Decode the washing symbols on your labels

To do your washing with peace of mind, learn how to decode the labels on your new clothes. Here's a little practical guide that lists the symbols for washing, ironing and dry cleaning.

Labels for preparing clothes before washing

- The stained T-shirt symbol means you need to remove stains from your garment before washing it.
- The trouser symbol means you need to turn your trouser pockets inside out before putting them in the machine.
- The zip symbol means you need to fasten your zips before machine washing.
- The T-shirt with arrows means you need to wash your garment inside out.

Symbols for sorting clothes before machine washing

- The shirt and sock are the symbol for white.
- Trousers represent colour.
- Underwear represents delicates.

Washing instructions

- The container and hand is the symbol for hand washing only.
- The number on the container indicates the maximum washing temperature (30, 60 or 90°C).
- A dash under the container means you need to select the synthetics programme.
- Two dashes under the container means you need to choose the wool programme.
- If there’s a cross on the container, you need to have your garment dry cleaned only.

Symbols for drying your clothes

- A circle in a square means you can use a tumble dryer.
- A cross over this symbol means the garment must not be tumble dried.
- A dot in the middle of the drying symbol means that you should dry at a temperature below 60°C.
- Two dots in the middle of the drying symbol mean that you should dry at a maximum temperature of 80°C.

Instructions for ironing

- The iron with a line through it means that ironing is not recommended.
- The iron with a dot in the middle means for example that you can iron your shirt at up to 110°C.
- The iron with two dots in the middle means you can iron at up to 150°C.
- The iron with three dots in the middle means you can iron at up to 200°C.

Symbols for dry cleaning

-The circle with a P means that the garment can be dry cleaned but only professionally.
- The circle with a cross though it means no dry cleaning.
- The solid black circle with a cross through means washing with water is not recommended.
- The circle with a W means you should have it professionally wet cleaned.