The icon that looks like a bucket of water instructs how to wash a garment, the square with a circle in the center instructs how to dry it, and the iron symbol instructs how to iron it. The remaining laundry tag symbols refer to bleaching (triangle), dry-cleaning (circle), and non-machine drying (square) instructions.
The washing symbol with a line or a dash under the tub means that the laundry can be washed with a shorter washing cycle (like a synthetic programme) and a short or low-speed spin cycle. A tub with no line means that your clothes are machine washable. You'll find this on more robust fabrics like denim.
Here are a few symbols relating to the “classic” cycles that will help you wash your clothes effectively: A ball of cotton, for cotton garments. A container, for mixed and synthetic garments made of polyamide and polyester. A ball of wool, for woollen garments. A butterfly, for silk and delicate garments.
If you see the “Do not wash” symbol (a crossed out bucket filled with water) on the fabric care label, that means the garment can't be safely laundered by any process, and instead needs to be dry cleaned with a solvent.
The letters A, F or P inside a circle on your garment's care tag indicates that the item should be dry cleaned and instructs the dry cleaner what type of cleaner to use. An A means they can use any solvent, an F means any solvent except Trichloroethylene and a P directs them to use petroleum solvents only.
The Machine Wash Symbol appears as a bucket filled with water. This symbol will also tell you recommended water temperature with a series of dots in the middle, and what cycle type to set your washing machine to with lines added underneath the bucket.
If the circle has a cross through it, the item should not be dry-cleaned.
Front loading washing machine
Inside will be 3 separate compartments, each with their own symbol: I - 'Pre wash' II - 'Main wash' Flower symbol - 'Fabric softener'
Choose the Right Wash Cycle
A regular cycle is best for sturdy and dirty clothes, while the permanent press setting is fine for the average load. Use the delicate cycle for lacy and loosely woven fabrics. Use hot water for white loads, warm water for the average load, and cold water for bright colors.
The gentle wash setting preserves the quality of delicate materials such as wool, cashmere, silk, and embroidered clothes. Lower water temperatures are used to reduce shrinkage or prevent the clothes from getting discolored. This cycle protects delicate textiles by using less agitation.
The sound recording copyright symbol or phonogram symbol, ℗ (letter P in a circle), is the copyright symbol used to provide notice of copyright in a sound recording (phonogram) embodied in a phonorecord (LPs, audiotapes, cassette tapes, compact discs, etc.).
Warm washes (40°C) are best for items that have come into contact with body fluids, such as underwear. Wash such garments on warm temperatures with Ariel. Cold washes (15-30°C) should be used for lightly- to moderately-soiled daily items.
Gentle wash cycle: A washing symbol with two horizontal lines below means that the item can be machine washed, but only if the washing machine has a gentle or wool cycle. 7. Not machine washable: If you see this symbol, always hand wash or dry clean your garment.
With high agitation and a lengthy cycle, the Normal cycle is typically the most intense washing machine cycle. Select the Normal cycle for everyday laundry items made of cotton, linen, and durable synthetics, such as sheets, towels, T-shirts, socks, and (non-fancy) underwear.
The most suitable program depends on the fabric of your towels. Most towels are made of cotton, so use the cotton program* and set the wash temperature to at least 40 degrees: 60° is ideal for white towels. 40° is best for darker towels, to prevent them from fading.
Normal Cycle: This wash cycle symbol is simply a tub with water in it and no lines underneath. It is reserved for stronger, more durable garments like t-shirts, socks, or jeans that can simply be tossed in and washed.
Most sock materials can be washed in a washing machine and then dried in the tumble dryer. If you're ever in doubt, check the manufacturer's care instructions or dry them naturally. When washing and drying your socks, you should use a mesh wash bag to separate them from other clothes.
Even a large load of laundry should not fill the washer tub more than three-quarters full. For front-loading washing machines, pile clothes up high, but don't cram them past the last row of holes at the front (the row closest to the door). For a conventional top-loader, don't load clothes above the agitator.