Washing symbols simply explained: What do the symbols on your clothes mean?

Each of us knows the little symbols on the care labels of our clothing, but they often remain a mystery. What can go in the washing machine? When is dry cleaning necessary? And which iron symbol indicates that high temperatures should be avoided? These symbols are essential to ensure your garments last longer and maintain their quality. In this blog post we explain in detail what each of these symbols means so that you can always take optimal care of your laundry.

Washing symbols:

1. Basin with waves: Machine wash allowed.
2. Basin with waves and line at the bottom: Gentle cycle.
3. Basin with two lines at the bottom: Very gentle wash cycle.
4. Crossed-out basin: Do not wash, dry clean only.
5. Hand in the basin: Hand wash at max. 40°C.
6. Crossed out hand in the basin: Do not hand wash, do not soak .
7. Basin with temperature information (e.g. 30°, 40°, 60°): Maximum temperature for the wash cycle.
8. Crossed-out temperature in the basin: Do not wash at the specified temperature.
9. Basin with waves and temperature without lines: Normal washing program at the specified temperature.
10. Basin with Temperature and line below: Gentle wash cycle at the specified temperature.

Ironing symbols:

1. Iron with three points: Ironing at high temperature (up to 200°C).
2. Iron with two points: Iron at medium temperature (up to 150°C).
3. Iron with a dot: Iron at low temperature (up to 110°C).
4. Strikethrough iron: Do not iron.
5. Iron with a cross and water symbol: Do not iron with steam.

Dryer symbols:

1. Circle in a square with two dots: Trocknen bei hoher Temperatur möglich.
2. Circle in a square with a dot: Drying at low temperature.
3. Crossed out circle in a square: Do not tumble dry.
4. Square with horizontal lines: Dry lying on the clothesline.
5. Square with three vertical lines: Drying on the clothesline.
6. Square with a diagonal line: Drying in the shade.

Bleach symbols:

1. Dreieck: Bleaching allowed.
2. Crossed out triangle: Bleaching not allowed.
3. Triangle with “CL”: Only chlorine bleach allowed.

Dry cleaning:

1. Circle with “A”: Can be cleaned with any solvent.
2. Kreis mit „F“: Cleaning with hydrocarbons.
3. Circle with “P”: Cleaning with perchlorethylene and similar solvents.
4. Crossed out circle: No dry cleaning allowed.
5. Circle with “W”: Wet cleaning allowed.