The washing machine safe symbol is a universal safety sign that appears on many clothes and fabrics. It’s designed to indicate the safe maximum temperature at which the fabric can be washed and dried without damage. Understanding this symbol helps consumers make sure they are treating their clothes properly, ensuring them a long life.
The washing machine safe symbol looks like a square with an X inside it, or sometimes just an X. Inside this square are numbers and lettering which indicate the temperatures at which you should wash and dry the fabric safely. The letter “W” stands for “washing”, while the number next to it shows what temperature you should use when washing that particular fabric in your washing machine (the higher the number, the hotter). For example, if you see “W30” on your garment, this means you should wash it in cold water (30 degrees Celsius). Similarly, you may see “D50” on your garment – this means you should dry it on a low heat setting (50 degrees Celsius).
It is important to follow these instructions closely as different fabrics react differently to different temperatures of water and heat. If you ignore these instructions, there is a risk of shrinking or discoloration of clothes due to overheating. Additionally, some materials can be damaged by too much heat when ironing or tumble drying. To ensure that your garments remain in good condition for as long as possible, always check for any signs such as symbols or labels with instructions before laundering them.
It’s also important to note that there are other symbols used for laundry care instructions such as hand-washing only symbols (a bowl of water with lines underneath), do not bleach symbols (a triangle with an exclamation mark inside it) and other specific care instructions such as air drying only (a line under a circle). So make sure to pay attention when choosing how to clean your clothes!
By understanding how to read and interpret the washing machine safe symbol correctly when laundering items of clothing or fabrics in general, consumers can help prolong their life span while avoiding damages caused by incorrect use of temperatures during cleaning methods.