Washing symbols
This glyph family identifies machine-wash laundering, water-temperature limits, special machine settings, or a prohibition on laundering.
| Machine Wash, Normal: the garment may be laundered through the use of hottest available water, detergent or soap, agitation, and a machine designed for this purpose. A plain washtub with no temperature, bar, or X modifier | |
| Machine Wash, Cold: initial water temperature should not exceed 30°C or 65 to 85°F. A washtub containing the number 30°C | |
| Machine Wash, Warm: initial water temperature should not exceed 40°C or 105°F. A washtub containing the number 40°C | |
| Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 50°C or 120°F. A washtub containing the number 50°C | |
| Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 60°C or 140°F. A washtub containing the number 60°C | |
| Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 70°C or 160°F. A washtub containing the number 70°C | |
| Machine Wash, Hot: initial water temperature should not exceed 95°C or 200°F. A washtub containing the number 95°C | |
| Machine Wash, Permanent Press: the garment may be machine laundered only on the setting designed to preserve Permanent Press with cool down or cold rinse prior to reduced spin. A washtub with one bar underneath | |
| Machine Wash, Gentle or Delicate: the garment may be machine laundered only on the setting designed for gentle agitation and/or reduced time for delicate items. A washtub with two bars underneath | |
| Do Not Wash: the garment may not be safely laundered by any process. A washtub crossed by an X |
Temperature numbers set the maximum initial water temperature; dots indicate temperature ranges, and the same dot system applies to all wash procedures. Bars identify permanent-press or gentle/delicate settings, while an X prohibits laundering.
Easy to mix up
- Confusing a temperature dot or number with a permanent-press or gentle-cycle modifier.
- Confusing one bar for permanent press with two bars for gentle or delicate laundering.
- Reading the X as a gentle restriction rather than a prohibition on laundering.
Grounded in: blogs.ifas.ufl.edu. Meanings follow sentences verified verbatim on those pages.
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