READ YOUR LABEL

Wash-cycle symbols: one bar, two bars and the right program

Compare the bars below a wash tub, distinguish wash action from temperature, and match normal, mild or very mild care to your machine.

The bars describe the process, not the water temperature

Numbers or dots inside a wash tub describe temperature; bars below it restrict the process. A colder wash does not make a vigorous cycle gentle. Read these details with the written instructions, then find a compatible program in your washer’s manual.

Compare the marks

These examples isolate the bars. On your item, also read the temperature inside the tub and every written condition.

No bar: normal process

Tub outline.

No bar calls for the normal washing process. Read the temperature and any written restrictions separately.

One bar: mild / permanent press

Tub outline; 1 bar underneath.

International labels call for a mild process. US labels call this permanent press. Check the machine’s matching cycle.

Two bars: very mild / gentle

Tub outline; 2 bars underneath.

International labels require a very mild process; US labels use gentle or delicate. One bar is not equivalent.

Four checks before choosing a cycle

Is machine washing allowed?

Check for a hand or cross first. Hand washing and do not wash are separate instructions, not extra-gentle machine settings. A machine program named hand wash does not itself override a hand-wash-only label.

Which process does the label require?

Count the bars directly under the tub. International mild and very mild instructions concern mechanical treatment. US permanent press and gentle names help identify the corresponding care categories, but washer program names are not standardized across models.

What does your machine actually offer?

Look up the program description, load limit and available options. Some washers use names such as Casual or Wrinkle Control for permanent press. Do not assume a program called quick, eco or synthetics is the required match without checking.

What about temperature and spin?

Read the separate temperature limit, then check the program’s settings. The bar count does not translate into one universal spin speed. Use the garment instructions and model manual rather than choosing an invented RPM limit for every delicate item.

Put the instructions into practice

Group items with compatible instructions
Check the full labels before making a load. Keep hand-wash and non-washable items out. Separate garments whose colour, process or drying requirements cannot be handled together.
Select the matching program
Find the model’s documented normal, mild or very mild option. If you cannot identify a suitable program, confirm with the appliance or garment maker before guessing.
Check the load and selected options
Follow that program’s loading guidance; a gentle cycle may allow less laundry than the machine’s headline capacity. Check that temperature or spin overrides still meet the item’s instructions.
Prepare the permitted drying method
Read the separate drying instruction. A gentle wash does not grant tumble-drying permission. Prepare a rack or flat surface when required.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not substitute a cold intensive wash for a mild process.
Do not treat two bars as a request to run the wash twice.
Do not infer unrestricted washing from a missing or unreadable instruction; check with the maker.

Turn your label into a checklist

Choose the marks actually printed on your item. Keep the complete instructions together, then copy or print your checklist.

Find the marks on my label