It’s likely that you’ve been doing laundry for years yet still find laundry symbols a bit baffling. On the flip side, you may have just realized these symbols exist, as it’s not a common practice to check tags on everyday items anymore. However, understanding laundry symbols can be incredibly useful, especially when traveling abroad or learning how to properly care for your new clothes or bedding.
For those who travel frequently, recognizing laundry symbols can help avoid wardrobe disasters in foreign countries where the local language might be unfamiliar. Plus, these symbols can be a lifesaver for beginners—after all, not everyone had a parent who taught them the ins and outs of laundry. These symbols offer a straightforward way to learn laundry basics. You might even discover them tucked away on some of your favorite outfits or your child’s toys. So, if you’ve recently purchased a new item and are unsure how to care for it, the symbols on the tag can guide you in making it last.
Once you get the hang of laundry symbols, they’ll feel far less intimidating. Here’s a breakdown of common laundry symbols to help you become fluent in laundry language for your next laundromat visit.
Washing Symbols
You might notice various symbols for the wash cycle, but they typically share one thing in common—dots. The dots represent the “heat” level; fewer dots mean a cooler wash. If you’re looking to wash something in cold water, seek out the wash symbol with the least amount of dots, sometimes just appearing as a simple wash symbol. Some charts even display the temperature within the wash symbol for added clarity.
If you’re unsure of the exact water temperature when loading the machine, remember that many washers only have settings for “hot, cold, and medium.” For example, if you’re washing scrubs from work, hot water is the way to go. Likewise, if your kids come home from playing outside covered in mud, opt for hot water as well.
Dry-Clean Symbols
Often, you’ll find “dry clean only” listed on clothing tags. But if you’re traveling and unsure about the care instructions for your clothes, laundry symbols can help. The symbol for dry cleaning is a circle, while a circle with an “X” indicates that dry cleaning is not recommended. Occasionally, you might see more specific instructions like “short-cycle” or “no steam,” but those details are likely unnecessary for the average person.
Drying Symbols
Figuring out drying symbols is just as important as understanding washing symbols. Improper drying can lead to unwanted shrinkage, especially for specific fabrics. Similar to wash symbols, some dryer symbols also use dots to indicate the best drying temperature. More dots signify higher temperatures, with three dots typically indicating “high heat.”
Here are some common dryer symbols you might encounter:
- Hang Dry: Resembles a square with a towel hanging off a line.
- Drip Dry: A square with three vertical lines.
- Dry Flat: A square with a horizontal line through the center.
- Dry In Shade: A square with two lines in the upper left corner.
- Do Not Dry: A square with an “X” over it.
- Do Not Tumble Dry: A square with a circle inside and an “X” over both.
Additionally, you may find ironing instructions near the dryer symbols. As usual, more dots on the iron symbol indicate higher heat tolerance.
Bleach Symbols
Bleach can be tricky to navigate unless you’re only washing whites. Thankfully, laundry symbols can help prevent accidental damage. The bleach symbol is a triangle, while a triangle with an “X” indicates no bleach. A triangle with two lines inside signifies non-chlorine bleach, and a triangle with “CL” means chlorine bleach.
Next time you purchase something new, take a moment to decode the laundry symbols on the tag. This guide might just equip you with a valuable new skill.
Laundry Tips for Success
In addition to understanding symbols, keep these laundry tips in mind for a more effective wash day:
- Treat stains promptly with stain remover or detergent to improve chances of removal.
- Turn darker clothes inside out to prevent fading.
- Liquid detergent is convenient, but powder is often more effective and economical.
- Regularly clean your washer and dryer to maintain their performance.
- Keep socks together by safety pinning them before washing.
- Add extra wool sheets to the dryer for faster drying and energy savings.
- Whenever possible, air-dry clothes to save energy and minimize shrinkage.
- Check pockets for forgotten items before washing.
- Zip zippers and unbutton buttons before washing to avoid damage.
- Set a timer to remember when to remove clothes from the wash to prevent mildew.
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In Summary
Understanding the various laundry symbols can save you time and help protect your clothing. With a little practice, you’ll be able to decode these tags and implement effective laundry tips for a successful wash day.