Washing Machine and Dryer Symbols | Midea Canada

If you have never learned these symbols, they can feel like a secret code. That’s exactly why this guide exists.

Here, we explain the most common washing machine symbols and dryer symbols in one place. After reading, you’ll be able to check a tag and understand the instructions straight away, without needing to look anything up.

What Washing Machine and Dryer Symbols Mean

After you look at a few clothing tags, you’ll notice something. Most washer and dryer icons are built from the same small set of shapes. They just get mixed and matched in different ways.

So it helps to learn the “rules” behind the symbols, instead of trying to memorise every single one. Here are the basic parts to watch for. 

• A black dot · represents the washing temperature. The more dots, the higher the water temperature you can use.
• Lines below the sign for machine wash generally indicate a gentler cycle. The more lines, the lighter the washing mode required.
• The × symbol is used similarly to its common meaning, indicating prohibition.
• The △ symbol is the basis for bleach standards.
• The ○ symbol indicates whether dry cleaning is allowed.
• Different lines inside a □ symbol represent the appropriate drying method. If a ○ is added inside the □, it indicates the applicable tumble-drying mode.
• An iron-shaped symbol represents how and at what temperature the garment should be ironed.

Once these basics feel familiar, care labels start to make sense fast. You can look at washing logos on clothes and understand what it wants, without second guessing.

Washing Machine Symbol Guide

Knowing the basic shapes helps, but real care labels usually combine several symbols. Looking at just one part on its own is often not enough to understand the full instruction.

This section covers the main washing machine symbols you’ll see on clothing labels. Each full symbol is explained, so you can tell exactly how an item should be washed.

Wash type symbols

Choosing the right wash type is the first step, because it sets the basic rule for how the item can be cleaned. These are the most common symbols:

• A washtub alone indicates the garment can be machine washed.
• A washtub with a hand indicates the garment must be hand washed.
• A washtub with an × indicates the garment cannot be washed.

Water temperature symbols

After selecting a wash type, water temperature should be considered according to the washing instructions:

• A washtub with a single · indicates 30°C/85°F cold water.
• A ·· indicate 40°C/105°F warm water.
• A ··· indicate 50°C/120°F warm or hot water.
• Four · indicate 60°C/140°F hot water.
• Five · indicate 70°C/160°F or higher, approaching boiling, which is considered garment sanitization rather than simple washing.

Cycle symbols

Different fabrics need different levels of care. Some can handle a normal wash, while others need a gentler cycle to avoid damage. These washing machine symbols Canada show which wash cycle to use:

• No line under the wash symbol means a normal cycle is fine.
• One horizontal line underneath means to use a permanent press cycle. This works well for clothes that wrinkle easily.
• Two or three horizontal lines underneath mean the fabric is delicate, like silk or wool. A gentle or delicate cycle is the safer choice.

Dryer Symbols

After washing is done in the laundry appliances, the next step is drying. Some clothes can go in the dryer, while others need to air dry.

Dryer symbols on washing machines follow similar rules to washing symbols, but they use different shapes and extra marks. These combinations tell you if tumble drying is allowed and which setting is safe to use.

Tumble dry vs air dry

Similar to choosing a wash type, start by identifying the general drying method:

• A □ containing a ○ (with the ○ touching the four sides of the □—note the difference from the dry clean only symbol) indicates tumble dry allowed; if accompanied by a ×, it indicates no dryer sign.
• A □ containing a solid black ○ indicates Tumble Dry with No Heat/Air.
• A □ with a horizontal line indicates the garment should be dry flat.
• A twisted symbol with × indicates do not wring the garment by hand.
• A □ with a curved line represents hang dry.

Tumble dry heat settings

For garments suitable for a washer dryer combo, select the appropriate temperature according to the washing signs meaning:

• □ + ○ + · indicates normal tumble dry / low heat.
• □ + ○ + two ·· indicates normal cycle / medium heat.
• □ + ○ + three ··· indicates normal tumble dry / high heat.

Dryer cycle options

For delicate or easily deformed fabrics, the dryer handles them similarly to washers, distinguishing normal and gentle cycles:

□ + ○ + · + one horizontal line indicates permanent press / low heat tumble dry.

• □ + ○ + two ·· + one horizontal line indicates permanent press / medium heat tumble dry.
• □ + ○ + · + two horizontal lines indicates gentle cycle / low heat tumble dry.
• □ + ○ + two ·· + two horizontal lines indicates gentle cycle / medium heat tumble dry.

Other Symbols You'll See on Laundry Tags

The symbols above mostly cover washing and drying. On many tags, you’ll also see symbols for bleach, dry cleaning, and ironing. These help you avoid damage when caring for clothes at home.

Bleach symbols

For light-colored garments, especially white, which may be accidentally stained, check these symbols to confirm if bleaching is allowed:

• A simple △ indicates the garment can be bleached.
• A black △ with × indicates do not bleach.
• A blank triangle with two diagonal lines indicates non-chlorine bleach only.

Ironing symbols

After spinning, wringing, or air drying, garments may wrinkle. Before applying the iron, always check the suitable temperature to avoid damage:

• Iron with one · indicates 110°C / 230°F low heat.
• Iron with two ·· indicates 150°C / 300°F medium heat.
• Iron with three ··· indicates 200°C / 390°F high heat.
• Iron with an × and two outward slanted lines indicates do not use steam.
• Iron with only an × indicates do not iron.

Dry cleaning symbols

Some garments cannot be handled by normal home washing and require dry cleaning:

• A ○ indicates dry clean.
• A ○ with × indicates do not dry clean.
• A on washing label: Garment may be dry cleaned using any solvent.
• P on washing label: Trichloroethylene must not be used at any stage of dry cleaning.
• F on washing label: Garment may only be dry cleaned with petroleum solvent, using solvent instead of water.

Quick Cheat Sheet

Here is a table to help you quickly remember what do washing machine signs mean:

Conclusion

Washing machine and dryer symbols can look confusing at first. They are small, and they do not use words. But they follow a few simple rules.

Once you know the main shapes, the rest gets much easier. You start to spot patterns. You can tell what heat is safe, which wash cycle to use, and how to dry the item without damaging it.

Now you have a clear way to read care labels from start to finish. Check the tag before you wash a new item. After a few times, you won’t need to guess. You’ll just know what to do.

FAQs

What are the most important washing symbols to remember?

Key washing symbols include wash type, water temperature, and cycle indicators. They show whether a garment can be machine washed, hand washed, or should not be washed, the safe water temperature, and whether to use normal, permanent press, or delicate cycles.

Knowing these symbols helps prevent shrinking, fading, or damage, ensuring clothes maintain their quality, shape, and longevity.

How do I know which dryer setting to use from the label symbols?

The care label shows dryer settings through the drying symbols. A square with a circle inside means tumble drying is allowed. Dots inside the circle tell you the heat level. One dot is low heat, two dots are medium, and three dots are high.

A square with an X means no tumble drying. If the square has lines but no circle, it usually means air dry instead. The line direction can hint at how to dry it, like flat or hanging.

What should I do if the laundry symbols on my clothing label are faded or missing?

If laundry symbols are missing or faded, rely on fabric type and general care rules. Use lower temperatures for delicate fabrics like silk or wool, gentle cycles, and air or hang drying. Mild detergents and minimal mechanical action help prevent damage.