Laundry symbols on a clothing label tell you, in five tiny icons, how to wash, bleach, dry, iron and professionally clean a garment. If you sew your own collection, they are an essential part of a professional finish; if you are simply caring for your wardrobe, knowing them saves you from shrunken jumpers and faded T-shirts. Below we explain every sign, the order they appear in and what else belongs on a care label.
The five basic symbols and their order
Care symbols follow an internationally harmonised system (ISO 3758, also known as the GINETEX system). They are always printed in the same order from left to right:
- Wash tub – washing in water.
- Triangle – bleaching.
- Square – drying.
- Iron – ironing.
- Circle – professional dry or wet cleaning.
Any symbol crossed out with an "X" means "do not" – a crossed-out tub, for example, means the garment must not be washed in water.
Satin label 14 cm x 5 cm - satin print
Woven label 8.5 cm x 7 cm – Gold effect, jacquard
Satin label 6 cm x 3 cm – printing on satin ribbonWashing: the tub and temperatures
The number or dots inside the tub show the maximum water temperature:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tub with 1 dot / 30 | Wash at up to 30 °C |
| Tub with 2 dots / 40 | Wash at up to 40 °C |
| Tub with 3 dots / 50 | Wash at up to 50 °C |
| Tub with 4 dots / 60 | Wash at up to 60 °C |
| Tub with 6 dots / 95 | Wash at up to 95 °C (white cotton linen) |
| Tub with a hand | Hand wash only, usually up to 40 °C |
One bar under the tub means a gentle cycle (for synthetics); two bars mean a very delicate cycle (for wool and silk).
Bleaching, drying and ironing
- Empty triangle – any bleach is allowed.
- Triangle with two diagonal lines – oxygen-based, non-chlorine bleach only.
- Square with a circle – tumble drying allowed; one dot means low heat, two dots normal heat.
- Square with vertical lines – line dry; with a horizontal line – dry flat (important for knitwear).
- Iron with 1 dot – up to 110 °C (acrylic, polyamide); 2 dots – up to 150 °C (wool, polyester); 3 dots – up to 200 °C (cotton, linen).
Inside the circle, a letter tells the dry cleaner which process to use: P and F refer to dry cleaning solvents, while W stands for professional wet cleaning.
What else a care label should include
Besides the symbols, garments sold in the EU must state the fibre composition in percentages (for example "100% cotton" or "80% wool, 20% polyamide"), as required by Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011. The composition should be in the official language of the country where the item is sold. It is also good practice to add the size, the brand name and a batch or style number.
Care labels are most often made from printed satin tape, because it is soft, does not irritate the skin and survives countless washes. They are sewn into the side seam, roughly 10–15 cm above the hem. Browse the labels at Bul-tex, including 14 x 3.5 cm and 14 x 4 cm satin labels with room for longer text.
Frequently asked questions
Are laundry symbols mandatory?
In the EU, the fibre composition is mandatory. Care symbols are recommended rather than required, but practically every serious manufacturer uses them because they protect both the customer and the brand from complaints.
What does a tub with a hand mean?
Hand wash in lukewarm water. Do not rub or wring the garment hard; gently press out the water with a towel instead.
Can I cut out an itchy care label?
You can trim it carefully close to the seam, but take a photo of the symbols first. When making your own garments, choose a soft satin label and place it in the side seam rather than at the neck.
Preparing your own collection? Explore our clothing labels and matching sewing threads – we ship across the EU with DHL Express.
