GarmentCare Guide 
Reading Laundry Care Symbols
Care symbols describe separate operations rather than one universal permission to wash. Start with the basic shape, then read any cross, line, dot, or temperature number that modifies it. A washable item can still require special drying or ironing, so review the complete label before deciding that it belongs with an ordinary laundry load.
Identify the operation first
Ariel's guide separates washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and professional cleaning. The wash tub, triangle, square, iron, and circle each answer a different question. A crossed-out symbol prohibits that operation; it should not be interpreted as a suggestion to try a gentler version of the same treatment.
Read the modifiers carefully
Numbers and dots provide temperature information, while lines can indicate a gentler process. Dry-flat and hang-dry symbols are also different instructions. Read these marks alongside the stated fabric composition, since a familiar fiber name does not describe every lining, trim, blend, or construction detail in a finished garment.
