instructions for our garments on our website. This way, you can still keep track of everything and care for your clothes properly.  

What does the laundry symbol with the number mean?

The wash tub symbol with a number indicates the maximum water temperature in degrees Celsius. This temperature will clean your clothes as effectively as possible without damaging the fabric.

• 30°C: for delicate fabrics, e.g., wool, fine synthetics
• 40°C: for most everyday clothing items, e.g., cotton, blended fabrics
• 60°C: for heavily stained laundry, towels, and bedding
• 95°C: for hot washing, e.g., white cotton

It is recommended to wash clothes at the specified temperature. Many people nowadays wash their laundry at a flat rate of 30°C to avoid damaging any items. However, this low temperature is not sufficient for stubborn stains.

Under the wash tub symbol, you will also find lines that indicate how gently the laundry should be treated. One line means you should select a gentle wash cycle and spin gently and as briefly as possible. Two lines indicate that you should not spin the laundry and select a particularly mild program, such as the wool program, on your washing machine. The lines not only provide you with information about the correct wash cycle, but also how full you can fill the washing machine. One line means a maximum of half full, two lines means only a third full.

When should I pay attention to the hand wash symbol?

The wash tub symbol with a hand in it means wash only by hand or using the hand wash cycle on your washing machine. Fabrics such as wool or silk are very delicate and cannot withstand mechanical stress. You should use a maximum water temperature of 30°C and gently squeeze out the water rather than rubbing or wringing the fabric. However, it is difficult to remove stubborn stains, so it is best to take these items to a professional cleaner.

What is the name of the symbol with a crossed-out wash tub?

If the wash tub symbol is crossed out, you must not wash this garment, either by hand or in the washing machine. It requires professional cleaning, usually dry cleaning. This is often the case with leather, fur, or special coatings.

Laundry symbol overview - Washing:

Washing symbol with information about the maximum washing temperature in degrees Celsius. If it contains a 30, this means that you may only wash these textiles at 30°C.	An additional line under the washing symbol indicates a gentle wash cycle. You should not overfill the washing machine and only spin the laundry at a lower speed.	Two lines under the symbol indicate particularly sensitive materials. The garment should be washed on a delicate or wool cycle and should not be spun dry.	The hand symbol indicates clothing that may only be washed by hand or in the hand wash cycle of your washing machine. You should not rub or wring it out.	If you see this symbol, you must not wash the textiles in your household laundry.

What does the triangle on the care label mean?

The triangle is the laundry symbol for bleaching and means that bleaching is permitted and any type of bleach can be used. If there are two diagonal lines under the triangle, only oxygen bleach is permitted, not chlorine. A crossed-out laundry symbol prohibits this process. In general, bleaching is only recommended for white fabrics to remove stubborn stains.

Laundry symbol overview - Bleaching:

The triangle allows for all types of bleaching, both chlorine and oxygen bleaching.	If there are two lines in the triangle, only oxygen bleach, which is contained in heavy-duty washing powder, may be used. Chlorine bleach is not permitted.	Bleaching is not permitted on items marked with a crossed-out triangle. You should also be careful with stain removers.

What do the circles and lines in the dryer symbol mean?

The laundry symbol for dryers is a square with a circle inside. It tells you whether and how your clothes can be dried in a tumble dryer:

• 1 dot: Dry gently at a low temperature – for delicate fabrics such as synthetics
• 2 dots: Normal Temperature – for sturdy materials such as cotton

If the symbol is crossed out, you must not put the garment in the dryer, as there is a risk of damage to the material or shrinkage. Here, too, the symbol may also be underlined, which indicates that a gentle cycle should be used.

Can I air dry clothes with a crossed-out dryer symbol?

Of course! The washing symbol only refers to machine drying in a tumble dryer. However, there are also special symbols for air drying. A square with horizontal lines inside it. One horizontal line means that you can dry these textiles on a clothesline. Two lines require the laundry to be dripping wet so that it dries wrinkle-free. If there is one horizontal line in the square, the garment must be dried flat, and if there are two horizontal lines, it must again be dripping wet. There may also be diagonal lines in the left corner of the square, which means that you should dry your clothes in the shade as they are not lightfast. Only in rare cases may clothes not be allowed to air dry, but in this case the label will explicitly state this.

Washing symbols table - Drying:

The laundry symbol allows you to dry your clothes in the dryer. If there is one dot, you should select a gentle program with a reduced temperature (60°C). If there are two dots, drying at normal temperature (80°C) is possible.	Clothes with this washing symbol must not be put in the dryer.	These textiles can be dried on a clothesline. Non-delicate and lightfast textiles.	These clothes should be hung on the clothesline while still dripping wet so that they dry without wrinkles.	This washing symbol indicates that the garment should be dried flat so that it does not lose its shape, e.g., a wool sweater.

This symbol also indicates that the garment should be dried flat, but while still dripping wet.	Items with this laundry symbol should be dried on a clothesline in the shade, as they are not lightfast.	If there are two lines, the clothing should also be dried in the shade, but while still dripping wet.	This laundry symbol requires drying flat in the shade, as the material should not lose its shape and is not lightfast..	These clothes should be laid flat in the shade to dry while still dripping wet.

What does the iron symbol mean?

The iron symbol shows you the temperature at which you can iron.

• 1 dot: Max. 110°C – for delicate fabrics such as silk, nylon, acetate
• 2 dots: Max. 150°C – for synthetics, wool, blended fabrics
• 3 dots: Max. 200°C – for linen, cotton; high steam setting can also be used here

If there is a crossed-out iron symbol, ironing is prohibited. Be sure to use the correct setting; if the temperature is incorrect, the fabrics may melt or burn.

Washing symbols table - Drying:

This laundry symbol indicates the permitted temperature for ironing. One dot means do not iron hot, i.e. maximum 120°C, 2 dots allow a maximum temperature of 160°C and 3 dots allow hot ironing up to 210°C.	If the symbol is crossed out, this means that you must not iron your garment. Doing so may cause damage.

What does the circle with a letter inside it mean?

This symbol indicates dry cleaning. The letter in the circle indicates which solvent may be used for this purpose.

• P: Perchloroethylene and other solvents
• F: Clean only with special hydrocarbons

If the symbol is underlined, it requires gentle cleaning.

Do I need to take clothes with a “P” or “F” symbol to the dry cleaner?

Absolutely! This washing symbol means that the material is not suitable for washing at home. Only a professional cleaner can use the right method and prevent damage. This is often the case with suits, coats, or delicate fabric combinations.

What does a “W” in a circle mean?

The circle with a W inside also requires professional cleaning. In this case, wet cleaning. One line underneath indicates that mild wet cleaning is necessary, and two lines indicate that very mild wet cleaning is required.

Are there symbols indicating that fabric softener is prohibited?

There is no specific symbol for fabric softener prohibition; you will usually only find a note on the label. For example, “Wash without fabric softener,” which is particularly important for functional clothing, sportswear, or microfiber.

Laundry Symbol Guide - Dry Cleaning:

The circle with a letter inside indicates whether an item can be professionally cleaned. A P allows perchloroethylene and dibutyl ether. An F allows hydrocarbons and decamethylpentacyclosiloxane. A W allows wet cleaning.	A line under the laundry symbol indicates mild cleaning with low stress.	A crossed-out circle prohibits dry cleaning, and a W inside it indicates wet cleaning.