Fashion Talks

The laundry symbols, also known as care symbols or washing symbols, were once developed by “GINETEX”, the International Association for Textile Care Labelling. In 1963, in Paris, they introduced a standardized system of symbols which helps consumers understand how to properly wash, dry, bleach, iron, and dry clean clothing items.

Ever been curious about those cryptic symbols on care labels? The Fashiongton Post decided to create a useful guide that will unlock the secrets behind those symbols, so you may now say goodbye to confusion and hello to confidently washing, drying, and ironing your clothes. No more feeling baffled by the hieroglyphs on a care tag!

• 1 – wash
• 2 – bleach
• 3 – dry
• 4 – iron
• 5 – professional clean

• 6 – do not wash
• 7 – do not bleach
• 8 – do not dry
• 9 – do not iron
• 10 – do not professional clean

• 11 – hand wash
• 12 – delicate wash cool (30°C)
• 13 – permanent press cool (30°C)
• 14 – delicate wash lukewarm (30°C)
• 15 – wash cool (30°C)

• 16 – permanent press lukewarm (40°C)
• 17 – wash lukewarm (40°C)
• 18 – wash warm (60°C)
• 19 – permanent press warm (60°C)
• 20 – wash hot (70°C)

• 21 – wash hot (95°C)
• 22 – water temperature 200°F (95°C)
• 23 – water temperature 160°F (70°C)
• 24 – water temperature 140°F (60°C)
• 25 – water temperature 120°F (50°C)

• 26 – water temperature 105°F (40°C)
• 27 – water temperature 85°F (30°C)
• 28 – bleach when needed
• 29 – only non-chlorine bleach when needed
• 30 – do not tumble dry

• 31 – tumble dry low (cool air)
• 32 – tumble dry medium
• 33.1 – line dry (US)
• 33.2 – line dry (EU)
• 34 – dry flat (EU)

• 35.1 – drip dry (US)
• 35.2 – drip dry (EU)
• 36 – dry flat while wet (EU)
• 37.1 – line dry in the shade (US)
• 37.2 – line dry in the shade (EU)

• 38.1 – drip dry in the shade (US)
• 38.2 – drip dry in the shade (EU)
• 39.1 – dry flat in the shade (US)
• 39.2 – dry flat in the shade (EU)
• 40 – dry flat while wet in the shade (EU)

• 41 – iron low (not more than 230°F / 110°C)
• 42 – iron low (not more than 300°F / 150°C)
• 43 – iron low (not more than 390°F / 200°C)
• 44 – professional wet cleaning
• 45 – professional dry cleaning in hydrocarbons

• 46 – professional dry cleaning in tetrachloroethylene and hydrocarbons (in the US: any solvent except trichloroethylene)
• 47 – no professional wet cleaning
• 48 – professional wet cleaning (very mild)
• 49 – professional wet cleaning (mild)
• 50 – professional dry cleaning in hydrocarbons (mild)

• 51 – professional dry cleaning in tetrachloroethylene and hydrocarbons (mild)
• 52 – machine wash at a given temperature (dots from 1 to 6)
• 53 – do not wring
• 54 – do not use chlorine bleach
• 55 – no steam

• 56 – professional dry cleaning with any solvent
• 57 – tumble dry no heat
• 58 – do not bleach