Guide to Bedding Laundry Care Symbols
Bedding care labels include several universal symbols to communicate how to wash, dry, and care for your sheets, comforters, and other items. But what do these symbols mean, and which instructions apply to each? This guide explains which laundry care symbols you’ll encounter and how to follow them to ensure your high-quality bedding lasts.
Washing Symbols
The washtub symbol on a bedding label indicates whether the item can be laundered in a washing machine, with additional symbols communicating specific instructions:
- Tub: Indicates that the item is machine washable
- Tub with an X: Do not wash
- Tub with hand: Indicates that the item should be hand-washed
It is very important to adhere to “do not wash” or “dry clean only” instructions, as improperly laundering these items may damage them, and void any applicable warranties.
Washing Machine Temperatures and Cycle Symbols
The specifics regarding machine settings and water temperature requirements are indicated through dots or lines below the universal washing tub symbol. These instructions include:
- Tub with one dot: Wash at a normal (cold/low heat) temperature
- Tub with two dots: Wash at a warm or medium temperature
- Tub with three dots: Wash at a hot or high temperature
- Tub with one line below: Use permanent press cycle
- The permanent-press setting is usually reserved for clothing made from synthetic materials that feature anti-wrinkle treatments; it uses warmer water and a slower spin.
- Tub with two lines below: Wash on a delicate or gentle cycle
Dry Cleaning Symbols
Items may be labeled as "dry clean only" if their materials, construction, or other features leave them vulnerable to damage when laundered in a washing machine. Commonly, this includes leather and suede items, but other materials such as wool and silk may require special cleaning. Symbols on your care label will indicate if the item must be dry cleaned:
- Open circle: Indicates that the item should be dry-cleaned.
- Any letter included with this symbol indicates the type of dry-cleaning solvent to use.
- Open circle with an X: The item should not be dry cleaned; wash instead on the gentlest cycle in your washing machine.
Drying Symbols
Choosing the correct dryer settings ensures your bedding emerges in great condition, but selecting an incorrect setting can damage your bedding or shorten its lifespan. Check the care label to see whether tumble drying is suitable for your item, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions as indicated by these symbols:
- Square and open circle with an X: Do not tumble dry.
- Square and open circle: Indicates that the item can be dried in a dryer on a normal setting.
- Pay careful attention to any additional symbols that indicate temperature or cycle recommendations.
- Square and open circle with one line below: Item should be dried on a permanent-press cycle.
- Square and open circle with two lines below: This laundry care symbol indicates that the item should be dried on a gentle cycle.
- Square with a curved line across the top: This hang-to-dry symbol indicates that you should put the item on a line to dry. When line-drying items, choose an area out of direct sunlight to avoid shrinkage, fading, or other damage.
- Square with a horizontal line in the center: Item should lay flat to dry to prevent stretching or damage.
Determine the Correct Dryer Temperature
For items that can be tumble-dried, refer to any dots inside the circle symbol to see the manufacturer’s recommended drying temperatures.
- One dot means you can tumble dry your item on a low heat setting. This temperature setting is often ideal for bedding items.
- Two dots means you can tumble dry the item on a medium heat setting.
- Three dots signifies that you can tumble dry your item using the high heat setting.
- A filled circle means that you may tumble dry on the air dry setting, but do not use any heat.
Without any dots to indicate temperature, the normal dryer setting is suitable. However, it is important to note that a lower temperature can help extend the lifespan of your bedding, pajamas, and loungewear.
Ironing Symbols
Some fabrics benefit from a good ironing, but others are susceptible to significant damage, so it’s always best to check your bedding’s care label first. An iron symbol indicates whether the item can be pressed. As with other laundry care symbols, dots indicate the recommended temperature to use when ironing.
- Iron with a line through it: Do not iron
- Iron with one dot: Iron at a low temperature
- Iron with two dots: Iron at a medium temperature
- Iron with three dots: Iron at a high temperature
Some bedding, such as sateen sheets, provide a wrinkle-free finish straight from the dryer, so no ironing is necessary. With other materials, like linen, the wrinkles are part of the allure—but removing linen bedding and sheets from the dryer while still slightly damp can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Bleaching Symbols
Bleaching or using harsh chemicals can cause permanent damage to the fabric, so check your care label first to ensure you’re using the right stain-removal technique. A triangle symbol will tell you whether your bedding can be bleached.
- Triangle with an X: Do not bleach
- Triangle with diagonal lines: Use non-chlorine bleach
- Plain triangle: Use chlorine bleach
- It’s important to note that while this symbol indicates that an item can be treated with chlorine bleach, we generally recommend against this practice. The harsh chemical can damage fibers and shorten the lifespan of your sheets, comforters, and other layers.
Remember: Always check the label before washing, drying, or ironing your bedding to ensure you follow the manufacturer’s care instructions. The same symbols you’ll find on bedding labels will also apply when washing and drying bath towels, clothing, and other textiles. By following these instructions, you can help maintain the quality and longevity of the products you choose for your home. For more bedding care tips, explore our Guides.