No Need To Guess.
Decode Your Care Labels.

The washtub is your starting point. If it appears plain with no lines underneath, the item can be machine washed on a normal cycle at whatever temperature the dots indicate. One line underneath means use a permanent press cycle — medium agitation, designed to limit wrinkling on synthetic and blended fabrics. Two lines means delicate or gentle cycle — minimal agitation, slow spin, cooler water.

A hand reaching into the tub means hand wash only, or at most a machine's hand-wash setting, at or below 40°C/105°F. A tub with an X through it means no washing at all — water will damage the fabric. Spot clean only, or consult a professional.

A square with a circle inside means you can tumble dry. Dots inside the circle indicate heat level: one dot for low heat, two dots for medium/normal heat. No dot means no heat — air-only tumble. A circle inside a square with an X through the whole thing means keep it out of the dryer entirely.

Squares without a circle are air-dry instructions. A single horizontal line through the middle of the square means dry flat — lay it on a clean surface and let gravity do the rest, which is critical for items that can stretch out of shape if hung. A curved line at the top of the square means hang to dry. Two diagonal lines in the corner mean dry in the shade, away from direct sunlight. Each variation matters: hang-drying a sweater that should be dried flat will stretch it out; machine drying something that should air-dry can cause permanent shrinkage.

Bleach is powerful — it whitens, brightens, and disinfects. It also destroys fabric when used on the wrong garment. The triangle tells you what's safe. An empty triangle means any bleach, including chlorine bleach, is fine. Two diagonal lines inside the triangle means non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach only — chlorine will damage the dye or fiber. A triangle with an X means no bleach of any kind.

The key thing most people miss: a white garment does not automatically mean bleach-safe. Always check the triangle before reaching for the bottle. Fabrics like wool, silk, spandex, and many synthetics can be permanently damaged or yellowed by chlorine bleach even when the garment looks like it should be able to take it.

The iron icon uses the same dot system as washing. One dot means low heat — around 110°C (230°F), used for delicate fabrics like silk, nylon, and some acrylics. Two dots means medium heat — around 150°C (300°F), suitable for wool, polyester, and blends. Three dots means high heat — up to 200°C (390°F), safe for cotton and linen. An iron with an X means do not iron at all.

There are also steam-specific variations: an iron with steam lines and an X through them means no steam even if ironing is otherwise fine — some finishes and fabrics are damaged by moisture. If you're dealing with a garment that can't be ironed, a handheld steamer is often a safe alternative, since it applies heat without direct contact or pressure.

Important note for decorated apparel: The "Do Not Iron" symbol on many Gildan, Hanes, and Bella+Canvas blanks refers to the decoration or print — not the garment itself. Ironing directly over screen printing, heat transfers, or embroidery can cause cracking, peeling, or flattening of the design. Always iron these garments inside out, or use a pressing cloth between the iron and the print.

Different fabrics behave very differently in the wash, and understanding your fabric is just as important as reading the symbols. Cotton is the most forgiving — it handles warm water and medium heat well, though 100% cotton will shrink if you push temperatures too high. Pre-shrunk cotton like you'll find on most Gildan, Hanes, and Bella+Canvas garments has already been through that process, but repeated hot washing can still cause gradual shrinkage over time.

Polyester and poly-blend fabrics — including 50/50 cotton-poly t-shirts and moisture-wicking performance polos — are much more heat-sensitive. High dryer temperatures degrade the fibers, break down moisture-wicking treatments, and can cause pilling over time. Cold wash and low heat drying extends the life of these garments significantly.

Blended fabrics follow the rules of their most delicate ingredient. A 60/40 cotton-poly blend should be treated closer to polyester care guidelines than pure cotton ones. When in doubt, default to cold water and low heat — it's almost never the wrong call, regardless of what's in the fabric.

Dark and bright colors need extra attention regardless of fabric type. The dye used to achieve deep blacks, navys, reds, and bright colors is more prone to bleeding and fading in warm or hot water, especially in the first several washes. Always wash darks in cold water, and wash them separately or with like colors until you're confident the dye has fully set.