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Washing Care Label Symbols

 

Laundry Garment Care Labels

You should always check garment care labels for special requirements before washing, drying or ironing. Below we explain what each symbol on garment care labels mean.

Washing Symbols

Wash Cycle Related

Washing Permanent Press symbol Machine Wash (Permanent Press) Garments which have been permanently shaped (are wrinkle resistant) should be laundered in the "permanent press" cycle. This cycle normally involves a cold rinse before a reduced spin cycle.
Washing Gentle or Delicate symbol Machine Wash (Gentle, Delicate) Wash only on the gentle cycle, involving a reduced spinning cycle and gentle agitation.
Hand Wash symbol Hand Wash Only Wash these garments using water, detergent or soap gently using your hands.
Do Not Wash symbol Do Not Wash These garments cannot be safely washed. Usually, these will need to be dry cleaned.

Temperature Related

Washing symbol Machine Wash (NORMAL) When there is no temperature or dots in the symbol, and no line underneath, it is recommended the garment be washed with hottest available water temperature, as hot water washes better than cold.
Washing 30C symbol
Washing Cold symbol
Machine Wash (COLD) When 30C or one dot is shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 30°C (85°F).
Washing 40C symbol
Washing Warm symbol
Machine Wash (WARM) When 40C or two dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 40°C (105°F).
Washing 50C symbol
Washing Hot 50C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 50C or three dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 50°C (120°F).
Washing 60C symbol
Washing Hot 60C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 60C or four dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 60°C (140°F).
Washing 70C symbol
Washing Hot 70C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 70C or five dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 70°C (160°F).
Washing 95C symbol
Washing Hot 95C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 95C or six dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 95°C (200°F).

Bleaching Symbols

Bleach symbol Bleach As Needed Any bleach may be used when needed on the garment.
Non-Chlorine Bleach symbol Bleach As Needed (Non-Chlorine Only) Only non-chlorine, colour-safe bleach may be used on these garments when needed.
Do Not Bleach symbol Do Not Bleach Garments with this symbol are not able to withstand any bleach.

Drying Symbols

Drying Procedures

Permanent Press symbol Tumble Dry (Permanent Press) Garments may be dried in a tumble dryer, but only on the "permanent press" setting.
Gentle or Delicate symbol Tumble Dry (Gentle) Garments may be dried in a tumble dryer, but only on the "gentle" setting.
Do Not Tumble Dry symbol
Do Not Dry symbol
Do Not Tumble Dry Garment may not be tumble dried. Usually one of the alternative symbols below will be supplied.
Line Dry symbol Line Dry Hang the garment to dry.
Drip Dry symbol Drip Dry Hang the garment to dry, without shaping or smoothing.
Dry Flat symbol Dry Flat Lay the garment out flat to dry.
Dry In Shade symbol Dry In Shade This symbol may appear in conjunction with Line or Drip Dry. Dry the garment in the shade, away from direct sunlight.
Do Not Wring symbol Do Not Wring Do not wring the garment to dry.

Temperature Related

Tumble Dry symbol Tumble Dry (Normal) Garment may be tumble dried at the hottest available setting.
Cold Tumble Dry symbol Tumble Dry (Cold) Garment may be tumble dried only at the cold "No Heat" or "Air Only" setting.
Low Heat symbol Tumble Dry (Low Heat) Garment may be tumble dried only at a low heat.
Medium Heat symbol Tumble Dry (Medium Heat) Garment may be tumble dried up to a medium heat only.
High Heat symbol Tumble Dry (High Heat) Garment may be tumble dried at a high heat.

Ironing Symbols

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Iron symbol Iron (Normal) Garments may be ironed at any temperature, using steam or dry.
Iron Low symbol Iron (Low Heat) Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at Low setting, 110°C (230°F), only.
Iron Medium symbol Iron (Medium Heat) Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at Medium setting, 150°C (300°F).
Iron Hot symbol Iron (High Heat) Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at High setting, 200°C (390°F).
Do Not Steam symbol Do Not Steam Garment may be ironed, but only dry. Using steam may damage the garment.
Do Not Iron symbol Do Not Iron Garment may not be ironed.

Dry Cleaning Symbols

Dry Clean symbol Dry Clean Dry clean the garment, using any solvent, cycle, moisture & heat.
Any Solvent symbol Dry Clean (Any Solvent) Dry clean the garment, using any solvent. This symbol may appear with others restricting the cycle, moisture or heat.
Petroleum Solvent symbol Dry Clean (Petroleum Solvent) Dry clean only using a petroleum-based solvent.
Not Trichloroethylene symbol Dry Clean (Not Trichloroethylene) Dry clean the garment using any solvent, except trichloroethylene.
Short Cycle symbol Dry Clean (Short Cycle) Dry clean using the short cycle.
Reduced Moisture symbol Dry Clean (Reduced Moisture) Dry clean using reduced moisture.
Low Heat symbol Dry Clean (Low Heat) Dry clean on a low heat setting.
No Steam symbol Dry Clean (No Steam) Dry clean using no steam.
Do Not Dry Clean symbol Do Not Dry Clean Garment may not be dry cleaned.

 

 

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