Wash at 30°C or below
The number is the maximum water temperature.
READ YOUR LABEL
Washing temperatures: choose the setting your label allows
Understand maximum wash temperatures, Celsius numbers, US wash dots and cycle bars before choosing a washing-machine program.
Read temperature and cycle together
The number inside a wash tub is a maximum temperature in degrees Celsius. It is not a command to use that temperature for every load. The bars underneath describe the washing process, so temperature alone is only part of the instruction. Start with the garment label, then find a machine program that meets both limits.
Marks you may see
Wash at 40°C or below
The number is the maximum water temperature.
Wash at 60°C or below
The number is the maximum water temperature.
Match the label to the controls
A number inside the tub
Common examples are 30°C (86°F), 40°C (104°F) and 60°C (140°F). These are limits, not fabric recommendations. A 30°C-labelled item does not belong in a 40°C wash merely because another item in the load permits it.
Dots instead of a number
US wash dots run from one to six, representing maximums of approximately 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 95°C. Confirm that the dots are inside a wash tub: dots in an iron or tumble-dryer mark have different meanings. Use written instructions when supplied.
Bars below the tub
One or two bars call for a milder washing process than the unbarred symbol; two is gentler than one. Lowering the temperature on an intensive cycle does not satisfy that instruction. Match the permitted process to the cycle guidance in your machine manual.
Cold, cool, warm or hot on the machine
These names are not universal Celsius settings. Their temperatures and available combinations vary by machine. Consult the model manual when matching a precise label limit. Do not assume a quick, eco or delicate program always uses the temperature you expect.
Put the instructions into practice
Read every item in the proposed load
Check the wash symbol, written restrictions and colour-sorting advice. Separate items whose required care cannot be satisfied by the same program. Similar colours do not necessarily mean compatible washing instructions.
Choose the permitted process
Select the cycle using the label and your machine instructions, then check the temperature it uses. Observe any reduced-load directions associated with delicate or wool programs rather than filling every cycle to the same level.
Check the detergent directions
Use a suitable laundry detergent at the stated dose for the load and conditions. A cooler permitted wash can be appropriate for everyday cleaning, but its performance also depends on the detergent, soil and washing process.
Read the settings before starting
Check the final display after choosing options: a stored preference or cycle change may alter your selection. Recheck drying instructions when unloading. The permitted wash temperature says nothing about the permitted dryer heat.
Avoid these mistakes
- Do not increase heat beyond the label limit to deal with a difficult stain.
- Do not treat a care-label temperature as a guaranteed disinfection process.
- Do not read washing dots using the temperature scale for ironing or tumble drying.
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