How to
Laundry care symbols explained: read the whole label
What the five symbol groups mean, why the bars matter, and how to turn a clothing label into a wash-and-dry plan.
Editorial update, 19 September 2026: added a plain-text symbol guide and a worked label-reading example. Original source links and publication date retained.
Laundry care symbols describe separate decisions: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. Read all of them before starting. A garment that can go in a washing machine cannot necessarily go in a tumble dryer afterwards.
The five symbol groups at a glance
Clevercare’s index distinguishes these groups. The table is a reading aid, not a replacement for your garment’s instructions; dots, bars and crosses change the meaning.
| Symbol shape | Decision it describes | Detail to check |
|---|---|---|
| Wash tub | Washing | Number gives a maximum temperature; bars indicate a milder process. |
| Triangle | Bleaching | A cross rules it out; two diagonal lines allow oxygen bleach only. |
| Square | Drying | A circle inside concerns tumble drying; lines describe natural drying. |
| Iron | Ironing | Dots indicate heat limits; a cross means do not iron. |
| Circle | Professional cleaning | Take the exact symbol to the cleaner rather than improvising at home. |
Clevercare · Care symbol index
Why the wash temperature is not the whole instruction
AEG advises following the clothing manufacturer’s label. A bar under the tub changes the required washing process, not just the temperature setting. Do not assume that lowering the temperature on an intensive programme makes it suitable.
Our suggested check is to compare the label with the machine manual before loading. A programme name such as ‘delicates’ is not enough information on its own: establish which settings your machine uses and whether they meet the garment’s instructions.
AEG · Reading clothing-care labels
Work through a label before choosing a cycle
Consider a hypothetical label showing a 30°C tub with one bar, a crossed triangle and a crossed tumble-drying symbol. Read those as three constraints: a mild wash process no hotter than 30°C, no bleach, and no tumble drying. You still need to read any natural-drying and ironing instructions; the wash symbol does not supply them.
This is an example, not a recommended programme for your clothes. Our practical suggestion is to write a short plan—wash method, products permitted, drying method—before pressing start. That exposes missing information while you can still check it.
If the label is missing or unclear
Look for care instructions for the exact item from its manufacturer. A fabric name alone does not identify the care requirements of a garment with a lining, coating or decoration. If you cannot establish the method, ask the maker or a professional cleaner rather than treating an unreadable symbol as permission.
Make it useful
Before you start the wash
Read the entire garment label. Do not infer drying or ironing permission from the wash symbol.
