That small tag inside your collar or side seam is the manufacturer telling you how the garment survives. Most people ignore it until something shrinks. Here is how to read it in under five minutes.
The five symbol families
Care labels use five basic shapes, and each one answers one question:
- Tub – can it be washed, and how?
- Triangle – can it be bleached?
- Square – can it be tumble dried or dried another way?
- Iron – can it be ironed, and how hot?
- Circle – can it be dry cleaned?
A cross through any symbol means do not.
Reading the details
Extra marks refine the instruction. A number inside the tub is the maximum water temperature in degrees Celsius. A hand in the tub means hand wash only. Bars under the tub mean a gentler cycle. Dots in the iron show heat: one dot is low, two is medium, three is high.
Inside the dry clean circle, a letter such as P or F tells the dry cleaner which solvent family is suitable. You do not need to memorise it; we read it for you.
What if the label is missing or faded?
When in doubt, treat the fabric by what it is. Cotton and denim usually handle laundry. Silk, wool, and anything beaded, lined or structured is safer dry cleaned. If you are unsure, ask us at the counter before you decide.
Can I ignore “dry clean only”?
It is the manufacturer's safest instruction, and some fabrics really do shrink, bleed or lose shape in water. Some can survive gentle hand washing, but if the garment matters to you, follow the label. You can see how we handle these items on our dry cleaning page.
Frequently asked questions
What does a tub with a hand mean?
It means hand wash only, with gentle handling and no machine washing.
What does a circle with a cross mean on a label?
It means the garment should not be dry cleaned.
What do the dots on the iron symbol mean?
They show the maximum ironing temperature: one dot is low heat, two is medium and three is high.
Need help with this? See the full care symbol chart · See our rates · Call or WhatsApp 88508 46790.