Care Label Symbols Explained: The Five ISO Symbol Groups
Short answer: Care symbols follow ISO 3758 and appear in a fixed order: washing (tub), bleaching (triangle), drying (square), ironing (iron), professional care (circle). Dots mean temperature steps, bars under a symbol mean gentler treatment, and a cross through any symbol means do not. The symbols must match what the garment actually survives.
The five groups, in their fixed order
| Symbol | Group | Common variants |
|---|---|---|
| Tub | Washing | Number or dots = max temperature; hand symbol = hand wash; bars below = mild / very mild cycle; crossed = do not wash |
| Triangle | Bleaching | Plain = bleach allowed; two diagonal lines = oxygen bleach only; crossed = do not bleach |
| Square | Drying | Circle inside = tumble dry (dots = heat); vertical lines = line dry; horizontal line = dry flat; crossed circle = no tumble |
| Iron | Ironing | One to three dots = temperature steps; crossed = do not iron |
| Circle | Professional care | Letters P, F or W = solvent / wet-clean class for the cleaner; crossed = no professional cleaning |
The mistakes we see on incoming artwork
- Symbols copied from another product — the symbols must match wash-test results for this fabric, not a lookalike garment.
- Wrong order — the sequence is fixed: wash, bleach, dry, iron, professional care.
- Contradictions — a 60°C wash tub next to "do not tumble" on a gym tee raises retailer questions; review the set as a whole.
- Symbols too small — after cutting and one wash, tiny symbols become guesswork. Keep them comfortably readable at label size.
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Get a QuoteSymbols and the law, briefly
In the EU, care symbols are voluntary but retailer-expected, and the familiar system is managed by GINETEX under trademark license with ISO 3758 as the standard behind it. In the US, the FTC requires care instructions — as words or as symbols consumers can understand, with the ASTM symbol set in common use. Fiber content rules are separate in both markets; the full picture is in our US and EU care label requirements guide.
FAQ
What does the crossed triangle mean?
Do not bleach. A plain triangle allows bleach; two diagonal lines inside restrict it to oxygen (non-chlorine) bleach.
What do the dots mean?
Temperature steps. On wash tubs and irons, more dots = hotter; on tumble-dry circles, one dot is low heat, two is normal.
What is the P in a circle?
Professional dry cleaning with perchloroethylene-class solvents — an instruction for the cleaner, not the consumer. F and W indicate other solvent or wet-clean classes.
Who decides which symbols go on my label?
The brand or importer, based on fabric wash tests. SAIM Label formats and prints the approved set; the compliance responsibility stays with the seller.
Related reading: Custom care labels · US & EU care label requirements
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