What do the icons on care clothing mean? Interpretation of icons on clothes for washing and care tips. Decoding the symbols on cotton clothing labels
Are you faced with caring for a certain item of clothing for the first time, and you don’t know at what temperature the item can be washed, and whether it can be washed at all? It is not at all necessary to go online for this question to find out what mode to set for the machine and iron - the signs on the clothes for caring for the product will help you in this difficult task. These types of clothing care marks are found on the vast majority of modern items, so you won't have any problems finding them. Usually problems arise with the interpretation of signs - washing symbols and other designations do not always have an obvious interpretation, so it is important to learn to distinguish the symbols on clothes for washing, as well as to navigate them well. This detailed guide will help you with this.
Garment care symbols regarding washing items
The most popular symbols are for caring for clothes - washing them, since it is with the choice of washing parameters that problems arise most often. The table of clothing care icons can be difficult for many to understand, so the data is displayed in the form of a list in which it is easy to find the symbol you need. So, clothing care labels in terms of washing have the following designations:
Basin with a wave pictogram - the product can be washed either by hand or in a washing machine. | |
A basin with a wave pictogram and one line at the bottom - you must use a gentle wash cycle. | |
A basin with a wave pictogram and two lines at the bottom - you should use a delicate wash cycle. | |
Crossed out basin – these clothing care symbols prohibit washing the product by hand or in a machine. | |
A basin with a wave and one dot in the center - washing should be carried out in water with a temperature of up to 30 degrees. | |
A basin with a wave and two dots in the center - the recommended water temperature for washing is no higher than 40 degrees. | |
A basin with a wave and three dots in the center - you can wash the product in water with a temperature of 50 degrees. | |
A basin with a hand dipped into it - these clothing care icons only allow hand washing. |
As you can see, deciphering symbols for clothing care is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, especially if you have a table for clothing care in front of your eyes. However, it is too early to relax, because there are other symbols on the clothing care tag, and you should be well versed in all of them. So, what other common and important signs for clothing care are there?
Drying and spinning are no less important care actions, as is washing. Therefore, clothing care signs often reflect recommendations for drying and spinning items. Among the most important to remember are the following:
Empty square icon - the product can be dried without any restrictions or precautions. | |
Crossed out empty square - these clothing care signs on the label prohibit drying the product. | |
A square with an empty circle inscribed inside - the item can be dried and wrung out in the washing machine. | |
A crossed out square with a circle inside is a designation of clothing care icons with a prohibition on spinning. | |
A square with a circle in which one point is inscribed - the product should be dried at a low temperature. | |
A square with a circle and two inscribed points - drying can be carried out at medium temperature. | |
A square and a circle in which three dots are located - you can dry clothes at high temperatures. |
Symbols regarding tips for cleaning and bleaching items You can also name other symbols on clothes for caring for them in terms of drying. For example, three vertical lines inscribed in a square - drying should be carried out without spinning. If a horizontal line is inscribed in the square, then the product can only be dried on a horizontal surface. Now you know what the clothing care icons mean when it comes to drying and spinning. You should also understand what other conventions there are for caring for clothes - they relate to bleaching, cleaning and ironing. Read on!
Symbols on clothing care products often include signs that indicate how to properly clean and bleach items, and whether this can be done. Clothes care icons look like this:
Empty circle – dry cleaning (aka dry cleaning) of clothes with this sign on the label is allowed. | |
The crossed out circle is a symbol for caring for clothes; the crossed out circles prohibit the action (cleaning). | |
Circle with the letter A inscribed - dry cleaning using any solvent is allowed. | |
Circle with the letter P inscribed - it is recommended to use ethylene chloride and hydrocarbon agents. | |
Circle with an inscribed letter F - only hydrocarbon-based solvents are allowed. | |
An empty triangle is a clothing care symbol that allows you to bleach the item. | |
A triangle with two slashes - you can bleach the item only without using chlorine. |
Crossed out icons for clothing care - the decoding indicates that the action is prohibited. For example, a crossed out triangle on a clothing label indicates that it should not be bleached. There are still some clothing care icons left, the meaning of which every person should know - they relate to ironing clothes.
Icons on how to iron things correctly - we understand the symbols
For ironing there are also symbols for caring for clothes - the explanation of these symbols is given below.
Clothing hygiene is an important condition for maintaining human health and comfortable well-being.
The cleanliness of this artificial protective shell has always been ensured by washing in water: a labor-intensive and costly process.
However, until recently, only he could extend the life of things while maintaining their appearance.
Time has turned the usual business of cleaning textiles from dirt in a high-tech process with the appearance:
People have finally learned to achieve what they want results in 8-15 minutes without a lot of water in special machines:
- using steam;
- using a special solvent.
So that the consumer can accurately choose methods for proper care of clothing and thereby not harm the quality and presentation of the item, The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) came up with:
- branded labels (labels), with composition and description of care features;
- combination labels;
- Sewn-in tags with symbols.
The order of the characters on them strictly defined: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional care.
In this form, every housewife receives instructions on how to handle a particular product, regardless of the country of origin.
Interesting: In Mumbai, India, for 150 years, washing clothes has been an exclusively male profession. “Dhobis” (washerwomen), like bees, work in open-air concrete baths on an area of 10 hectares. Water is boiled in the old-fashioned way and ironed with heavy irons over coals. The quality of work is highly appreciated even by respectable clients.
Pictogram marking - readable design on tags
The pictogram design is, of course, primitive, but recognizable: how can you make a mistake if a basin is depicted with a wavy surface of water? All pictographic signs characterizing the methods of influencing a textile product are divided into several groups:
- basic(washing, drying, ironing, bleaching, professional cleaning);
- additional(gentle mode of operation, especially gentle mode of operation, prohibition of operation).
In the same way with the contour drawing of the iron - it is impossible to imagine anything other than ironing. What remains is a square, a triangle and a circle. When you lay out the item to dry on the table, you will understand the meaning of the square.
The expression “crystal white” suggests meaning of triangle like the edges of a crystal. Well, when the clothes must go through a treatment cycle, a sign of professional cleaning (dry or wet) appears.
The designation of additional signs on clothing labels is just as logical:
- one horizontal line in the basic circuit - “be careful!”;
- two horizontals in the basic circuit - “especially delicate mode!”;
- oblique cross- a generally accepted sign of prohibition.
On the pictogram you can also find numbers from 30 to 95. For those who have used a washing machine, it is immediately clear - the proposed water temperature. Well, if the silhouette of a hand is included in the design, it will only be washed by hand.
For the pictogram indicating drying, the internal lines will indicate the location of the item in a straightened state (vertical, horizontal). Double the number of lines - drying without spinning. The upper left corner is marked with an oblique line - you need to dry it in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight.
A circle inscribed in a square means regular drum drying (2 dots inside) or delicate drying (only one dot inside the circle).
For ironing, you can even set the temperature in the markings:
- one dot in the base sign - t◦ soles 110◦С;
- two points - t◦ soles 150◦С;
- three dots - t◦ soles 200◦С.
For whitening, in addition to the basic mark, oblique lines are used(oxygen bleach) or the chemical symbol for chlorine is CL.
All the nuances of the professional cleaning symbol important for specialists to know. For the average user, just by the presence of a circle, it is enough to understand that you cannot do without professionals here: take your clothes to the dry cleaner.
Important: Symbols on clothes for caring for them (for washing and other actions) must be depicted large, clearly, without stitching parts of the image into the seam.
You shouldn’t hastily part with the label attached to the product: its folded “book” may also contain useful information about the composition of the fabric and methods of caring for it.
Explanation of symbols on labels
Here is a clear table with all the symbols for caring for things - for washing, ironing, drying and cleaning on clothing labels, and their explanation:
Natural materials are a priceless gift, but not flawless
Raw materials for natural fabrics, no matter how they are produced, are fibers of plant or animal origin:
- cotton(seed pod fibers);
- linen(stem fibers);
- silk(silkworm cocoon thread);
- wool(sheep, goat, camel).
By varying the thickness, density and weave of the threads, different types of fabric are obtained:
- made of cotton- stockinette stitch, interlock (more dense), cotton wool, cambric, terry, etc.
- from linen- edging, fine linen, linen;
- made of silk- satin, chiffon, moire, crepe de Chine, foulard;
- made of wool- jersey, boucle, cashmere, gabardine, cloth, drape.
General advantages of natural fabrics:
- hygroscopic;
- allow air to pass through well;
- excellent heat insulators;
- are not electrified;
- prestigious for the cost of the product.
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There were also some drawbacks:
- crumple and “sit down”;
- lose shape when worn;
- easily lose their original color (shed);
- takes a long time to dry;
- form “pellets” of surface fibers.
Interesting: In the Middle Ages, Europeans, for whom cotton was imported from India, thought that it was the wool of some exotic animal. In Northern Europe this misconception persisted until the 19th century.
Nuances of natural textiles
If we consider washing as the main method of care, then for each type of fabric there are its own rules:
Important: Clothing made from natural fibers is expensive and requires difficult care, but can retain its unique environmental qualities for a long time.
Blended and artificial fabrics
If the thread has an exclusively chemical composition, then the fabric from it is artificial. Such fabrics include , acetate, nylon, lycra, lavsan,. Their dignity:
But artificial fabrics:
- do not absorb moisture well;
- do not allow air to pass through;
- accumulate static charge;
- provoke allergies.
How to wash clothes made from synthetic fabrics. Algorithm:
- Frequent (daily) machine washing is required (if heavily soiled - with soaking);
- detergent - special;
- temperature regime - (t◦40-50◦C) for lavsan - maximum 60◦C;
- When washing by hand, the item is soaked for 30 minutes;
- contaminated areas are scrubbed with a sponge;
- When rinsing, use a conditioner with antistatic properties;
- dry in the shade;
- As a rule, products made from these fabrics do not need ironing.
Important: For clothes made of polyester, you still cannot do without an iron, which eliminates wrinkles that form during washing. T◦ of the iron sole in this case is 200◦C.
The function of protection and convenience of industrial clothing, the characteristics of working conditions dictate the choice of material and fabric from which the workwear will be sewn. Most often, cotton-based blended fabrics are used for it, and to give it heat-insulating properties, various insulation materials (sintepon, etc.) are used.
New artificial fabrics with excellent technological properties have been created based on polyamide and polyester: , taffeta, oxford. Found application in this area soft and durable nylon and polyvinyl chloride, applied on a cotton base - vinyl artificial leather. But natural textiles still do not lose their importance in the production of workwear: calico moleskin, tent fabric, cloth.
To protect yourself from the slightest contamination during work, you must use protective clothing. Read the next article to see what it should look like.
Overalls for car service centers have become especially popular in recent years. We will tell you how to properly care for these work clothes in this article.
For work clothes, both washing and cleaning are used. It all depends on the type of production and the number of employees:
- for small businesses (up to 20 employees) with the daily washing regime, a replaceable piece of clothing is introduced; with the regime washing - 1 time per week, washing can be done by employees themselves at home;
- for enterprises with high-tech laundry equipment, washing can be done by the employees themselves at the end of the working day;
- large groups hand over their workwear for washing to special laundries based on a service agreement. In this case, special impregnation of overalls can be carried out, testing them for stability, marking, replacing fittings, stitching open seams, applying patches, and hemming products along the length.
Workwear that is not subject to getting wet is usually sent to dry cleaning. After all, it is necessary to remove not only dirt, but also chemical reagents and traces of oily liquids, and this is done with the help of special reagents and solvents.
In conclusion of our article, we invite you to watch an informative video review about the meaning of washing symbols on clothing labels and the proper care of things:
Decoding symbols on clothing labels
WITH rubbing
Washing items with boiling water. Products made of cotton and linen, white or colored, resistant to boiling. | |
Wash items in hot water at 60°C. Products that are not resistant to boiling, for example, thin linens made of cotton or polyester fabrics. | |
Wash items with neutral detergents in warm water at a maximum temperature of 40°C. For example, dark colored or variegated items made of cotton, polyester and melange fabrics, thin linen made of viscose and synthetic fibers. |
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Wash items with neutral detergents in cold water at a maximum temperature of 30°C. For example, wool items that are machine washable (gentle wash). | |
Only hand wash is allowed. Do not rub, do not squeeze. Textiles that cannot be washed in a washing machine. Washing temperature 30°C—40°C depending on the product. | |
Do not wash. Products bearing this mark cannot be washed. They should be dry cleaned. | |
Washable. | |
Gentle wash. Precisely maintain the water temperature, do not subject it to strong mechanical processing, and use a slow centrifuge mode when spinning. | |
Delicate wash. Large amount of water, minimal mechanical processing, quick rinse. |
Drying and spinning
Can be dried. | |
Do not dry (used in conjunction with “Do not wash”). | |
Can be wringed and dried in a washing machine or electric clothes dryer. | |
Do not wring or dry in a washing machine or electric dryer. | |
Do not squeeze. | |
Dry at low temperature. | |
Dry at medium temperature. | |
Dry at high temperature. | |
Gentle spinning and drying. | |
Delicate spinning and drying. | |
Vertical drying. | |
Dry without spinning. | |
Dry on a horizontal surface. | |
Dry in the shade. |
Ironing
Can be ironed. | |
Do not iron. | |
Iron at high temperature (up to 200°C). Cotton, linen, textiles in wet condition. Only in this mode can you steam laundry. | |
Iron at medium temperature (up to 150°C). Cotton, silk, wool, polyester, viscose. Iron with a slightly damp cloth or iron with a steam humidifier. | |
Iron at low temperature (up to 110°C). Synthetic fabrics: polyacrylic, polyamide, polyester, acetate. | |
Do not steam. |
Bleaching and dry cleaning
Dry cleaning (dry cleaning). | |
Dry cleaning is prohibited. (Do not dry clean). | |
Dry cleaning with any solvent. | |
Cleaning using hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride, monofluorotrichloromethane. | |
Cleaning using hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane. | |
The line under the circle with the letter indicates the need to gently clean the product. | |
Can be bleached. | |
Do not bleach, do not use chlorine-containing detergents or washing powders with bleaches. | |
Can be bleached using chlorine. | |
Bleach only without chlorine. |
Clothes care, signs, badges, markings on clothes. A label with recommendations for the care and use of clothing (how to properly clean, wash, dry, iron it (and whether these operations can be carried out) should be on each item. Usually, there is also a tape indicating the fiber ratio (raw material composition, as a percentage) . Some designations of fibers are given in the section - Choosing fabric: - Designation of abbreviations for the composition of types of fabrics (fibers). This information helps the consumer preserve the appearance and color of textiles so that clothes can be worn longer. For many, these symbols on labels are incomprehensible. The table shows typical signs on clothing labels: cleaning, washing, drying, ironing.
Example of a label with care symbols on a garment
Textile care symbols used for marking products (clothing and others) made of textile materials. These symbols define the rules for processing products for their correct use by consumers, preventing premature wear and damage.
Currently, these symbols are established by the international standard ISO 3758:2012. Textile products. Care labeling using symbols." There is an outdated, but valid analogue of this standard in Russia - “GOST ISO 3758-2010. Textile products. Marking with care symbols. / ISO 3758:2005. Textiles - Care labeling code using symbols (IDT)", published later than its original source.
There are basic symbols, for example: drying, bleaching, washing, ironing, as well as some additional symbols. The symbols are located on the product on a special label sewn to it. The location of the label with care symbols, the fibrous composition of the fabric and other possible information is regulated by GOST 10581-91 “Sewing products. Labeling, packaging, transportation and storage."
Operation symbols
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Wash
Number on the symbol indicates the maximum permissible water temperature for washing.
One horizontal line at the bottom of the symbol indicates delicate washing conditions. The amount of laundry in the washing machine should not exceed approximately 2/3 of the maximum permissible value, the mechanical force (torsion) of the machine should be reduced. Spin in the machine at a reduced number of revolutions per minute and spin duration. Hand squeeze gently.
Two horizontal lines at the bottom of the symbol indicate particularly delicate washing conditions. The amount of laundry in the machine should not exceed approximately 1/3 of the maximum permissible value; the mechanical force (torsion) of the machine should be significantly reduced. Spin in the machine at a significantly reduced number of revolutions per minute and spin duration. Manually squeeze very carefully, without twisting, or do not squeeze.
Normal wash at water temperature up to 95 °C (boiling allowed) | |
Normal wash at water temperatures up to 60 °C | |
Normal wash at water temperatures up to 30 °C | |
Delicate wash at water temperatures up to 30 °C | |
Extra delicate wash at water temperatures up to 30 °C | |
Hand wash at water temperatures up to 40 °C. Do not rub the product. Squeeze gently, without twisting |
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Washing is prohibited |
Drying
Natural drying | |
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Normal drying | |
Drying on a horizontal plane in a straightened state | |
Drying without spinning on a horizontal plane in a straightened state | |
Drying in the shade(no direct sunlight) | |
Dry vertically in the shade | |
Dry without spinning in a vertical position in the shade | |
Dry flat on a flat surface in the shade | |
Drying without spinning on a horizontal plane in a straightened state in the shade | |
Symbols no longer used | |
Drying vertically | |
Drying without spinning in a vertical position | |
Drying in the shade | |
Drying in a drum dryer | |
Conventional tumble drying at 80 °C | |
Gentle tumble drying at a reduced temperature of 60 °C, reduced drying time and reduced load load | |
Drum drying is prohibited |
Ironing
Ironing at iron sole temperature up to 200 °C - corresponds to the symbol in the form of three dots on the iron thermostat | |
Ironing at iron sole temperature up to 150 °C - corresponds to the symbol in the form of two dots on the iron thermostat | |
Ironing at an iron sole temperature of up to 110 °C - corresponds to the symbol in the form of a single dot on the iron thermostat. Ironing with steam may cause irreversible damage to the material being ironed. | |
Ironing is prohibited |
Whitening
Bleaching is allowed with any oxidizing bleaches | |
Bleaching is permitted only with oxygen-containing/non-chlorine bleaches. | |
Bleaching is prohibited | |
Bleaching is permitted with chlorine bleaches. Symbol no longer used |
When we buy something we like, we naturally want it to last longer. Manufacturers tell consumers about the rules for caring for their products using icons on labels. You just need to learn to read them.
Studying labels on clothes is the key to proper care of things
The care symbols on labels are international, which allows them to be interpreted correctly regardless of the country of origin. Labels are located on the wrong side (inside) of the product, sewn into the seams:
- pants (trousers, jeans, Bermuda shorts, shorts, etc.) - at the back, on the side (in the waist seam) or in the pocket;
- dresses, skirts - at hip level in the side seams;
- shirts, blouses, turtlenecks, T-shirts, etc. - at the collar on the back or in the side seam;
- outerwear - at waist level in the left side seam.
To use the information that symbols on labels carry, you need to know what they mean
Don't rush to cut the tags off your clothes right away. If they bother you, cut them off, but try to keep them. First of all, you will need labels for things that require special care, just mark them somehow so as not to get confused and forget what goes what.
On things for infants, labels are not sewn in, and information symbols are placed on special stickers.
All symbols that can be placed on labels are divided into six groups:
- wash;
- drying;
- machine drying;
- whitening;
- ironing;
- dry cleaning
- for washing - a basin with water;
- for drying - an inverted trapezoid with a wavy line instead of the top line;
- for bleaching - triangle; drying - square;
- for drying in a machine - a circle in a square;
- for ironing - ironing;
- for dry cleaning - circle.
- according to the ban on squeezing the product - a twisted ribbon (looks like candy) crossed with a cross.
How are washing modes designated?
If you wash in a machine, then modern devices offer many modes, in particular, normal, gentle and delicate. Requirements for them are indicated by dashes under the washing sign: one - gentle, two (dotted or on top of each other) - delicate. The washing temperature can also be indicated by numbers or dots:
- one point - 30 0 C;
- two - 40 0 C;
- three - 50 0 C;
- four - 60 0 C;
- five - 70 0 C;
- six - 95 0 C.
A table of signs for washing things will help return soiled clothes to their original appearance.
Of course, there are general rules for washing things depending on the type of fabric from which they are made.
Material | Rules of care |
Calico |
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Satin |
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Cotton and flannel |
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Linen |
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Chiffon |
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Silk |
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Knitwear |
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Felt |
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Cashmere |
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Loden |
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Wool |
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Bamboo |
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Velours |
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Jacquard |
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Rami |
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Acrylic | Products made from acrylic do not lose their shape, they can be washed by hand and in a machine without any special restrictions (you still don’t need to boil them). |
Acetate |
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Viscose and modal |
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Polyamide |
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Polyacrylic |
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Polyester |
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Sintepon |
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Bleaching signs
Today, the industry produces both chlorine- and oxygen-containing bleaches, and there are also many folk remedies for bleaching. Oxygen ones are more versatile, as they are more gentle on textiles. Triangles are responsible for whitening among the symbols. Empty - any bleaching agent can be used, with two slashes - bleach without chlorine (oxygen-containing), crossed out - bleaching is not allowed. There are two more outdated symbols that are no longer used, but are still found on old things: with the chlorine symbol inside (Cl) - feel free to use chlorine-containing bleach, crossed out with the chlorine symbol - use oxygen or improvised means.
The most common symbols used to display recommendations for whitening items are used by all clothing manufacturers
Product drying symbols
To indicate special conditions for normal drying of products, symbols in the form of squares with dashes inside are used. Vertical and horizontal lines indicate whether your items need to be hung or laid out to dry. Their number indicates the characteristics of the spin cycle: one - spin, two - dry without spin. A slash in the upper left corner indicates that things should be dried in the shade. Drying symbols, like bleaching, have three obsolete symbols.
Symbols indicating the modes of normal drying of products are on each productIt is now becoming popular to purchase a dryer in addition to a regular washing machine. This trend is also reflected in clothing care symbols. The squares with a circle inside will tell us about the rules of machine drying. The dots indicate temperature conditions. One line under the square, as usual, means gentle mode, and two lines means delicate. A black circle in a square means drying without heating the air, and a crossed out design means machine drying is prohibited.
A table of symbols indicating machine drying should be at hand for any housewife who uses a dryer.
Ironing symbols on clothes
Ironing symbols will explain the subtleties of ironing for each specific item. The dots in the icons indicate the temperature mode and correspond to the number of dots on the iron (if you see two dots, set the same number on the device). If ironing is not allowed, the symbol is crossed out, but a crossed out iron with two slanting sticks coming from it means that the item cannot be steamed or ironed with steam.
A table of symbols indicating the ironing mode will help bring the item into perfect condition
Dry cleaning symbols
There are also symbols for dry cleaning - these are circles. They contain information for professionals, and there is no need to delve into these subtleties. It is important for you to know: a crossed out circle (there may be a letter in it) means that the item cannot be dry-cleaned, but circles with different symbols should. The lines under the circles (one or two) indicate, as usual, gentle and delicate cleaning. You can see what the other symbols mean in the table (exclusively for general development; this knowledge is unlikely to have practical significance).
The table of symbols for indicating the features of dry cleaning is relevant for professionals providing relevant services
How to sort laundry for washing, taking into account the signs
It is not enough to simply divide clothes by color; you also need to take into account the composition of the fabric. This point is also important: even if the temperature and other washing modes are the same for some items, they may require different spinning and drying conditions. Therefore, it is better not to mix products from different types of fabric in one machine load. And some things are generally better to wash by hand - they will be healthier (see the table with recommendations for different types of fabrics above).