Laundry Symbols – Understand the Label in Your Clothes
Short answer: The care symbols in clothing are five small icons: a tub for washing, a triangle for bleaching, a square for drying, an iron for ironing and a circle for professional cleaning. The number in the tub is the highest allowed temperature, and a cross over a symbol means that treatment is not allowed. Once you can read them, you can care for your bamboo clothing properly.
Why the label is worth reading
The care label is the maker's short guide to how that particular garment lasts longest. Checking it takes seconds and can save a favourite piece from shrinking, fading or losing its shape.
The tub means washing
The tub shows how the garment can be washed. The number is the highest temperature in degrees. One bar under the tub means a gentle cycle, and two bars mean an extra gentle wash with less spinning. A hand in the tub means hand wash, and a crossed out tub means no washing in water at all.
The triangle means bleaching
The triangle is about bleach. An empty triangle means any bleach is allowed, while a triangle with diagonal lines allows only oxygen based bleach. Crossed out means no bleach at all, and that applies to almost all bamboo clothing, because chlorine weakens the fibres and can leave marks.
The square means drying
The square is about drying. A circle inside the square means tumble drying, and the dots in the circle show the heat: one dot is low, two is normal. A cross over it means no tumble dryer. Lines inside the square mean air drying, for example hanging on a line or lying flat on a rack.
The iron means ironing
The dots in the iron show how hot you can iron. One dot is low heat, two dots are medium and three dots are high heat. A crossed out iron means the garment should not be ironed. Bamboo clothing usually has one dot, so iron on low heat and preferably inside out.
The circle means professional cleaning
The empty circle applies to professional cleaning and is mainly for the dry cleaner. Letters in the circle tell the cleaner which solvents can be used, and a W means professional wet cleaning. A cross over the circle means no dry cleaning.
What the label usually looks like on bamboo
Most bamboo clothing says 40 degrees gentle wash, no bleach, no or gentle tumble drying and a low ironing temperature. That goes for clothing as well as bamboo bedding. Always check the label on the actual item, because blends with elastane or wool can have stricter requirements than pure bamboo viscose.
Underwear needs extra care
Underwear sits close to the skin and is washed often, so it pays to follow the label closely. Wash bamboo underwear for women and bamboo underwear for men on a gentle cycle, ideally in a laundry bag, and let it air dry. That keeps the elastic and the fit in shape for longer.
When in doubt
If the label has been cut off or worn unreadable, choose the careful option. Wash at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, avoid bleach and fabric softener, and dry on a rack. It is rarely wrong, and for bamboo viscose it is exactly the care that keeps the fabric soft longest.
Do not just cut the label off
Many people cut the care label off because it scratches. If you do, take a photo of it first or write the symbols down. Then you still know whether it was 30 or 40 degrees. See also complete washing guide for bamboo clothing.
Frequently asked questions
What does the bar under the tub mean?
One bar means a gentle cycle with less movement and spinning. Two bars mean an extra gentle wash. With no bar, the garment can take a normal cycle at the stated temperature.
What does a cross over the square with a circle mean?
It means the garment must not go in the tumble dryer. Let it air dry instead, on a line, on a hanger or lying flat on a drying rack.
Which care symbols does bamboo clothing usually have?
Usually 40 degrees gentle wash, no bleach, no or gentle tumble drying and ironing on low heat. Always check the label on the actual item before you wash it, though.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
