Every care label is built from five basic symbols: a washtub for washing, a triangle for bleach, a square for drying, an iron for ironing and a circle for professional cleaning. Dots show temperature, lines show gentleness, and an X means “don’t.” Once you know those rules you can read almost any tag in seconds, and you will know when a garment belongs with your home laundry and when it belongs at the dry cleaners Atlanta families trust with their suits and gowns.
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission’s Care Labeling Rule requires most clothing to carry care instructions, and allows manufacturers to use the ASTM symbol system instead of words. Here is how to read it.
1. The Washtub: Washing
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Washtub | Machine wash |
| Washtub with one dot | Cold wash, about 30°C / 85°F |
| Washtub with two dots | Warm wash, about 40°C / 105°F |
| Washtub with three dots | Hot wash, about 50°C / 120°F |
| One line under the tub | Permanent press cycle |
| Two lines under the tub | Gentle or delicate cycle |
| Hand in the tub | Hand wash only |
| Tub with an X | Do not wash |
Some labels print the temperature as a number inside the tub instead of dots. Either way, the number is the maximum, not a target. Washing cooler is almost always safe.
2. The Triangle: Bleach
- Empty triangle: any bleach can be used when needed
- Triangle with two diagonal lines: non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach only
- Triangle with an X: do not bleach
Chlorine bleach on a garment that says non-chlorine only can leave permanent yellow or pale patches, especially on colors and spandex blends.
3. The Square: Drying
A circle inside the square means tumble dry. Dots inside the circle set the heat: one dot low, two dots medium, three dots high, and a filled black circle means no heat. Lines under the square mean permanent press or gentle, just as they do for washing.
Squares without a circle mean natural drying:
- Curved line at the top: line dry
- Three vertical lines: drip dry, hang while wet without wringing
- One horizontal line: dry flat, which is common on sweaters
- Two diagonal lines in the corner: dry in the shade
4. The Iron: Ironing and Pressing
One dot means low heat (synthetics such as nylon and acetate), two dots medium (polyester and wool), and three dots high (cotton and linen). An iron with an X means do not iron, and an iron with crossed lines underneath means no steam.
5. The Circle: Professional Cleaning
The circle is the symbol your dry cleaner reads first.
- Empty circle: dry clean
- Circle with a letter (A, P or F): tells the cleaner which solvent is safe
- Circle with a W: professional wet cleaning
- Circle with an X: do not dry clean
- Lines or a bar near the circle: gentle process, low heat or reduced moisture
If a tag shows a circle and no washtub, or a washtub with an X, the garment is meant for a professional. Our guide to the difference between laundry and dry cleaning explains why water damages some fibers.
What If the Label Is Missing or Faded?
Labels get cut out, washed blank or lost on vintage pieces. In that case:
- Look for a second tag along the side seam, where fiber content is often printed
- Treat silk, wool, rayon, velvet and anything tailored as dry clean
- Avoid heat until you know what you are dealing with
- Bring it to a professional and say the label is missing
Common Label Combinations and What They Mean in Practice
| Label shows | What to do |
|---|---|
| Washtub with one dot, square with a circle and one dot | Cold wash, tumble dry low: typical for activewear and many synthetics |
| Hand in the tub, square with one horizontal line | Hand wash and dry flat: typical for knit sweaters |
| Washtub with an X, empty circle | Do not wash; dry clean: typical for tailored wool and silk |
| Washtub with two lines, triangle with an X | Gentle cycle, no bleach: typical for delicates and dark colors |
| Circle with a W | Professional wet cleaning only |
When a label shows both a washtub and a circle, either method is allowed. Choose the gentler option for the garments you care about most, and keep in mind that the dryer, more than the washer, is where most shrinking happens. If you are unsure, air drying is almost always the safer choice.
Why Professional Cleaners Still Read Every Label
A label tells you the safest method the manufacturer tested. It doesn’t tell you how to handle a specific stain, a vintage fabric or an embellishment the label forgot to mention. At our Briarcliff Rd counter, the attendant checks the care label with you at drop-off and asks about stains before anything is cleaned.
If a label shows a circle, or you simply can’t read it, bring the garment to our family-owned dry cleaners Atlanta location at 3103 Briarcliff Rd NE, with drive-through drop-off 7 days a week. Call (404) 325-4459 with questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
A circle is the professional cleaning symbol. An empty circle means the garment can be dry cleaned, a letter inside tells the cleaner which solvent to use, a W means professional wet cleaning, and a circle with an X means do not dry clean.
Dots show temperature. On a washtub, one dot is cold, two is warm and three is hot. On a dryer circle or an iron, one dot is low heat, two is medium and three is high.
It means tumble dry. Dots inside the circle set the heat, and a filled black circle means tumble dry with no heat.
Treat delicate or tailored fabrics such as silk, wool, rayon and velvet as dry clean, avoid heat, and ask a professional cleaner to look at it before cleaning.