Care labels
Symbols on clothing care labels: washing, bleaching, drying and ironing.
Every laundry care symbol and what it means, from ISO 3758 and ASTM D5489.
About care labels
Care labels say how clothes and other textiles can be washed, bleached, dried, ironed and professionally cleaned. Most do it with a set of five international symbols, each for a different part of that care, rather than in words.
The symbols exist because clothes travel. As trade in textiles became more international, care instructions written in one language were no longer enough, and symbols took their place. GINETEX, the international association for textile care labelling, was founded in Paris in 1963. Australia's mandatory standard lets a label use English words, the symbols, or both.
Sources
- Fifty Years of Care Labelling Symbols Since 1963, GINETEX, the International Association for Textile Care Labelling
- Care labelling for clothing and textiles mandatory standard, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC Product Safety)
Researched, edited and approved by Rory Hansen before publishing. Last reviewed September 25, 2026. How we research