Clothing Label Decoder

Questions about clothing label symbols?

Wondering what the little symbols on the care tags in your clothes mean? Those laundry symbols tell you how to take care of your clothes, and in general, show the maximum treatment a garment can handle. Click on any symbol and we’ll tell you what it means.

Machine Washable

Use Regular/Normal cycle with regular agitation and spin speed. This is the most vigorous wash cycle.
Permanent Press Wash Setting

Use Permanent Press/Wrinkle Resistant washer setting, which usually has a cool down or cold spray before the reduced spin. This setting is for stain or wrinkle-resistant fabrics.
Gentle Wash Setting

Use Gentle/Delicate washer setting (slow agitation and/or reduced wash time). This setting is for lingerie, machine-washable sweaters, and other delicate fabrics.
Hand Wash Only

Hand wash only in sink with cold water and a gentle detergent.
Not Machine Washable

Do not Machine Wash. Check if dry clean washable.
Machine Wash Max 200° F

Maximum water temperature 200° F/95° C.
Machine Wash Max 160° F

Maximum water temperature 160° F/70° C.
Machine Wash Max 140° F

Maximum water temperature 140° F/60° C.
Machine Wash Hot

Maximum water temperature 120° F/50° C.
Machine Wash Warm

Maximum water temperature 105° F/40° C.
Machine Wash Cold

Maximum water temperature 85° F/30° C.

Bleach as Needed

Use any type of bleach.
Non-Chlorine Bleach as Needed

Use non-chlorine bleach only.
Do Not Bleach

Do not bleach.

Tumble Dry

Machine tumble dry.
Tumble Dry Any Heat

Set dryer at any heat.
Tumble Dry Permanent Press

Use Permanent Press/Wrinkle Resistant cycle setting for stain or wrinkle-resistant fabrics.
Tumble Dry Gentle

Use Gentle/Delicate cycle setting for fragile fabrics.
Do Not Tumble Dry

Do not tumble dry. Usually accompanied by an alternate drying method.
Tumble Dry High Heat

Set dryer at high heat.
Tumble Dry Medium Heat

Set at medium heat.
Tumble Dry Low Heat

Set at low heat.
Tumble Dry No Heat

Dry with no heat/air.
Do Not Dry

Do not tumble dry.
Line Dry

Line/hang dry on a clothes hanger or garment drying rack.
Drip Dry

Hang in a shower and let drip dry.
Dry Flat

Lie flat to dry. Spread out garment on a flat surface. Dry faster by placing a folded towel underneath the garment as a buffer between garment and hard surface.
Dry in Shade

Dry in the shade. Find a shady spot for garment to slowly dry.
Do Not Wring

Do not wring to squeeze excess water out of garment – lay flat or hang to dry.

Iron

Iron is needed
Iron High Heat

Iron on high heat.
Iron Medium Heat

Iron on medium heat.
Iron Low Heat

Iron on low heat.
No Iron

Do not iron or press with heat.
No Steam Iron

Do not iron with steam. If iron has a steam setting, turn this feature off.

Dry Clean Only

Dry clean only. Do not machine wash.
No Dry Clean

Do not dry clean. The fabric won’t respond well to the dry cleaning process.
Information for Dry Cleaners

This information is only relevant for your Dry Cleaner.
Information for Dry Cleaners

This information is only relevant for your Dry Cleaner.
Information for Dry Cleaners

This information is only relevant for your Dry Cleaner.
Information for Dry Cleaners

This information is only relevant for your Dry Cleaner.
Information for Dry Cleaners

This information is only relevant for your Dry Cleaner.
Information for Dry Cleaners

This information is only relevant for your Dry Cleaner.
Information for Dry Cleaners

This information is only relevant for your Dry Cleaner.