#Laundry signs on clothes meaning professional#

Clothing made from natural fibers such as cotton, wool, silk, hemp, or linen usually need to be air dried while laying flat to avoid stretching the fibers.ĭo Not Wring: Represented by a twisted symbol with an “X” through it, garments with this symbol should not be wrung to remove excess water as this could damage or stretch the fabric.Wouldn’t it be great if each piece of clothing we bought came with highly detailed care instructions, so we’d never worry about damaging it in the wash? Unfortunately, it’s tough to fit all that on a tiny garment tag.

Be sure to hang in a shady area out of direct sunlight as the sunlight can introduce heat that could shrink or damage the garment while drying.ĭry Flat: Clothing with the Dry Flat symbol shouldn’t be put into a tumble dryer or hung, but rather you should lay them flat on a drying rack or soft towel. Hang to Dry: Items with the Hang to Dry symbol should be put on a line to allow them to air dry. You could also put these garments through an extra spin cycle to remove as much excess water as possible before hanging to dry. Instead, opt to hang these on a clothesline or drying rack to dry. Tumble Drying Allowed: Any garment with the Tumble Drying Allowed symbol can go into your dryer, but pay special attention to any additional symbols that indicate appropriate heat settings or risk damage to your clothing.ĭo Not Tumble Dry: This symbol, a standard Tumble Dryer symbol with an “X” through it, means the garment should not be put into your dryer at all. Important: Don't forget to look out for dry clean signs indicated by a circle, or hand wash symbols indicated by a tub of water with a hand sign, so you'll know when to avoid putting garments in the washing machine. These cycles are meant for more delicate garments that could be prone to damage and uses low agitation, slow spin, and colder temperature water to wash clothes and protect fabric. The Permanent Press cycle uses warmer water and slower spin cycles to release and reduce existing wrinkles.ĭelicate Cycle: This wash cycle symbol is a tub with water and two lines underneath. “Permanent Press” clothing is usually made from synthetic fibers like polyester that are specially treated to guard against wrinkles. Permanent Press Cycle: This wash cycle symbol is a tub with water and a single line underneath. These cycles typically provide more agitation and work harder to remove dirt and grime. It is reserved for stronger, more durable garments like t-shirts, socks, or jeans that can simply be tossed in and washed. Normal Cycle: This wash cycle symbol is simply a tub with water in it and no lines underneath.

You can also place inside a mesh bag or turn the garment inside out, running it on a short, delicate cycle to clean. This will minimize agitation and potential damage to the fabric.

#Laundry signs on clothes meaning professional#

If your garment is precious, vintage, or otherwise irreplaceable, take it to a professional cleaner.ĭo Not Wash: Garments or fabrics with this laundry symbol should not be washed in a machine or tub but should be taken to a professional dry cleaner when they become dirty.ĭry Clean Only: Dry clean only garments must be taken to a dry cleaner for removal of dirt or other stains.ĭo Not Dry Clean: Clothing with the do not dry clean symbol should be washed using the gentlest setting on your washer. You can also try putting the garment in a mesh bag or washing it alone to further protect it. It may be safe to machine wash on a “hand wash” cycle setting if your machine has one, but care should be taken to protect the garment.

Typically, this symbol applies to delicate garments made from fabrics like silk or linen. Hand Wash: The hand wash laundry symbol means you should not wash the garment in a machine and instead wash it by hand. Machine Wash: This symbol indicates it is safe to wash the garment in a machine using the temperature and cycle indicated by other symbols.