Almost every garment has a small care label sewn into a seam. It tells you how the maker advises you to wash, dry, iron and clean it, using five basic shapes: a tub for washing, a triangle for bleach, a square for drying, an iron for ironing and a circle for professional care.
A cross over any shape means do not do it. Dots, lines and numbers inside a shape change how strongly or gently to do it. This page explains the symbols you will see most often.
Washing
A tub. A number inside is the highest water temperature in °C. Bars underneath mean a gentler wash.
Machine wash
Normal machine wash is fine.
Wash up to 30°C
Cool wash. The number is the highest temperature to use.
Wash up to 40°C
Warm wash at most. Common on everyday cottons.
Gentle wash
One bar underneath means a gentler cycle with less spinning.
Very gentle wash
Two bars mean the mildest wash. Delicate items.
Hand wash only
Do not machine wash. Use cool water and handle gently.
Do not wash
Not suitable for water washing. Usually means dry clean.
Bleaching
A triangle.
Bleach allowed
Any bleach can be used.
Non-chlorine bleach only
Diagonal lines mean only oxygen-type (non-chlorine) bleach.
Do not bleach
Bleach can damage the fabric or colour.
Drying
A square. A circle inside means tumble dryer. Lines inside mean drying naturally.
Tumble dry allowed
Machine drying is fine.
Tumble dry, low heat
One dot means low heat.
Tumble dry, normal heat
Two dots mean normal heat.
Do not tumble dry
Machine heat can shrink or damage it.
Line dry
Hang it on a line to dry.
Drip dry
Hang it dripping wet, without wringing it out.
Dry flat
Lay it flat so it keeps its shape. Common on woollens.
Dry in the shade
Keep it out of direct sun.
Ironing
An iron. More dots mean a hotter iron.
Cool iron
One dot: low heat, up to about 110°C. Silk, nylon and acrylic.
Warm iron
Two dots: medium heat, up to about 150°C. Wool and polyester.
Hot iron
Three dots: high heat, up to about 200°C. Cotton and linen.
Do not iron
Heat can damage it. Ask a professional.
Dry cleaning (professional care)
A circle. A letter inside tells the dry cleaner which type of solvent to use.
Dry clean
Can be dry cleaned.
Dry clean (P)
P is for the professional cleaner: the usual dry cleaning solvents can be used.
Dry clean (F)
F is for the professional cleaner: only a gentler solvent should be used.
Gentle dry clean
A bar underneath means a gentler process. Delicate items.
Professional wet cleaning
W means professional wet cleaning, which is not the same as washing at home.
Do not dry clean
Dry cleaning solvents can damage it.
Common mistakes
01
Washing a "dry clean only" item at home
The label is a warning from the maker. Water and heat can shrink wool, fade colour or ruin the shape of structured clothes like suits.
02
Ironing at the wrong heat
Match the dots. A cool iron on cotton is only slow, but a hot iron on silk or synthetics can scorch or melt the fabric.
03
Cutting the label off
The tag is useful the next time you are unsure. Keep it, and show it to us when you hand over the garment.
04
Ignoring the lining and trim
The label covers the main fabric. Zari, embroidery, beads and linings may need extra care. Tell us about them.
Questions
What does "dry clean only" mean?
The maker advises against washing it in water. The safest choice is to have it dry cleaned by a professional. If you are not sure, bring it to us and we will read the label.
What if the label is missing or faded?
Bring the garment as it is. Tell us the fabric if you know it. We will check the garment and tell you how we would clean it.
Do all labels use these symbols?
Many do, because they follow an international system. Some labels use words instead, such as "Dry clean only" or "Wash cold".
Can you read my label for me?
Yes. Send us a photo of the label on WhatsApp at +91 98968 47879, and we will tell you what it means.
Not sure what your label means?