Laundry Guide - Washing Symbols, Sorting & Fabric Care

Step 1: Sort Before You Wash

Sorting prevents damage and color bleeding. Separate into these basic loads:

Whites — wash separately to keep them bright
Darks / colors — new dark items may bleed, so wash them together
Delicates — use the delicate cycle, cooler water, and a mesh bag
Heavy items — towels, jeans, and bedding in their own load

New brightly-colored items: Wash them separately the first few times — dye can bleed onto lighter clothes.

Step 2: Read the Care Label

The care label tells you everything: washing temperature, whether to bleach, how to dry, and whether to iron. The symbols are standardized, so once you learn them you can read any garment's label.

Laundry Symbol Chart

Symbol	Meaning
🍳 washtub with number (e.g., 30/40/60)	Maximum wash temperature in °C
Washtub with hand	Hand wash only
Washtub crossed out	Do not wash (may be dry-clean only)
Triangle	Bleaching
Empty triangle	Any bleach allowed
Triangle with two slashes	Only non-chlorine / oxygen bleach
Black triangle (crossed)	Do not bleach
Square with circle	Machine drying
Square with circle and dots	Drying temperature (more dots = hotter)
Square with curved line	Line dry (hang to dry)
Square with horizontal line	Dry flat
Iron symbol	Ironing
Iron with dots	Ironing temperature (more dots = hotter)
Iron crossed out	Do not iron
Circle	Professional dry-clean

Rule of thumb: The more dots or higher the number, the hotter the allowed temperature. When in doubt, use a cooler setting — it's safer for most fabrics.

Step 3: Choose the Right Wash & Dry Settings

Fabric	Wash	Dry
Cotton	Warm or hot	Medium heat; can line-dry
Denim	Cold, inside-out	Line dry or low heat
Wool	Cold, gentle, or hand wash	Dry flat, never machine dry
Silk	Cold, gentle, or hand wash	Line dry or dry flat
Synthetics (polyester)	Cool or warm	Low heat
Towels	Warm or hot	Medium heat; shake before drying
Activewear	Cold, avoid fabric softener	Low heat or line dry

Common Laundry Mistakes

Overloading the machine: Clothes need room to move and get clean.
Using too much detergent: Excess detergent leaves residue and can even smell. Use the recommended amount.
Drying everything on high: High heat shrinks clothes and damages fabrics. Use the lowest effective heat.
Forgetting to check pockets: Pens, tissues, and coins cause problems — check before washing.
Skipping fabric softener on towels: It reduces absorbency. Skip it for towels and activewear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my laundry smell musty even after washing?

Usually the load stayed damp too long (left in the machine) or the washer itself needs cleaning. Remove washed clothes promptly, and run a cleaning cycle on your washer periodically.

How do I stop colors from fading?

Wash darks in cold water, turn them inside-out, and air-dry them when possible. Sunlight and high dryer heat are the biggest fade culprits.

Can I mix all my clothes in one cold wash?

For most everyday clothes, a cold wash is fine, but still separate whites from darks and delicates from heavy items to avoid bleeding and damage.

Laundry Guide & Washing Symbol Chart