The care label at the neck and what the symbols mean

Short answer: The tub with a number is the maximum temperature, the triangle is about bleaching, the square is about drying and the iron is about heat. A bar under a symbol means gentle treatment.

The tub shows the temperature

The number in the tub is the highest temperature the fabric can handle, not a recommendation for what to wash it at. Bamboo viscose does best below the maximum, so even if the label says 40 degrees, you can safely wash colder to protect the fibres and keep colours fresh longer. bamboo clothing for women.

The triangle is about bleaching

An empty triangle means bleach is allowed, while a triangle with two diagonal lines means only oxygen based bleach without chlorine. If the triangle is crossed out, the fabric must not be bleached at all. Bamboo viscose generally handles chlorine poorly, regardless of what the symbol says.

The square is about drying

A circle in the square means tumble drying is allowed. One dot means low heat, two dots mean normal heat in the dryer. A cross over the whole symbol means the item must never go in the dryer and should air dry instead. bamboo t-shirt for women.

The iron shows heat levels

The iron with dots tells you how hot you can iron without damaging the fabric. If there is no cross over the symbol, ironing is allowed, but the number of dots decides how high the temperature can be, from low to high.

Bars under the symbol

A bar under the tub means a gentle wash cycle with less movement in the drum. Two bars mean a very gentle cycle and a lower spin speed. These symbols usually sit right under the tub and are easy to miss, but they matter a lot for how soft the fabric stays. bamboo underwear for women.

The round circle is dry cleaning

A circle with no other symbol means professional dry cleaning, while a crossed out circle means the item must not be dry cleaned at all. Most everyday bamboo viscose items do not need dry cleaning and manage fine with ordinary washing.

The order on the label matters

The symbols on a care label always appear in a fixed order: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and dry cleaning. Knowing this order helps you quickly recognise which symbol means what, even when the label is small and hard to read.

When the label is faded or cut off

If the label is faded or missing entirely, treat bamboo viscose as a rule of thumb like a delicate fabric: low temperature, a gentle cycle and careful drying. It is rarely wrong to wash an unfamiliar item colder and milder than strictly necessary.

Why checking the label pays off

A minute spent reading the care label can save you from a shrunk or faded item later on. The symbols are international and the same no matter where the clothing was bought, so it is worth learning them once and for all.