Guide: How to interpret laundry symbols on clothes

The washing symbols on garments provide clear guidance on how to care for clothing. Following them reduces the risk of garments shrinking, losing their color, or wearing out unnecessarily—and extends their lifespan.

Washing – the washtub

The washtub symbol shows how the garment may be washed:

- 30°, 40°, or 60° indicates the maximum permitted washing temperature

- Hand in a washtub means that the garment should be hand-washed

- Crossed-out washtub means that the garment should not be washed in water

Drying – the square

The square describes how the garment should be dried:

- Circle in a square means that the garment can be tumble-dried

- Line in a square indicates whether the garment should be hung to dry or dried flat

- Crossed-out symbol means that a tumble dryer should not be used

Ironing – the iron

The ironing symbol indicates the permitted heat:

- One dot = low heat

- Two dots = medium heat

- Three dots = high heat

- Crossed-out iron means the garment should not be ironed

Dry cleaning and bleaching

- Circle provides information about dry cleaning

- Triangle indicates whether bleaching is allowed (crossed-out triangle = no bleaching)

A useful rule of thumb

If the laundry instructions seem uncertain, it is wise to follow the most cautious symbol. A lower temperature and gentler programs are usually a safe choice.


NOTE: There is no official laundry symbol indicating that a garment should not be washed with enzyme detergent. Garments made from natural materials such as wool and silk, or blends containing wool or silk, are damaged by detergents containing enzymes. All Västerbottenssåpa detergents are enzyme-free, meaning you only need one bottle for all your laundry.

More practical laundry advice, guides, and clothing-care tips are collected on the VästerbottensSåpa blog:

https://vasterbottenssapa.se/blogs/stadguiden/tagged/tvatta

With the right knowledge of laundry symbols, clothes last longer—and both the garments and the environment benefit.

Pre-treat stains, wash without enzymes with Västerbottenssåpa's All-Purpose Detergent and you can also skip fabric softener, as the clothes become soft without it.