Understanding Laundry Care Symbols: A Simple Guide for Busy Bali Residents
- Heavenly Laundry
- Aug 27
- 4 min read
When you pick up new clothes or fresh linens, you’ve probably noticed those tiny tags with mysterious shapes and icons. For many people, they’re easy to ignore—until your favorite shirt shrinks or a beautiful silk scarf gets ruined. If you’ve ever wondered what those laundry care symbols mean, you’re not alone. This fabric care guide is designed to help busy Bali residents and travelers quickly understand washing instructions so you can keep your clothes looking fresh, even in Bali’s tropical climate.
Why Laundry Care Symbols Matter
Clothing tags aren’t just there for decoration. They provide important care information directly from the manufacturer, helping you:
Prevent damage and shrinkage.
Keep colors vibrant and fabrics soft.
Extend the life of your clothes and bedding.
For Bali residents dealing with heat, humidity, and frequent laundry days, following proper washing instructions is even more important.
A Quick Fabric Care Guide: What the Symbols Mean
Here’s a simple breakdown of the most common laundry care symbols you’ll see on clothing and linens:
1. Washing Symbols
Machine Wash Normal: A plain tub icon means the garment can be machine washed on a regular cycle.
Machine Wash Permanent Press: A tub with one line underneath indicates a gentle cycle with reduced agitation to minimize wrinkles.
Machine Wash Delicate: A tub with two lines underneath signals a delicate or gentle wash for fabrics like silk or lace.
Hand Wash Only: A hand inside the tub shows the garment should be washed by hand to protect the fabric.
Maximum Water Temperature: A number inside the tub (e.g., 40°C) indicates the hottest water temperature safe for washing.
Do Not Wash: A crossed-out tub means the item should not be washed with water and likely requires dry cleaning.
2. Bleaching Symbols
Non-Chlorine Bleaching: A triangle with diagonal lines means you can use only oxygen-based or non-chlorine bleach when needed.
Bleaching Is Allowed: A plain empty triangle indicates any type of bleach (chlorine or non-chlorine) may be used when necessary.
Do Not Bleach: A crossed-out triangle means you should never use bleach, as it may damage the fabric.
3. Drying Symbols
Tumble Dry Normal Heat: A plain circle inside a square means you can tumble dry at a normal heat setting.
Tumble Dry Low Heat: A square with a circle and one dot inside indicates tumble drying on low heat.
Tumble Dry Medium Heat: A square with a circle and two dots means tumble drying on medium heat.
Tumble Dry High Heat: A square with a circle and three dots allows tumble drying on high heat.
Do Not Tumble Dry: A crossed-out square with a circle means you should not tumble dry the item; air-drying is recommended.
Dry Clean Only: A plain circle indicates the garment must be dry cleaned professionally rather than machine or hand washed.
4. Ironing Symbols
Iron: A plain iron icon means the garment can be ironed at any safe temperature.
Low Temperature: An iron with one dot indicates ironing at low heat (cool setting).
Medium Temperature: An iron with two dots signals ironing at medium heat.
High Temperature: An iron with three dots allows ironing at high heat for sturdy fabrics like cotton or linen.
Do Not Iron: A crossed-out iron symbol means you should not iron the item at all.
Do Not Steam: An iron with crossed-out steam lines indicates you can iron but must avoid using steam.
5. Dry Cleaning Symbols
Dry Clean – Any Solvent (A): A circle with the letter “A” means the item can be dry cleaned using any solvent.
Dry Clean – PCE Only (P): A circle with the letter “P” indicates dry cleaning using perchloroethylene (PCE) solvent only.
Dry Clean – Petroleum Only (F): A circle with the letter “F” allows dry cleaning with petroleum-based solvents only.
Wet Clean (W): A circle with the letter “W” means the garment can be professionally wet cleaned with water-based methods.
Do Not Dry Clean: A crossed-out circle indicates the item should never be dry cleaned.
Practical Washing Instructions for Bali’s Climate
Living in Bali means dealing with high humidity and tropical weather, which can make laundry tricky. Here are a few tips to go along with your fabric care guide:
Wash clothes promptly to avoid mildew.
Follow the tag temperature limits to protect delicate fabrics.
Air-dry whenever possible, but check the drying symbol first.
For bulky bedding, find a professional laundry service if your washer is too small.
Too Busy? Let Heavenly Laundry Handle It
Even with the best intentions, life in Bali can get hectic. If you don’t have time to decode every tag, Heavenly Laundry is here to help. Our trained staff understand laundry care symbols and proper washing instructions for every fabric type.
We offer:
Professional washing and drying for all fabric types.
Eco-friendly detergents safe for your clothes and the environment.
Pickup and delivery options for ultimate convenience.
Final Thoughts
Understanding fabric care symbols doesn’t have to be complicated. With this simple fabric care guide, you can protect your favorite outfits, bedding, and linens from accidental damage. And when you need extra help, Heavenly Laundry is just a call away.
Get in Touch with Heavenly Laundry in Canggu
Contact Us:
Phone: +6281138722211 WhatsApp: https://wa.link/lnxt6v
Address: Jl. Raya Canggu No.165, Canggu, Bali 80351
Looking for professional laundry in Canggu? We’d love to help with all your laundry needs. Whether it's everyday washing, delicate care, or stain removal, Heavenly Laundry is here to make laundry day easier and worry-free.
We are open every day 8am - 8pm. Feel free to stop by or reach out via WhatsApp!
