Laundry Care Symbols Explained: A Simple Guide to Wash Labels
Care labels use five basic symbols: a tub (washing), a triangle (bleaching), a square (drying), an iron (ironing) and a circle (dry cleaning). Dots show temperature or heat level, and a line or cross under or over a symbol means "be gentle" or "do not do this". Learning these five shapes lets you clean any garment correctly.
Why care labels matter
That little tag on the inside seam is the manufacturer telling you exactly how the fabric, dye and construction should be treated. Ignoring it is the most common reason clothes shrink, fade or lose shape. The symbols are an international standard, so they are the same whether the garment was made in India or abroad.
The washtub symbol (washing)
- Tub with water: machine washable.
- Dots inside: more dots mean hotter water is allowed; fewer dots mean use cooler water.
- A hand in the tub: hand wash only.
- Lines under the tub: use a gentler/permanent-press cycle.
- Tub crossed out: do not wash in water — this usually means dry clean only.
The triangle symbol (bleaching)
A plain triangle means bleach is allowed. Diagonal lines inside mean only non-chlorine (colour-safe) bleach. A crossed-out triangle means do not bleach at all — important for coloured and delicate Indian fabrics that can lose dye instantly.
The square symbol (drying)
A square represents drying. A circle inside the square means tumble drying is fine — dots indicate the heat level, and a crossed-out circle means do not tumble dry. Lines inside a plain square hint at natural drying: a vertical line for line/hang drying, a horizontal line for drying flat (important for woollens, as covered in our woollens care guide).
The iron symbol (ironing)
An iron shape shows whether and how hot you can press. One dot is low heat (for delicate synthetics and silk), two dots medium, and three dots high (for cotton and linen). A crossed-out iron means do not iron, and a crossed-out steam symbol under the iron means no steam.
The circle symbol (dry cleaning)
A circle is the professional cleaning symbol. The letters inside (P or F) tell the cleaner which solvent to use, so it is really a message for your dry cleaner rather than for you. A crossed-out circle means do not dry clean. When you see a plain circle, hand the garment to professional dry cleaning rather than risking water at home.
India-specific tips
- Many locally tailored or unbranded garments have no care label — when unsure, treat bright or delicate fabrics as "wash cold, dry in shade".
- Our strong sunlight fades colour fast; even when line drying is allowed, dry coloured clothes inside out and in shade.
- High-heat ironing on synthetic saree blouses and kurtis can scorch them — match the dots on the label.
If a label confuses you or is missing, ClothiQ's team reads the fabric and treats it correctly. See what each service costs on the pricing page, and if you are deciding between methods, read dry cleaning vs laundry.
Frequently asked questions
What does a circle on a clothing label mean?
It means dry clean only. The letters inside tell the cleaner which solvent to use; a crossed-out circle means do not dry clean.
What do the dots inside symbols mean?
Dots indicate temperature or heat — more dots mean hotter water (in the tub) or a hotter iron. Fewer dots mean go cooler.
What does a crossed-out symbol mean?
A cross over any symbol means "do not" — do not wash, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, do not iron, as the case may be.
My garment has no care label — what should I do?
Treat it cautiously: cold water, mild detergent, dry in shade, and low-heat ironing. For anything delicate or expensive, choose dry cleaning.