Your clothes tags are written in ancient laundry hieroglyphics. Here's your decoder ring.
Quick answer: there are five basic shapes. A tub means washing, a triangle means bleach, a square means drying, an iron means ironing and a circle means dry cleaning. Dots mean heat and an X means don't.†
The five shapes
| Shape | Means |
|---|---|
| Tub | Washing |
| Triangle | Bleaching |
| Square | Drying |
| Iron | Ironing |
| Circle | Dry cleaning |
Dots and lines
- Dots show heat. One is low, more are hotter.
- Lines under a tub mean a gentler cycle.
- An X over any symbol means don't.
- A hand in the tub means hand wash.
Common ones
- Tub with one dot: wash cold.
- Empty triangle: any bleach okay.
- Triangle with lines: non-chlorine bleach only.
- Square with a circle: tumble dry.
- Square with a line: dry flat.
Once you know them, you'll never shrink a sweater again. Probably.
FAQ
What does a tub with dots mean? It shows the max water temperature.
What does a square with a circle mean? Tumble dry is okay.
What does a crossed-out triangle mean? Don't bleach.
Can I machine wash dry-clean-only items? Sometimes, but follow the tag to be safe.
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