Overview

• The triangle symbol appears in four variations: an empty triangle for any bleach, a crossed-out triangle forbidding bleach, and diagonal lines or a “CL” marker indicating non-chlorine bleach.
• Care labels feature a washing icon that specifies machine or hand wash and uses numbers or dots to denote maximum wash temperatures.
• A square drying icon outlines methods—such as tumble drying, flat drying or shade drying—and uses lines to indicate delicate or permanent press cycles.
• Ironing symbols show whether items can be ironed or steamed, using dots to recommend low, medium or high heat and crosses to signal prohibition.
• Specialists warn that ignoring these instructions can lead to faded colors, weakened textiles or irreversible damage that shortens the lifespan of garments.