According to a market research survey conducted by AEG, statistics presented that 79% of Brits do not know what the different symbols on their clothing labels mean. With only 32% Gen Z, those between the ages of 16-24, being able to identify the labels correctly.
We’re here to shed some light on what they mean and how knowing the difference between them can improve your wash day.
- Washtub, washing
- triangle, bleaching
- Iron, ironing
- Circle, dry cleaning
- Square, drying
The washtub symbol will give you a guide on how to wash your clothes whether you’re using a washing machine at home or a Revolution model. If the article of clothing is machine washable it will have the washtub symbol followed by dots and numbers to indicate the recommended maximum water temperature.
- Washtub with numbers: The temperature shown is measured in degrees Celsius, the number 30 indicates a cold-water wash, 40 indicates a warm-water wash, and 50 indicates a hot-water wash.
- Washtub with dots: Dots inside the washtub indicate the same thing as a number: the water temperature. The more dots there are (there can be up to six of them), the hotter the temperature. So if you see a single dot, wash your garment in cold water. If you see three dots, though, wash the item in hot water.
Lines under the washtub signify that the garment needs to be washed on a special cycle.
● No lines: Normal wash cycle
● One line: Permanent press cycle
● Two lines: Gentle cycle
Everything you need to know about drying your clothes can be found in the square symbol on the care label. This symbol is important to double check to make sure that you aren’t shrinking your favourite t-shirt or your comfort hoodie!
First things first you want to look out for a circle in the square, this is your greenlight that you can go ahead and dry this garment in a dryer. If your square has a circle with an x through it, you can not put this item in the dryer.
Just like with the washtub, the number of dots signifies the maximum temperature to be used:
● One dot: Cold
● Two dots: Warm
● Three dots: Hot
You may also notice lines beneath the square. As with the washtub icon, these indicate the proper dryer settings to use.
● One line: Permanent press cycle
● Two lines: Gentle cycle
All of that explains how to machine dry an item, but if your square doesn’t have a circle at all, it should air-dry. Here’s how to interpret the various air-dry laundry symbols:
● One horizontal line: Lay it flat to dry.
● Three vertical lines: Hang it to drip dry.
● A square that looks like an envelope: Line dry it.
● Two diagonal lines: Dry it in the shade only.
Clothing manufacturers use washing symbols to help extend the life of your clothes. Despite the fact that we wash clothes all the time there’s still more to be learnt and we hope this article helped bring some clarity and ease to your wash day!