--- title: "Laundry Care Symbols Decoder: °C and US Dots | Thrift Morrow" description: "What does that care label mean? Search washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and dry-cleaning symbols, in °C and US dots, with tips to make clothes last." url: https://thriftmorrow.me/laundry-care-symbols/ --- Wash · bleach · dry · iron · dry-clean # Laundry care symbols Decode the little pictures on a care label, from wash tubs with °C numbers to the US system of dots, and look after clothes so they last. ## Washing · 22 symbols - ### Wash at 95 °C International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 95 °C with a normal process: a boil wash, for example for white cotton or linen that can be boiled. - ### Wash at 70 °C International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 70 °C with a normal process, for example cotton or linen suitable for a hot wash. - ### Wash at 60 °C International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 60 °C with a normal process, for coloured items that must not be boiled. - ### Wash at 60 °C, mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 60 °C on a mild (easy-care) cycle: smaller load, gentler action, short spin. - ### Wash at 40 °C International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 40 °C with a normal process. - ### Wash at 40 °C, mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 40 °C on a mild cycle with reduced mechanical action: a smaller load and a short spin. - ### Wash at 40 °C, very mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 40 °C on a very mild cycle, as for machine-washable wool: the drum no more than one-third full. - ### Wash at 30 °C International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 30 °C with a normal process. - ### Wash at 30 °C, mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 30 °C on a mild cycle: a smaller load and little or no spin. - ### Wash at 30 °C, very mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Machine wash at up to 30 °C on a very mild cycle, as for machine-washable wool, with a much smaller load. - ### Machine wash, cold (1 dot) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash in water up to 30 °C (65–85 °F). The FTC's glossary defines cold as up to 30 °C (86 °F). - ### Machine wash, warm (2 dots) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash in water up to 40 °C (105 °F). - ### Machine wash, hot (3 dots) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash in water up to 50 °C (120 °F). - ### Machine wash at 60 °C (4 dots) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash in water up to 60 °C (140 °F). - ### Machine wash at 70 °C (5 dots) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash in water up to 70 °C (160 °F). - ### Machine wash at 95 °C (6 dots) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash in water up to 95 °C (200 °F). - ### Machine wash, normal cycle US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash on a normal cycle. With no dots, the FTC's glossary allows hot water up to 63 °C (145 °F). - ### Machine wash, permanent press US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash on the permanent press (durable press) cycle: a cool-down or cold rinse before a reduced spin. - ### Machine wash, delicate or gentle US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Machine wash on the delicate or gentle cycle: slow agitation and a shorter time. - ### Hand wash International and US **International:** Hand wash, at most 40 °C: dissolve the detergent first, don't rub, pull or wring, then press the water out and pull into shape. GINETEX also lists a hand-wash variant for water at room temperature, about 20–30 °C. **US:** Hand wash. If the label gives no temperature, the FTC's glossary allows hot water up to 66 °C (150 °F), so look for words such as “cold” or “warm”. - ### Do not wash International and US **International:** Do not wash: the item may be harmed by any wet treatment or be too large for a home machine. **US:** Do not wash. - ### Do not wring US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Do not wring by hand or with a roller wringer; press the water out instead. ## Bleaching · 4 symbols - ### Any bleach International and US **International:** Any bleach may be used, chlorine or oxygen (non-chlorine). **US:** Any bleach, when needed. - ### Non-chlorine bleach only International and US **International:** Only oxygen (non-chlorine) bleach, such as the bleach in many universal detergents; no chlorine bleach. **US:** Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed. - ### Do not bleach International (ISO 3758) **International:** Do not bleach: use a detergent without bleach. - ### Do not bleach (solid triangle) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Do not bleach. The US symbol is a solid triangle with a cross. ## Drying · 17 symbols - ### Tumble dry, normal (2 dots) International and US **International:** Tumble dry at a normal temperature (exhaust up to 80 °C). **US:** Tumble dry on medium heat. - ### Tumble dry, low (1 dot) International and US **International:** Tumble dry at a lower temperature (exhaust up to 60 °C), with a milder, shorter programme. **US:** Tumble dry on low heat. - ### Tumble dry, high (3 dots) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Tumble dry on high heat. - ### Tumble dry, any heat US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Tumble dry at any heat setting. - ### Tumble dry, no heat US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Tumble dry with no heat (air only). - ### Tumble dry, permanent press US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Tumble dry on the permanent press cycle. - ### Tumble dry, delicate or gentle US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Tumble dry on the delicate or gentle cycle. - ### Do not tumble dry International and US **International:** Do not tumble dry. **US:** Do not tumble dry. - ### Do not dry US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Do not dry (used together with “do not wash”). - ### Line dry International (ISO 3758) **International:** Hang on a line to dry, for example colourfast items. - ### Drip line dry International (ISO 3758) **International:** Hang up while still dripping wet, for example colourfast large items, so they dry without creases. - ### Dry flat International and US **International:** Lay flat to dry, for example heavy colourfast items. **US:** Lay out flat to dry. - ### Drip dry flat International (ISO 3758) **International:** Lay flat while still dripping wet, for example colourfast but delicate items. - ### Dry in the shade International (ISO 3758) **International:** Dry away from direct sun, for items that are not colourfast. The diagonal line in the corner can be added to any of the four natural drying symbols. - ### Line dry or hang to dry US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Hang from a line or bar to dry, indoors or out. - ### Drip dry US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Hang dripping wet to dry, with or without smoothing by hand. - ### Dry in the shade (US) US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Dry away from the sun; the two diagonal lines are added to line dry, drip dry or dry flat. ## Ironing · 6 symbols - ### Iron, low (1 dot) International and US **International:** Iron at a sole-plate temperature of up to 120 °C (acrylic, nylon, acetate). Steam ironing may cause irreversible damage. **US:** Iron, dry or steam, at up to 110 °C (230 °F). - ### Iron, medium (2 dots) International and US **International:** Iron at up to 160 °C (wool, silk, polyester, viscose); a steam iron can be used. **US:** Iron, dry or steam, at up to 150 °C (300 °F). - ### Iron, high (3 dots) International and US **International:** Iron at up to 210 °C (cotton, linen); iron while damp. **US:** Iron, dry or steam, at up to 200 °C (390 °F). - ### Iron, low, without steam International (ISO 3758) **International:** Iron at up to 120 °C without steam. - ### No steam US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Do not use steam; added under an iron symbol. - ### Do not iron International and US **International:** Do not iron: an iron would cause irreversible changes. **US:** Do not iron. ## Professional care · 15 symbols - ### Dry-clean, P International and US **International:** Professional dry-cleaning in perchloroethylene or hydrocarbon solvents, normal process. **US:** Dry-clean in any solvent except trichloroethylene (as on the FTC's chart of ASTM D5489-96 symbols; the FTC notes the meaning changed in the 2007 revision of the ASTM standard). - ### Dry-clean, P, mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Professional dry-cleaning in perchloroethylene or hydrocarbons, with a mild process (limits on moisture, mechanical action or temperature). - ### Dry-clean, F International and US **International:** Professional dry-cleaning in hydrocarbon solvents (heavy benzines) only, normal process. **US:** Dry-clean in petroleum solvent only. - ### Dry-clean, F, mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Professional dry-cleaning in hydrocarbons only, with a mild process. - ### Dry-clean, A US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Dry-clean in any solvent. - ### Dry-clean US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Dry-clean, normal cycle (an empty circle). - ### Do not dry-clean International and US **International:** Do not dry-clean; don't use solvent-based stain removers either. **US:** Do not dry-clean. - ### Professional wet-clean, W International (ISO 3758) **International:** Professional wet-cleaning with no restrictions (a cleaner's process in water, not a home wash). - ### Professional wet-clean, W, mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Mild professional wet-cleaning, with reduced mechanical action. - ### Professional wet-clean, W, very mild International (ISO 3758) **International:** Very mild professional wet-cleaning, for very sensitive items. - ### Do not wet-clean International (ISO 3758) **International:** No professional wet-cleaning. - ### Dry-clean, short cycle US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Dry-clean with a short cycle (a mark at the lower left of the circle). - ### Dry-clean, reduced moisture US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Dry-clean with reduced moisture (a mark at the upper left). - ### Dry-clean, low heat US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Dry-clean, drying on low heat (a mark at the lower right). - ### Dry-clean, no steam finishing US (ASTM D5489) **US:** Dry-clean with no steam in finishing (a mark at the upper right). ## Reading a care label Most labels show up to five symbols in order: **washing** (a tub), **bleaching** (a triangle), **drying** (a square), **ironing** (an iron) and **professional care** (a circle). A cross through a symbol means “don’t”. Labels from Europe and much of the world follow ISO 3758, managed by GINETEX: the number in the tub is the highest washing temperature in °C, and bars underneath ask for a gentler cycle. US labels that use symbols follow ASTM D5489 under the FTC’s Care Labeling Rule: dots in the tub stand for temperatures (one dot is cold, up to 30 °C or 85 °F), and dots also mark dryer and iron heat. The systems look alike but differ in places, so the decoder shows both meanings where a symbol is shared. The drawings here are our own simplified versions, made to help you recognise the symbols. GINETEX’s symbols are registered trademarks in many countries. ## Tips to make clothes last - **Go by the label, not the fabric.** GINETEX advises choosing the iron temperature from the care label alone, not from what the fabric is made of. - **Wash inside out, with like colours.** Both are standard instructions in the FTC’s glossary of care terms: turning an item inside out protects the face of the fabric. - **Give delicates room.** For mild and very mild cycles GINETEX says to reduce the load; for wool on a very mild cycle, fill the drum no more than one-third. - **Hand wash gently.** Dissolve the detergent first, don’t rub, pull or wring, then press the water out and pull the item back into shape (GINETEX). - **Dry with care.** Dry items that aren’t colourfast in the shade, lay heavy items flat (GINETEX), and take things out of the dryer promptly to prevent wrinkles (FTC glossary). - **Protect shiny fabrics.** Iron shiny or pressure-sensitive pieces inside out or under a press cloth (GINETEX). ## Questions **What do the dots on a care label mean?** More dots mean more heat. In a US wash tub, one dot is up to 30 °C and six dots up to 95 °C. On an iron, one dot is low, two medium and three high in both systems. On a tumble dryer, US labels use one to three dots for low, medium and high heat, and international labels one dot for low and two for normal. **What does a line under the wash tub mean?** A gentler cycle. One bar means a mild cycle (permanent press in the US system) and two bars a very mild cycle, such as one for wool or delicates. **Are US and European care symbols the same?** Similar, but not identical, as the FTC puts it. Washing temperatures are dots on US labels and numbers on international ones, the dryer and iron settings differ slightly, and the US system has extra symbols such as no-heat drying and “do not wring”. ## Sources - International symbols and their meanings under ISO 3758:2023, including the washing, drying and ironing temperatures and the tips marked GINETEX: GINETEX, [Care symbols](https://www.ginetex.net/GB/labelling/care-symbols.asp) (checked 1 November 2026), which also states that the symbols are protected trademarks in most countries. - US symbols, dot temperatures in °C and °F, and the dry-cleaning letters: Federal Trade Commission, [ASTM Guide to Care Symbols](https://web.archive.org/web/20130501082458/http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1996/12/label.pdf) (chart published with the FTC’s 1996 announcement; archived copy). - US rules and care terms (cold up to 30 °C / 86 °F; hand wash and machine wash without a stated temperature; permanent press and gentle cycles; inside out, like colours, remove promptly): [16 CFR Part 423, Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-423), including Appendix A, and the FTC’s guide [Clothes Captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/clothes-captioning-complying-care-labeling-rule), which names ASTM D5489-96c. - The change in meaning of the US “P” dry-cleaning symbol in the 2007 ASTM revision: FTC, [Care Labeling Rule, proposed amendments](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-09-20/pdf/2012-22746.pdf), 77 FR 58338 (20 September 2012).