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Laundry does not need any more mysteries — do whites have to be washed in hot water? Do tennis balls in the dryer actually work? And where is that other sock?
And the conundrums continue when it comes to the tags on your clothes.
Instead of clearly printed “wash this way” instructions, the labels often come with a set of hieroglyphics that require some kind of Rosetta Stone for fabric softeners.
Sure, we all know what the giant iron picture means, but… what about that tiny triangle with a huge “x” through it?
According to Tide, the mystery has been solved:
That triangle symbol is (somehow) short for bleach.
If you’re supposed to use bleach on a garment, the fabric tag will have a little plain pyramid. For pieces that shouldn’t get bleached, the triangle will be topped with a big verboten “X.”
“Recognizing these signs can save your garment from getting permanently damaged by chlorine bleach,” the detergent company said.
Another important icon to learn: The symbol for your washing machine cycle.
Normal, permanent and delicate/gentle cycles are represented by a wash tub icon with either zero, one or two lines underneath.
The normal “wash” cycle symbol is just a tub with water in it — no lines for that one.
The “permanent press” wash cycle symbol is the tub of water and a single line underneath. Use that for clothes made from synthetic fibers, like polyester, that are specially treated to guard against wrinkles.
And the “delicate” sign is a tub with water and two lines underneath.
As the name implies, this cycle is for garments that can easily rip or stretch out, like bras, tights, vintage denim and older T-shirts. (Gentle detergent formulas, like Woolite or The Laundress, are also useful in this case.)
Just remember to look out for “dry clean only” and “hand-wash only” signs — usually indicated by a circle or hand wash symbols — to make sure you’re not damaging clothes with your spin cycle.
