Every garment sold in the EU has a small label with two parts: care symbols (how to wash, dry, iron and clean it) and composition (what it is made of). Here you will find all the symbols with pictures, what each one means and how to use them in practice. If you are in a hurry, there is also a short version covering only the circles P, F and W.

How to read the label

The symbols follow the international standard ISO 3758 (the GINETEX system) and are the same throughout Europe. They are always arranged in this order:

1. Washing
1. Washingthe tub
2. Bleaching
2. Bleachingthe triangle
3. Drying
3. Dryingthe square
4. Ironing
4. Ironingthe iron
5. Professional cleaning
5. Professional cleaningthe circle

Three rules apply to all groups:

  • The symbol shows the maximum. 40 °C means “at most 40 °C”: cooler and gentler is always allowed.
  • Lines underneath mean “more carefully”. One line: gentle programme; two lines: very gentle.
  • A cross (X) means “no”. A crossed-out symbol forbids that treatment.

1. Washing: the tub

The number in the tub is the maximum water temperature in degrees Celsius. The lines underneath show how vigorously the drum may move.

95 °C
95 °CWhite cotton and linen fabrics: bed linen, towels. They can also be boiled.
70 °C
70 °CA rare symbol: sturdy cotton and linen items.
60 °C
60 °CColoured cotton and linen, underwear, tea towels.
60 °C, one line
60 °C, one lineGentle programme up to 60 °C: common for blended and synthetic fabrics.
50 °C
50 °CColoured cotton and blended fabrics.
50 °C, one line
50 °C, one lineGentle programme up to 50 °C.
40 °C
40 °CThe most common symbol: everyday clothes made of cotton and blended fabrics.
40 °C, one line
40 °C, one lineSynthetics, blouses, shirts: the "Synthetics" or "Easy care" programme.
40 °C, two lines
40 °C, two linesVery gentle programme: often "Delicates".
30 °C
30 °CDark and bright colours that may run.
30 °C, one line
30 °C, one lineGentle wash up to 30 °C.
30 °C, two lines
30 °C, two linesWool and silk: the washing machine's "Wool" or "Hand wash" programme.
Hand in the tub
Hand in the tubHand wash only, up to 40 °C. Don't rub or wring hard.
Crossed-out tub
Crossed-out tubDo not wash with water at home. It usually means dry cleaning or professional wet cleaning.

In practice: washing machine programmes match the lines: “Cotton” has no line, “Synthetics” has one, “Wool” and “Delicates” have two. If the label has two lines but your washing machine has no wool programme, hand washing is safer.

2. Bleaching: the triangle

Empty triangle
Empty triangleAny bleach is allowed, both chlorine and oxygen.
Two diagonal lines
Two diagonal linesOxygen bleach only (powder or liquid, "chlorine-free"). Chlorine will bleach or damage the fabric.
Crossed-out triangle
Crossed-out triangleNo bleach at all. Treat stains with a suitable product or at a dry cleaner.

Many laundry detergents contain oxygen bleach. If the triangle is crossed out, check the detergent packaging: for coloured and delicate clothes, choose one without bleach.

3. Tumble drying: square with a circle

Two dots
Two dotsTumble dry at normal temperature (up to about 80 °C exhaust air).
One dot
One dotTumble dry at low temperature (up to about 60 °C): the "Delicate" or "Low temperature" programme.
Crossed out
Crossed outNo tumble dryer. The garment may shrink, lose its shape or lose elasticity.

Cotton shrinks most in the first few washes and at high tumble dryer temperatures. If the garment needs to keep its size, dry it at a low temperature or naturally, even when tumble drying is allowed.

4. Natural drying: square with lines

These symbols tell you how to dry the garment without a tumble dryer. The lines inside the square show the position.

One vertical line
One vertical lineDry on a line or a hanger.
Two vertical lines
Two vertical linesOn a line, but without spinning or wringing: leave the garment to drip dry.
One horizontal line
One horizontal lineFlat, on a towel or a jumper drying rack. Typical for wool and knitwear that stretch.
Two horizontal lines
Two horizontal linesFlat, without wringing.
Diagonal lines in the corner
Diagonal lines in the corner"In the shade": added to any of the symbols above. Sunlight fades colours and harms silk and wool.
Flat, in the shade
Flat, in the shadeAn example of a combination: flat, away from direct sunlight.

5. Ironing: the iron

The dots in the iron match the dots on the dial of most irons.

Three dots
Three dotsUp to 200 °C: cotton and linen.
Two dots
Two dotsUp to 150 °C: wool, silk, polyester, viscose, blended fabrics.
One dot
One dotUp to 110 °C: polyamide, acrylic, acetate, elastane. No steam: it can leave permanent marks.
Crossed-out iron
Crossed-out ironNo ironing. If the garment is creased, try steam from a distance (if not forbidden) or hang it in the bathroom after a shower.

Tip: iron dark clothes and shiny fabric on the reverse side or through a cotton cloth, so that no shiny patches remain.

6. Professional cleaning: the circle

These symbols are mainly for the dry cleaner, but it is useful to know them before you leave a garment.

P
PDry cleaning with perchloroethylene and with all the solvents allowed for F. The most common symbol on suits and coats.
P with a line
P with a lineThe same, but with a gentle process: shorter, with less mechanical action or a lower temperature.
F
FHydrocarbon solvents only: milder, suitable for delicate materials, decorations and some coatings.
F with a line
F with a lineHydrocarbon solvents, gentle process.
Crossed-out circle
Crossed-out circleNo dry cleaning with solvents.
W
WProfessional wet cleaning: with water, special detergents and controlled drying at the dry cleaner.
W with one line
W with one lineGentle wet cleaning.
W with two lines
W with two linesVery gentle wet cleaning: for particularly delicate items.
Crossed-out W
Crossed-out WNo professional wet cleaning.

The symbols P, F and W don’t rule out washing at home. If the label has a tub with 30 °C and a circle with P, you can choose: at home or at a dry cleaner. If the tub is crossed out but there is a P or W, the garment can only be cleaned professionally.

Old and foreign symbols

On older clothes, or on clothes from the USA and Asia, you may also see these variants:

Black crossed-out triangle
Black crossed-out triangleThe old version of "no bleach". It means the same as the crossed-out empty triangle.
Triangle with "Cl"
Triangle with "Cl"An old symbol for "chlorine bleach allowed". Today an empty triangle is used.
A in a circle
A in a circleAn old symbol for dry cleaning with any solvent. Today P is used.
Dots in the tub
Dots in the tubAmerican labels show the temperature with dots instead of a number: 1 dot is cold (about 30 °C), 2 warm (about 40 °C), 3 hot (about 50 °C), more dots hotter.
Curved line in the square
Curved line in the squareThe American symbol for line drying.
Iron with crossed-out steam
Iron with crossed-out steamIron without steam.

There is often English text next to the symbols as well. The most common instructions:

  • Wash separately / Wash with like colours: wash on its own / with similar colours.
  • Wash inside out: wash turned inside out.
  • Do not wring: don’t wring it out.
  • Reshape while damp: reshape while it is still damp.
  • Dry clean only: dry cleaning only.
  • Cool iron: iron at a low temperature.
  • Remove promptly: take it out of the washing machine or tumble dryer straight away.

Composition: what the garment is made of

The second part of the label tells you which fibres the fabric is made of. The rules are the same throughout the EU (Regulation No 1007/2011):

  • Percentages by weight, from largest to smallest. “70% cotton, 30% polyester” means cotton makes up 70% of the weight of the fabric.
  • In the language of the country. In Bulgaria the composition must be in Bulgarian: “памук”, not only “cotton”.
  • “100%”, “pure” and “all” may only be used if the garment is made of a single fibre. Up to 2% of incidental foreign fibres that cannot be avoided in production are allowed.
  • “Other fibres”: fibres up to 5% (or up to 15% in total) that cannot easily be identified may be grouped together with their total percentage.
  • Separate parts: the lining, the filling and the outer fabric often have their own composition: “Outer: 100% wool. Lining: 100% viscose.”
  • Decorations up to 7% of the weight (embroidery, visible decorative threads) and metallic or antistatic fibres up to 2% may be left out of the percentages.
  • “Contains non-textile parts of animal origin”: a mandatory statement if there is leather, fur or feathers as decoration (for example a leather label or a natural fur collar).

The most common fibres and how to care for them

Imported clothes sometimes have abbreviations. Here is what they mean and what to keep in mind:

On the label Abbreviation What it is Care
Cotton CO Natural plant fibre Withstands high temperatures; may shrink in the first wash and in the tumble dryer.
Linen LI Natural plant fibre Strong, creases easily; iron while damp, at a high temperature.
Wool WO Natural animal fibre Cold wash, two lines, dry flat; felts with heat and friction.
Cashmere, mohair, alpaca, angora WS, WM, WP, WA Fine animal hair Like wool, but even more carefully; often hand wash or dry cleaning only.
Silk SE Natural animal fibre Cold, no bleach, no direct sunlight; stains at a dry cleaner.
Viscose CV Man-made fibre from cellulose Weak when wet; may shrink; gentle wash, no wringing.
Modal, lyocell CMD, CLY Man-made fibres from cellulose Stronger than viscose; gentle wash.
Acetate CA Man-made fibre from cellulose Low ironing temperature; dissolves in acetone (nail polish remover).
Polyester PES Synthetic fibre Dries quickly, doesn’t crease much; iron at a medium temperature.
Polyamide (nylon) PA Synthetic fibre Iron at a low temperature: high heat melts it and leaves shiny marks.
Acrylic PAN Synthetic fibre Low temperature; high heat makes it lose its shape and stretch.
Elastane EL Synthetic elastic fibre Even 2 to 5% makes the fabric stretchy; high temperatures and bleach damage it.

The abbreviations come from international standards and must be explained in documents; on the label itself, the EU requires the full name.

When to take the garment to a dry cleaner

  • When the tub is crossed out but there is a P, F or W.
  • For coats, suits, jackets and lined dresses: different materials shrink differently and the shape can be lost when washed at home.
  • For down jackets and duvets that don’t fit well in a home washing machine: see when a down jacket can go in the washing machine.
  • For wedding and formal dresses with beads, lace or sequins: more on cleaning them.
  • For grease, wine, make-up or ink stains on a delicate fabric. Don’t rub the stain and don’t heat it: that sets it. Tell the dry cleaner what the stain is and how old it is.
  • For leather and suede: these symbols don’t cover them; ask the dry cleaner whether it works with leather items.

Before you leave the garment, show the label. If it is missing, say what fabric it is, if you know: this helps the dry cleaner choose the process. See also how to choose a dry cleaner and how much dry cleaning costs.

This article was prepared with The Clean Spot, a dry cleaner in Sofia with two locations, in Gotse Delchev and Mladost 3. You can find dry cleaners in your city in the list of dry cleaners. trqbvami.com has an editorial partnership with The Clean Spot; this does not affect the order in the directory.