Washing Machine Symbols Explained

Why Laundry Symbols Matter

Laundry care symbols appear on two places: your washing machine's control panel and your clothing's care labels. Understanding both helps you choose the right cycle for each load and avoid accidentally shrinking, fading, or damaging your clothes. Here's a complete guide to the most common symbols you'll encounter.

Washing Machine Control Panel Symbols

Cycle Symbols

• Cotton / Normal: A tub of water — standard cycle for everyday cotton items
• Synthetic / Permanent Press: A tub with one line underneath — gentler agitation and cool-down rinse for synthetic fabrics
• Delicate / Gentle: A tub with two lines underneath — slow agitation and spin for delicate fabrics
• Quick Wash: A tub with a clock or lightning bolt — short cycle for lightly soiled items
• Drum Clean / Self Clean: A tub with a star or sparkle — hot cleaning cycle for the machine itself (use with Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner)
• Spin Only: A spiral or spin symbol — removes water without washing
• Rinse + Spin: Water droplets with a spin symbol — rinses and spins without a full wash

Temperature Symbols

• Cold (20°C / 68°F): Snowflake or cold water symbol — safe for colors and delicates
• Warm (40°C / 104°F): One or two dots inside a tub — everyday cotton and mixed loads
• Hot (60°C / 140°F): Three dots or high temperature symbol — whites and heavily soiled items

Clothing Care Label Symbols

Washing Symbols (Tub of Water)

• Tub of water: Machine washable
• Tub with hand: Hand wash only
• Tub with X through it: Do not wash — dry clean only
• Number inside tub (e.g., 30, 40, 60): Maximum wash temperature in Celsius
• One line under tub: Gentle/synthetic cycle
• Two lines under tub: Very gentle/delicate cycle

Drying Symbols (Square)

• Square with circle inside: Tumble dry safe
• Square with circle and X: Do not tumble dry
• Square with circle and one dot: Tumble dry on low heat
• Square with circle and two dots: Tumble dry on medium heat
• Square with horizontal line: Dry flat
• Square with curved line at top: Line dry / hang to dry

Ironing Symbols (Iron Shape)

• Iron with one dot: Iron on low heat (synthetics)
• Iron with two dots: Iron on medium heat (wool, silk)
• Iron with three dots: Iron on high heat (cotton, linen)
• Iron with X: Do not iron
• Iron with steam lines and X: Do not steam

Dry Cleaning Symbols (Circle)

• Plain circle: Dry clean
• Circle with X: Do not dry clean
• Circle with letter (P, F, W): Specific dry cleaning solvent required — for professional use

Bleaching Symbols (Triangle)

• Plain triangle: Any bleach allowed
• Triangle with two diagonal lines: Non-chlorine bleach only
• Triangle with X: Do not bleach

Quick Reference: Most Important Symbols to Know

• Hand in tub = hand wash only — don't machine wash
• Tub with X = do not wash at home — dry clean only
• Circle with X = do not tumble dry — air dry instead
• Number in tub = maximum temperature — never exceed it

Recommended Products

• Dropps Laundry Detergent Pods — pre-measured pods that work across all cycle types
• Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner — use with the Drum Clean cycle to keep your machine fresh