Don’t ignore triangle on clothing labels: It could save your wardrobe
What the triangle on a clothing label means (photo: Getty Images)
Daily Express shares what the symbols on clothing labels mean.
What does the crossed-out triangle mean?
If you notice a triangle crossed out with two diagonal lines on a clothing label, be extremely careful. This symbol strictly prohibits the use of any products containing bleach.
You should avoid not only chlorine bleach but also products containing oxygen bleach or other bleaching agents. The danger is that these substances are often hidden in:
- powders and gels marketed for "brighter whites";
- powdered stain removers;
- sprays for pre-treating stains before washing.
Ignoring this symbol can result in patchy fading, damage to the fabric fibers, as well as damage to prints and logos.
Cheat sheet: how to read other laundry symbols
Consumer protection experts have compiled a handy list of the most common clothing symbols that can help keep your wardrobe safe:
Washing and spinning:
- A crossed-out wash tub: the garment must not be machine-washed (even on a delicate cycle).
- A wash tub with a hand inside: hand washes only.
- A wash tub with two lines underneath: very delicate wash cycle.
- A crossed-out twisted garment symbol: do not wring.
An empty circle: dry cleaning only.
Drying:
- A crossed-out square with a circle inside: do not tumble dry (air-dry only).
- A square with a circle and dots inside: tumble-dryer setting (one dot — low temperature, two — medium, three — high).
- A square with a horizontal line through the middle: dry flat on a horizontal surface (this helps prevent knitwear from stretching).
- A square with an arc across the top: line dry.
A square with diagonal lines in the corner: dry in the shade only, away from direct sunlight.
Ironing:
A crossed-out iron: the garment must not be ironed.
An iron with crossed-out steam lines underneath: do not use the steam function.
