The sewn-in tag on the clothing contains recommendations for its care. The label will help answer the questions: how to properly clean it, wash it, dry it, iron it (and is it even possible to do this and under what conditions), which is present on every item. There is also a compound tape indicating the fiber ratio (raw material composition, percentage).

Legend on clothing labels help the consumer understand and save appearance and textile color. The tables below show typical marks on clothing labels: cleaning, temperature, washing, drying, ironing.

An “X” through the icon means that this type of care cannot be used for this clothing.

What do the icons and symbols on the tags of children's and adult clothing mean? What items cannot be washed in an automatic washing machine, and what items cannot be dry cleaned, and what items should only be washed by hand? How to understand the icons on the tags? We'll help you figure it out.

Take your clothes and look for a label with recommendations for the care and use of the item. With us, clothes will last longer!

"How to wash clothes?" designation by icons on the label:

"How to wring out clothes?" designation by icons on the label:

"How to dry clothes?" designation by icons on the label:

"How to iron clothes?" designation by icons on the label:

"Bleaching clothes?" designation by icons on the label:

"Dry cleaning of clothes?" designation by icons on the label:

Additional symbols on clothing:

Compliance with these operating conditions for textile products will increase the life of clothing. The signs below complement each other.

Description of symbols on labels and tags

• You can pet it
• Iron at high temperature (up to 200 C) Cotton, linen
• Iron at an iron temperature no higher than 140 degrees
• Iron at medium temperature (up to 130 C) Wool, silk, viscose, polyester, polyester
• Iron with a slightly heated iron (temperature up to 120 degrees Celsius) Nylon, nylon, viscose, polyacrylic, polyamide, acetate
• Do not iron
• Do not steam

• Dry at high temperature
• Dry on medium heat (normal dry)
• Dry at low temperature (gentle drying)
• Do not wring or dry in washing machine
• Can be wringed and tumble dried
• Dry vertically without spinning
• Dry on a horizontal surface
• Can be line dried
• Can be dried
• Neither dry
• Dry in the shade

3. Bleaching and dry cleaning

• Dry cleaning with all common solvents
• Dry cleaning using hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride, monofluorotrichloromethane (perchlorethylene-based cleaning)
• Cleaning using hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane (freon or white spirit only)
• Gentle cleaning using hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride, monofluorotrichloromethane
• Gentle cleaning using hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane
• Dry cleaning
• Dry cleaning is prohibited
• Be careful when dry cleaning. The product is not resistant to all solvents. Cleaning in white spirit is allowed
• Can be bleached
• Cannot be bleached. When washing, do not use products containing bleach (chlorine)
• You can bleach using chlorine (use only cold water, make sure the powder is completely dissolved)
• You can bleach, but only without chlorine
• Bleach only without chlorine

• Washable
• Washing is prohibited
• You cannot use the washing machine
• Gentle wash. Precisely maintain the water temperature, do not subject it to strong mechanical processing, during spinning - slow centrifuge mode
• Carefully adhere to the specified temperature, do not subject it to strong mechanical processing, rinse gradually moving to cold water, when spinning in the washing machine, set the centrifuge to a slow rotation mode
• Delicate wash. Large quantity water, minimum machining, quick rinse.
• Hand wash only, not machine washable. Do not rub, do not squeeze. Maximum temperature - 40 C.
• Washing with boiling water
• Washing colored laundry (Temperature up to 50 C)
• Washing colored laundry (Temperature up to 60 C)
• Washing clothes in warm water with neutral detergents and washing colored clothes (Temperature up to 40 C)
• Wash in warm water (Temperature up to 30 C)
• Do not squeeze, do not twist

We can produce sew-in tags and tags from various materials, shapes and sizes. To calculate the cost of your order, send a request by email.

To keep things in order, wear them for a long time and with pleasure, you need to provide them with proper care. Manufacturers sew a label with icons into the seam from the back of the garment - indicating optimal conditions for washing, ironing, and drying products. Decoding them will help you properly care for things.

How to care for things: a system of notation for washing and other operations

There is now one common international labeling system for instructions on how to care for things, based on the international standard ISO 3758:2012. Textile products. Care labeling using symbols." In our Russian Federation There is an analogue of this standard - “GOST ISO 3758-2010. Textile products. Labeling with care symbols."

Why is labeling needed?

Markings are rules that must be followed. The manufacturer is obliged to tell how to care for the item, and to place detailed instructions there is simply no way to buy clothes. Therefore, information is provided in the form of generally accepted signs.

Where is the marking located?

A special label is sewn to the garment, which shows symbols recommending washing, drying, dry cleaning and ironing conditions. On clothing, it is located on the inside back of the collar or on the left side seam.

Instructions for deciphering symbols on clothing labels

There are basic symbols and additional symbols. Basic symbols include icons for washing, drying and ironing, bleaching and professional cleaning. Additional icons include delicate and especially delicate modes, and operation prohibition.

The meaning of basic symbols on tags - table

Symbol name	As shown on the label	Symbol meaning
Washing	Basin with water	The information on the icon lets us know: can we wash the product in an automatic machine or is only hand washing allowed; what temperature will be safe for our item; how hard can you squeeze it?
Drying	Square	There are additional signs in the square that indicate the features of this operation applicable to this particular product.
Ironing	Iron	The iron clearly indicates the maximum temperature for ironing the item and indicates whether the item can be steamed.
Whitening	Triangle	Is it possible to subject the product to this procedure and what type of bleach is allowed to be used.
Dry cleaning	Circle	Can the product be dry cleaned and what products are allowed to be used.

There is one common icon for all symbols - prohibition. It is a cross that crosses out the main symbol.

Machine and hand wash symbols

Both manual and machine washable indicated by a bowl of water. The symbol shows a number indicating the maximum permissible temperature at which the product can be washed without fear of damaging it. If you act correctly, the item will not tear, stretch, or shrink.

The icon indicates the numbers 30, 60, 95. At 95 °C the item may boil. The washing icon is sometimes accompanied by additional symbols located under the bottom of the basin:

• a single horizontal line means gentle washing conditions garment: if we wash in a machine, the drum should spin at low speeds, the spin should be short and not very intense, when washing by hand, you also need to spin gently;
• a double horizontal line means delicate washing of products in a large volume of water and with a minimum of mechanical action.

The hand wash icon is a hand half-immersed in the already familiar basin of water.

Drying designation is a square, which may contain clarifying symbols. For example, if there is a circle in a square that allows dry cleaning, it means that the product can survive drying in special drum-type drying chambers without the risk of damage. If this sign is crossed out, it means it is better to refrain from using the dryer. Inside the circle inscribed in the square, there may be points - an indicator of the permitted temperature regime. The more points there are in the circle, the higher the temperature we can dry such a thing.

Inside the drying square there are stripes - horizontal or vertical, one or three. The stripes indicate the position of the item when drying:

• horizontally in a straightened state (on a dryer or flat surface);
• vertically (for drying on clotheslines there is a special sign - an arc at the top of the square).

One bar means that spinning is allowed (when washing in a machine, you can use the normal mode), three - spinning is prohibited (the washing machine operating mode is softer - delicate, with a low temperature). A drying square with a triangle highlighted in the upper left corner means that you need to dry the item in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight or heat from a radiator on the item.

How to decipher ironing symbols

Ironing on the tag is a temperature iron. The icon can be crossed out, or it can have dots inside the iron - from one to three. They indicate the acceptable ironing temperature:

• three dots - ironing should be done at 200 °C;
• two points are 150 °C;
• one - the temperature should be no more than 110 °C.

Low ironing temperatures are usually chosen for thin or delicate fabrics, so it is best to avoid steaming them.

How do whitening procedures appear on the label?

Whitening procedure sign - triangle. It may be without additional markings, with three diagonal stripes or crossed out. A triangle with stripes lets us know that we can bleach the item with oxygen-containing bleaches that do not contain chlorine.

What do the dry cleaning symbols on the label mean?

It's important to know that professional cleaning textile products can be dry (dry cleaning) and wet - cleaning, which uses water and special detergents (aqua cleaning). The dry cleaning symbol is a circle with letters inside. There can be only four letters - P, F, A, W.

1. P stands for the English word Perchloroethylene.
2. F - Flammable, that is, flammable.
3. A - Any, this means - any.
4. W - Wet, damp.

To the main washing symbols, additional ones are often added - one or two stripes under the circle. If there is only one line, the laundry needs to be cleaned more carefully - limiting temperature, as well as mechanical impact. Two features mean that the item will be washed in particularly delicate conditions.

What is the spin ban?

Spin is indicated by a curled item icon. If it is crossed out, you cannot twist the item.

Special care marks for fur products, knitted and outerwear, blankets

Questions often arise about how to wash (and whether to wash?) fur, knitwear, jackets, blankets or down jackets. We answer: the same way, that is, according to the markings on the label of your item. But it happens that manufacturers produce things without icons, but with inscriptions on English. If you have any doubts about whether a product can be washed or what mode to use, it is better to use dry cleaning services.

Everyone wants their favorite things to look great for as long as possible. One of the important conditions for such preservation is proper care for the product. Icons on clothes for washing and drying are familiar to every housewife. Most do not require translation - the symbols are intuitive. But there are signs on clothes and underwear that are quite rare and one can only guess about their meaning.

So what do these laundry symbols mean? Below in the table you can see all the possible signs that appear on labels and tags, with a description of their meanings.

Washing is allowed. This is the most famous sign that does not require translation.

All types of washing are prohibited. This symbol is seen quite rarely. Owners of items with this symbol will receive dry cleaning.

Hand washing of linen and clothes. Typically, the advice applies to delicate items that require especially careful handling. Despite the fact that hands feel comfortable even at forty degrees, hand washing implies a water temperature of no higher than 30°. Now you can’t even wring out the product!

The number can be anything, but the meaning is the same - this is the recommended washing temperature (manual or machine). Sometimes such icons are underlined with one or two dashes. This indicates a degree of delicacy. It is especially important to maintain temperature conditions and avoid sudden changes (for example, sudden cold water when rinsing), gentle spin.

Bleaching allowed

Cannot be bleached. This includes prohibitions on the use of any bleaching products or powders with bleaching properties.

You can bleach your laundry with products containing chlorine. Always use cold water and ensure that the substance is completely dissolved in the water.

The only bleaches that contain chlorine should not be used.

The product can be ironed.

All types of ironing are prohibited.

Such symbols recommend the ironing mode for clothes or linen. One point - 100°, two -150°, three - 200°. Three-point ironing is suitable for cotton, linen and other natural, stiff fabrics (steaming is allowed).

Dry clean only (dry cleaning).

The item cannot be dry cleaned. Usually refers to fabrics with dyes that are destroyed by any dry chemical exposure.

Dry cleaning. Dry cleaning with any solvent is allowed.

Dry cleaning. Cleaning only with hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride and monofluorotrichloromethane.

Dry cleaning. Only hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane.

Dry cleaning. Only hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride and monofluorotrichloromethane. Limited addition of water, control over mechanical stress and drying temperature.

Dry cleaning. Only with hydrocarbons and trifluorotrichloromethane. Limited addition of water, control over mechanical stress and drying temperature.

You can use the washing machine spin and dryer. A favorite icon of many housewives.

Do not spin in the washing machine or use in dryers.

Warm air drying. The same symbol with two dots - hot air drying.

Vertical drying of the product after spinning is allowed.

Can only be dried without spinning.

Clothes with this symbol can only be dried on a hanger to prevent them from losing their shape.

The item can only be dried on a horizontal surface. Such delicate drying is often required for knitted and knitted products.

As you can see, there are not so many signs that are found on clothes and underwear. Some of them don’t need to be remembered - they are intended for professional dry cleaning. The remaining signs are easy to remember. Follow the rules - and symbols will help you keep your favorite things in their original form.

Icons on clothes for washing are tips from manufacturers that will help ensure proper care of the product. There is a label with designations on the reverse side of the item. By understanding the meaning of the symbols, you can correctly select the washing mode, ironing temperature and determine the possibility of dry cleaning or bleaching. What types of icons are there on clothes for washing and how they are correctly interpreted will be discussed in our article.

The role of icons on clothing labels

Clothing manufacturers, taking care of consumers, indicate on the tags the rules for caring for the product. Special icons are used as a hint. They depict symbols that help you figure out how to wash things. General values:

• basin – washing mode and temperature;
• iron - ironing;
• circle – dry cleaning;
• triangle – whitening;
• square - drying.

A tag or tag is a small piece of fabric located with wrong side clothes. It is sewn into the side or back seam, and in shirts it is located in the collar area. Before washing, carefully read the label and determine the basic principles of care for the product. In addition to washing recommendations, the tag may contain other designations: size, type of material used, brand and country of origin.

Many people cut off the labels immediately after purchasing an item, due to the discomfort they cause. Once you cut off the label, do not throw it away. The information presented on it will be useful when the need arises to wash the product.

Washing

In order to follow label directions, it is important to know what they mean. First of all, you should understand the symbols regarding the washing mode and temperature. Below is a breakdown of the most popular icons.

A basin with a hand dipped into it indicates the need hand wash. In this case, the water temperature should not exceed +40 ℃. It is recommended to wash items made from delicate materials – silk, satin, chiffon – with your own hands.

A bowl of water indicates the possibility of washing and soaking the product. A crossed out basin is a ban on washing clothes at home. Such items should be dry cleaned to maintain their aesthetic appearance. As a rule, such designations are found on outerwear.

The washing machine, enclosed in a circle, eliminates the possibility of machine washing. Such markings are often found on products with a large number decorative elements (beads, beads, rhinestones, sequins, etc.).

Numbers with the ℃ symbol indicate temperature conditions. The icon with the image +95 ℃ indicates the possibility of boiling the product. Sometimes black circles are used instead of numbers.

The explanation of symbols regarding washing is presented in the table:

Image	Decoding
	Recommended washing in cool water (+30 ℃) using neutral detergent
	The product can be washed in warm water (+45 ℃) using powder. Found on colored items made from polyester, cotton, melange and viscose
	Machine washable using hot water (+60 ℃)
	The number inside the water container indicates the temperature recommended for washing
	Washing clothes at home is prohibited
	The product is subject to careful washing. Spin at high speeds is prohibited
	Clothes should be washed in a delicate cycle, without using strong friction or spinning.
	Hand wash recommended

Spin

Image	Decoding
	Spinning in an automatic washing machine is prohibited
	Spinning in an automatic washing machine is allowed, including at high speeds
	Automatic gentle spin allowed
	Automatic gentle spin allowed
	Twisting and wringing of products is prohibited. These things should drain and dry naturally.

Drying

After washing, it is important to choose the right drying mode. The markings on the label will also help with this.

Image	Decoding
	The product can be dried in an automatic machine or by hanging it on a line
	Automatic drying prohibited
	Horizontal drying of the product is allowed. This option is suitable for wool and knitwear.
	The product must not be twisted, but must be dried in a vertical position.
	Clothes should not be dried in direct sunlight
	Clothes should not be dried in direct sunlight; drying in a horizontal position
	Line drying allowed
	Drying vertically in the shade is allowed
	Low temperature drying allowed
	Drying allowed at medium temperature
	High temperature drying allowed

Ironing

The designations of labels on clothes for washing will also help you choose optimal mode ironing. To avoid damaging the material during ironing, be sure to follow the recommendations on the labels.

The image of an iron indicates the ability to iron the product with an iron or press. For such clothes, it is permissible to use high temperatures and steam. The number of circles inside indicates the temperature regime - from minimum (1 circle) to maximum (3 circles).

A crossed out iron indicates that ironing is prohibited. Often such an icon is depicted on products made of nylon and terry. The crossed out bottom of the iron indicates that steaming is prohibited. This symbol is found on silk and satin clothing.

Explanation of icons:

Image	Decoding
	Can be ironed
	You can't iron
	Allowed to iron at high temperatures (up to +200 ℃). Suitable for ironing cotton, linen and textiles when wet. Only in this mode can you steam clothes
	Ironing is allowed at medium temperature (up to +150 ℃). Suitable for ironing cotton, silk, wool, polyester, viscose. Iron using a slightly damp cloth or an iron with a steam humidifier.
	Ironing is allowed at low temperatures (up to +110 ℃). Suitable for synthetic fabrics: polyacrylic, polyamide, polyester, acetate
	Steaming is prohibited

Whitening

If the product needs to be bleached, first read the instructions on the label. A prohibition on the procedure is indicated by a white or black triangle crossed out with two lines. Failure to comply with the recommendation may result in damage to the material.

An empty triangle indicates that bleaching is acceptable. The "Cl" symbol allows the use of chlorine-containing detergents. A triangle with three parallel lines - bleaching without the use of chlorine is acceptable.

Dry cleaning

On the label, the dry cleaning icon is indicated by a circle. A detailed explanation of such symbols is presented in the table:

Image	Designation
	Dry clean only
	Dry cleaning prohibited
	Can be dry cleaned using any solvents
	Dry cleaning using hydrocarbons or trifluorotrichloromethane is allowed
	Gentle dry cleaning using hydrocarbons or trifluorotrichloromethane is allowed
	Delicate dry cleaning using hydrocarbons or trifluorotrichloromethane is allowed
	Dry cleaning with hydrocarbons, monofluorotrichloromethane and chlorine is allowed
	Gentle dry cleaning using hydrocarbons, monofluorotrichloromethane and chlorine is allowed
	Delicate cleaning with hydrocarbons, monofluorotrichloromethane and chlorine is allowed

Also on the label you can see the image of a “W” in a circle. This symbol indicates the possibility of aqua-cleaning. The meaning of the icon can be seen in the photo:

If there is no label, refer to general recommendations for washing:

• Wash products made from synthetic materials separately from natural ones;
• separate items into white, colored and black and wash them separately;
• take into account the material of the product when choosing a program and washing mode;
• do not set high spin speeds;
• dry products in an automatic machine only in exceptional cases;
• Use bleach and dry cleaning with extreme caution and only as a last resort.

If the label is missing or you cannot correctly decipher what the icons on the clothing mean, take into account the material of the product. Wash delicate fabrics (silk, viscose, velvet, etc.) by hand at a water temperature of +30 ℃.

Wool items can be washed by hand or in an automatic machine on a delicate cycle. For washing, use cool water and special detergents.

Cotton tolerates any type of care well, so you can safely wash it in a convenient way using classic powder. Synthetics do not tolerate high temperatures, so when cleaning, do not use hot water or a very hot iron.

To select the optimal washing mode, you can use special programs in the washing machine.

Table of decoding icons on clothes

Manufacturers may use different symbols to indicate the same care instructions. Below you can see the table of symbols on clothes for washing: 4.48 (74 votes)

Did you know that:

Threads made of gold and silver, which were used to embroider clothes in the old days, are called gimp. To obtain them, the metal wire was pulled for a long time with pliers to the required fineness. This is where the expression “to drag out the rigmarole” came from - “to do long, monotonous work” or “to delay the completion of a task.”

Before removing various stains from clothing, you need to find out how safe the selected solvent is for the fabric itself. It is applied in a small amount to an inconspicuous area of ​​the item from the inside out for 5-10 minutes. If the material retains its structure and color, you can move on to stains.

Stretch ceilings made of PVC film can withstand from 70 to 120 liters of water per 1 m2 of their area (depending on the size of the ceiling, the degree of its tension and the quality of the film). So you don’t have to worry about leaks from neighbors above.

The dishwasher cleans more than just plates and cups. You can load it with plastic toys, glass lamp shades and even dirty vegetables, such as potatoes, but only without using detergents.

Fresh lemon is not only suitable for tea: clean dirt from the surface of an acrylic bath by rubbing with half a cut citrus, or quickly wash the microwave by placing a container of water and lemon slices in it for 8-10 minutes at maximum power. The softened dirt can simply be wiped off with a sponge.

If your favorite things show the first signs of gestation in the form of untidy pellets, you can get rid of them using a special machine - a shaver. It quickly and effectively shaves off clumps of fabric fibers and returns things to their proper appearance.

There are special traps to combat moths. The sticky layer with which they are covered contains female pheromones that attract males. By sticking to the trap, they are eliminated from the reproduction process, which leads to a decrease in the moth population.

The habit of using sparingly automatic washing machine may lead to the appearance of unpleasant odor. Washing at temperatures below 60℃ and short rinses allow fungi and bacteria to dirty clothes remain on internal surfaces and actively reproduce.

The easiest way to remove scale and carbon deposits from the soleplate of the iron is table salt. Pour a thick layer of salt onto the paper, heat the iron to maximum and run the iron over the salt bed several times, applying light pressure.

Clothes care and washing are important procedures that allow things to maintain their original appearance. However, all fabrics are different and require different care. This is why manufacturers place special symbols on clothing labels that you must be able to “read,” because this determines how properly you will care for your items.

Symbols on laundry labels - explanation

Washing is an integral part of product care. It is important to wash the item correctly so that it retains its shape and color longer and does not stretch. Recommendations for washing on a clothing label can be recognized by the image of a rectangular container with water or the same container indicating the temperature setting.

So, there are 13 main designations of washing modes that can be found on clothing labels:

	Product can be washed
	Washing the product is strictly prohibited
	The product is not recommended to be machine washed
	It is recommended to wash the product only in a gentle cycle
	The product should be washed at temperature conditions no higher than 30°С
	It is recommended to wash in the “delicate wash” mode
	The product can only be washed by hand, temperature should not exceed 40°C
	Washing the product with boiling water is allowed
	Washing items made from colored fabrics, temperature – no more than 50°C
	Washing items made from colored fabrics, temperature – no more than 60°C
	Washing at a temperature not exceeding 40°C
	Recommended washing in warm water (not higher than 30°C)
	No squeezing or twisting!

What do the symbols on whitening clothing labels mean?

It often happens that something urgently needs to be bleached. But not all tissues tolerate this procedure equally. Therefore, you definitely need to pay attention to the triangle symbol placed on the item’s label.

There are 4 main symbols related to bleaching:

Symbols on dryer labels

The product also needs to be dried properly. Manufacturers have taken care of this too, indicating on clothing labels recommendations for drying items. Drying is usually indicated on items with a square symbol.

So, there are 11 main characters:

	It is allowed to dry the product at high temperatures
	Can be dried at medium (normal) temperature
	Drying at low (gentle) temperature
	It is not recommended to dry or squeeze the product in a machine.
	It is allowed to dry and squeeze the product in a machine
	Dry only in an upright position, without wringing
	Dry exclusively in a horizontal position
	Allowed to dry on a clothesline
	Drying allowed
	Drying is prohibited
	Dry only in a shaded place

What do the symbols on ironing labels mean?

Before you start ironing clothes, you need to read the manufacturers' recommendations, because if the ironing mode is chosen incorrectly, the item can be damaged. On clothing labels, ironing information can be found by the recognizable iron symbol.

There are 7 basic symbols applicable to ironing:

	The product can be ironed
	Iron the product at maximum temperature (applicable for cotton and linen)
	Ironing temperature no more than 140°C
	Recommended ironing temperature 130°C (applicable for silk, wool, viscose and polyester)
	The recommended minimum ironing temperature is not higher than 120°C (applicable for nylon, nylon, polyacrylic, viscose)
	Do not iron the product!
	Do not steam the product!

Signs on dry cleaning clothing labels

Symbols related to dry cleaning of the product are intended for dry cleaning workers. They note whether the product can be cleaned with certain substances and whether the product can be dry cleaned in general. Information on the specifics of cleaning the product can be found by the circle symbol.

There are 8 main symbols:

	Dry cleaning is strictly prohibited!
	Cleaning with well-known solvents is allowed
	Dry cleaning with perchlorethylene-based products
	Dry cleaning exclusively with freons (white spirit is allowed)
	Gentle dry cleaning
	Dry cleaning
	Take special care when dry cleaning!

Video: Symbols on clothing labels

The following video also suggests familiarizing yourself with the various signs on clothing labels:

So, the generally accepted designations on clothing labels are very convenient. A small piece attached to clothing contains a maximum of useful and necessary information that will help you care for the product. All you need is to interpret the symbols correctly and follow their instructions.