What does a crossed out triangle on a clothing tag mean?

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For some, buying clothes is a favorite and exciting activity that gradually turns into a mania, for others it is a necessity. But the fact remains that we buy new things all the time and expect them to last for a long time. But it often happens that after washing, the thing you just bought turns into a faded rug, and also a miniature one. Why is this happening? Clothes will last a long time if you care for them properly, wash and iron them at the right temperature. Many of us, having bought a new item, cut off all the tags and labels from it, but they contain all the necessary information that will help your new wardrobe item live happily ever after. Let's figure out what the crossed out triangle on clothes and other symbols on tags mean, and is it necessary to pay such close attention to them?

Marking and everything about it

Typically the first piece of information we look at is size. As a rule, height comes first, then chest girth, and finally hip girth.

Important! There is no single standard - as a rule, each manufacturer has its own size charts.

The manufacturer also applies special symbols, such as a triangle crossed out on clothing, onto a small piece of fabric on the back of the product. Information about the rules of use and how to care for a piece of clothing is very important, and you need to know what this or that marking indicates, for example, what a triangle on a clothing tag or a crossed out triangle or crossed out circle means.

Let's look at all the types of symbols that can be found on textile labels.

The role of icons on clothing labels

The labels contain instructions on how to care for clothes and text in the manufacturer's language. It is not necessary to decipher hieroglyphs, but understanding special signs (basins, circles, crosses) is extremely important!

The signs on clothing labels are deciphered in order to protect the fabric from damage or wear. They inform the owner about the temperature and type of washing, spin modes and drying of items made from a particular fabric.

Wash

The icon in the form of a basin with water will tell us exactly how to wash this or that item. It may contain dots or specific numbers, and under it there may be lines:

• The image of a basin with water and the inscription “machine washable” tells us that this item can be washed in a washing machine.
• Image of a basin with water and one horizontal line - you can wash it, but carefully, without spinning or squeezing.
• An image of a basin with water and two horizontal lines - the item requires the most gentle hand wash without spinning or rubbing.
• The image of a crossed out basin indicates that washing cannot be done at all.
• The image of a basin with water and numbers from 30 to 90 indicates permission to wash at a certain temperature, which, in fact, is indicated.
• The image of a basin with water and a hand inside means that you need to wash it by hand.

Most common definitions

All definitions for advice on caring for things can be divided into several blocks:

• Washing (washing icon on clothes in the form of a schematically depicted basin with water);
• Drying (in a square shape);
• Ironing (in the form of a schematically depicted iron);
• Bleaching ( triangle
  );
• Professional cleaning (circle).

Other options for depicting icons on clothing labels are also possible, for example, in certain countries, for advice on care, a schematic drawing in the form of a washing machine (a vertical rectangle with a control panel section) and a digital temperature value are used.

Whitening can be depicted as a flask, but the above options are considered the most popular. These five icons on clothing labels are used in any case, if you see a couple more rows, it means that similar information is given in the form of symbols of other systems adopted in various states.

Auxiliary symbols are also used for explanations.

An underscore in the form of one line suggests a sensitive mode, in the form of two dashes - a very sensitive one, i.e. if polite washing is provided, the washing icon on the clothes will be highlighted with one or two lines. A cross through means a prohibition.

Whitening or stain removal

Many of you have probably wondered what the triangle on a clothing tag means. The triangle is one of the bleaching symbols, which shows what type of bleaching can be applied to this item. Sometimes it is decorated with inscriptions, and sometimes the triangle on the clothes is crossed out.

Let's take a closer look at the possible options, so:

• The triangle on the tag indicates that the item can be bleached.
• A triangle with the inscription inside GL - you can use chlorine bleaches.
• Triangle with stripes - only oxygen bleaches can be used.

Important! A crossed out triangle on clothing means that bleaching with any bleach is strictly prohibited.

Ironing

This group of symbols displays ironing methods, the main one being the iron pattern. Additions may be as follows:

• Iron on label - this item can be ironed.
• An iron with one, two or three points shows at what temperature you can iron: one point - at 110 degrees, two points - at 150 degrees, three points - at 200 degrees.
• An iron with a steam symbol crossed out below indicates that the item cannot be steamed.

Important! A crossed out iron is a sign that ironing is prohibited at all.

Ironing notices

The signs are distinguished by the use of dots within the image of an iron.

Dry cleaning

A dry cleaning regimen is another common way to care for your wardrobe items. It is designated by a circle with different symbols inside it.

Frequent markings:

• Circle - dry cleaning possible.
• The letter A in a circle means that any dry cleaning is acceptable.
• Letter P in a circle - dry cleaning using hydrocarbons, chlorethylene, as well as solvent-based cleaners is allowed.
• The letter P in the underlined circle indicates that gentle dry cleaning using ethylene chloride, monofluorotrichloromethane, or hydrocarbon is acceptable.
• The letter F in a circle allows dry cleaning using a hydrocarbon, monofluorotrichloromethane, but the use of solvent-based cleaners is strictly prohibited.
• The letter W in a circle means wet dry cleaning is possible without restrictions.
• The letter W in a circle, underlined by one line, allows only delicate dry cleaning with reduced mechanical impact.
• The letter W in a circle, underlined by one large and one small line, indicates a very delicate dry cleaning with minimal mechanical impact.

Important! A crossed out circle is a sign that dry cleaning is generally unacceptable.

Dry Cleaning Notices

The following symbols are specific to dry cleaning and can be used together to provide more complete information.

Symbols regarding bleaching

Spin and dry

The next group of signs is dedicated to spinning and describes its features; the main sign is a circle inscribed in a square:

• A circle in a square without any additions - the item can be safely wrung out without fear that it will lose its appearance.
• A circle in a square with a horizontal line at the bottom - only manual or delicate processing during spinning is permissible.
• A circle in a square with two horizontal lines at the bottom indicates gentle hand spinning only.
• A circle in a square with one dot in the center allows machine drying at low temperatures.
• A circle in a square with two dots in the center allows you to sew this item at medium temperature, that is, in normal drying mode.

Important! A crossed out circle in a square means that this item cannot be dried or squeezed.

Decoding the icons on clothes: machine washable or not

Depending on the manufacturer, clothing care labels may vary. But their meaning is always the same: they inform the user about proper care so that the item does not wear out longer. The labels are sewn onto the seams from the wrong side.

How to figure out what the symbols on your clothes mean? The table below provides a detailed breakdown.

Wash

Typically, the sign indicating the washing mode is indicated first. Having deciphered it, you will understand how to wash the item correctly: in a machine or by hand to avoid premature wear. You can see such washing mode icons on children's and adult clothing.

Handwash. Products made from fabrics that require careful care are washed on low temperature cycles, no higher than 40 degrees. Washing by hand should be done carefully, without strong impact and wringing.

Whitening icons

The second symbol on the tag after washing explains how to bleach. To avoid spoiling things, do not ignore these symbols.

Icons showing how to dry things

Next in order is an icon indicating how to properly dry the product: in a vertical position, spread on the surface or in the drum of the machine (if such a function is available).

Ironing icons

In order to know what the permissible ironing temperature is for different fabrics, an icon with the ironing temperature is indicated on the label.

Dry cleaning

When a product needs dry cleaning, be sure to look at the label to see if it can be cleaned and under what circumstances.