Having some trouble interpreting the series of hieroglyphics on the back of your clothes label? The care instructions, as they’re referred to, don’t do much instructing, so please allow us to decode and then offer real world translations.
Stands for
Do not bleach
Translation
Pretty simple, really. Also, make sure your detergent’s ingredients don’t list “sodium hypochlorite,” which is the chemical name for bleach.
Stands for
Machine wash
Translation
Toss it in the washer. The number of dots indicate the temperature. One for cold. Two for warm. Three for hot.
Stands for
Hand wash
Translation
Head to the sink and run some warm water (between 90 and 95 degrees). No Woolite? Shampoo will work. Don’t scrub too hard. Not interested in manual labor? The washer’s gentle cycle should suffice.
Stands for
Do not iron
Translation
Hang in the bathroom during a shower to release small wrinkles. Use a steamer to work out larger wrinkles. Or simply take the item to a dry cleaner to have it pressed.
Stands for
Dry on low heat
Translation
This can be dried in the dryer. A line under this symbol means that it should be dried on the “permanent press” setting—a rule to follow even when it’s not called for.
Stands for
Do not tumble dry
Translation
The best thing to do is lay a towel onto your bed, and flatten the damp garment onto the towel. Flip over a few hours later and it should be dry by bedtime.
Stands for
Dry clean
Translation
Delicate fabrics like silk and some wools require dry cleaning. You can attempt washing by hands, but dry cleaning will help prolong the shape and quality of the garment.
