Why Are Laundry Symbols Important?

Laundry symbols on care labels might look like a foreign language, but they’re vitally important for preventing shrinkage, discoloration, and damage to clothes. These simple icons are a global lingua franca for the care of textiles, and while they might differ slightly from country to country, understanding them will help you get the most out of your clothing.

Why are laundry symbols important?

The main washing symbol looks like a tub, and will typically have a number inside it to indicate the maximum water temperature that should be used in Inner Loop Laundry. If there’s a cross through the tub, this means that the fabric should not be washed. A line underneath the tub means that a low spin cycle is necessary, while two lines represent that a gentle or delicate cycle should be used.

A triangle indicates bleach guidelines, and the colour of the triangle will usually indicate whether it should be bleached or not. A crossed-out triangle means that bleach should not be used, while a triangle with two diagonal lines indicates that non-chlorine bleach can be used.

Ironing laundry symbols — which resemble an old-fashioned iron — are useful for indicating whether or not a fabric should be ironed, and can also specify the temperature at which the garment can be ironed. There are also two lines beneath the ironing symbol that recommend using a Permanent Press cycle (for synthetic fabrics) or a Gentle Cycle (for sensitive fibres such as wool and silk).

For the best results, all garments should be washed and dried according to their care instructions. This will ensure that your clothes keep their shape, stay bright and vibrant, and last for as long as possible – so it’s well worth taking the time to learn the meaning of each of the laundry symbols!

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