What do the washing symbols mean?

Here’s your guide over the most common symbols found on care labels. Never doubt what’s right when doing laundry again.

A Quick Reminder

Always hand wash and air-dry your garments, when possible, as it is better for our environment and gentler on your clothes. And just because a care label says that a garment can handle high temperatures when being washed or dried, does not mean you have to use a higher heat. Always go for lower temperatures when you can.

Washing Instructions

Follow the instructions when machine washing to prevent your garments from shrinking or becoming misshapen.

1. Machine Washable, 2. Hand Wash/Hand Wash Cycle, 3. Wash at max. 30 Degrees °C, 4. Wash at max. 40 Degrees °C, 5. Wash at max. 60 Degrees °C, 6. Gentle/Wool Wash Cycle, 7. Not Machine Washable

Drying Instructions

Also following the drying instructions when tumble drying will prevent your garments from shrinking or becoming misshapen.

1. Tumble Drying Allowed, 2. Tumble Dry on Gentle Program, 3. Tumble Dry on high program, 4. Hang Dry, 5. Drip Dry, 6. Flat Dry, 7. No Tumble Drying Allowed

Dry Cleaning Instructions

This symbol means that your garment should be dry cleaned only. It can come with different letters or lines, instructing the dry cleaners on the required process. But note that many of these garments can be hand washed.

1. Dry Clean Only, 2. Do Not Dry Clean

Ironing Instructions

If you wish to iron a garment, always follow the ironing instructions to prevent the textile fibers from damaging.

1. Iron at max. 110 °C, 2. Iron at max. 150 °C, 3. Iron at max. 200 °C, 4. Do not Iron, 5. Do not Steam

Bleaching Instructions

Some want to brighten up white clothes using bleach. This is not something we recommend, as the bleach is bad for the environment and wears hard on the textile fibers. We recommend using our high-efficiency White Laundry Detergent for your white textiles, as it helps your white clothes stay white without using any bleach.
If you still wish to bleach, here are the most common symbols.

1. Bleaching Allowed, 2. Non-Chlorine Bleachable, 3. Not Bleachable

But Best Not to Do it

Remember that the best thing to do is always to avoid washing. Airing, steaming, misting and brushing off, are more sustainable options that will make your clothes look like new for longer.