Japanese Clothes Washing Symbols Explained

Japanese clothes washing symbols can be confusing, especially for those who don't speak Japanese.

The symbols are usually placed on the care label of the garment, and they indicate how to wash, dry, and iron the item.

Some symbols may look like a circle with a line through it, which means "do not iron." Others may resemble a picture of a tree, indicating that the garment should be hung to dry.

The symbol for "machine wash" is often a picture of a washing machine, and it's usually accompanied by a number that indicates the wash cycle.

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Understanding Garment Care Labels is crucial for maintaining the quality and longevity of your Japanese clothes. Familiarize yourself with the symbols on the care label to ensure you're caring for your garments correctly.

A square shaped symbol represents a washing machine, indicating the garment is machine washable. A number following the symbol shows the limit of the highest temperature when washed in water, such as 95 for up to 95 degrees or 40 for up to 40 degrees.

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If a washing machine symbol has a 弱 inside it, the garment needs to be washed gently. Choose a gentle or hand wash cycle to prevent damage. If there's no washing machine symbol and only a 手洗イ symbol is shown, the garment is not machine washable.

The X symbol indicates the garment cannot be washed in water, while a triangle beaker symbol means chlorine bleach can be used. However, if there's a X on the triangle, chlorine bleach cannot be used.

The iron icon, a half circle shape with a line, indicates whether the garment can be ironed. An X on the icon means it cannot be ironed, while letters inside the symbol show the temperature range, such as 高 for up to 210c, 中 for up to 160c, or 低 for up to 120c.

Here's a summary of the common washing symbols you might encounter:

Washing by soaking is recommended for garments with 弱、手洗イ marks, so soak the garment in warm water with laundry detergent for about an hour.

To wash delicate garments, do not wash it hard, removing impurity by soaking in detergent is highly effective. Squeeze the garment gently, but avoid squeezing if it has an X symbol.

The drying process is just as important as washing. A shirt-shaped symbol indicates how to dry the garment after washing. With a projection on the top, drying by hanging is recommended.

If the symbol has a projection and a 平 in the middle, drying by flattening is recommended. Dry the garment by spreading it on a flat space. Avoid direct sunlight and dry the garment in the shadow.

Here are some common drying symbols:

If you're unsure about how to wash or dry a garment, refer to a guide that decodes each symbol.

Understanding Japanese clothes washing symbols is crucial for maintaining the beauty and integrity of your garments. These symbols contain essential information about how to properly care for each garment, ensuring that they remain in pristine condition for as long as possible.

The care label typically includes a series of symbols that indicate the appropriate washing methods, drying techniques, and ironing tips tailored specifically for Japanese clothes.

To determine if a garment can be washed in a machine, look for the square shaped symbol. If it's present, the garment is machine washable. If there's a weak symbol inside the washing machine symbol, choose gentle or hand wash cycle to be washed in your washing machine.

If there's no square shaped symbol and only 手洗イ symbol is shown, the garment is not machine washable. Furthermore, if there's an X symbol, the garment cannot be washed in water.

The wash tub icon shows washing instructions, detailing both water temperature and wash cycle options (e.g., hand wash, machine wash). For example, a number such as 95 indicates the limit of the highest temperature when it's washed in water. If it says 40, the garment can be washed in water in up to 40 degrees.

A triangle beaker symbol means that chlorine bleach can be used, but if there's an X on it, chlorine bleach cannot be used. You must check when you use bleach.

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To determine if a garment can be ironed, look for the half circle shape with a line. If there's an X mark, the garment cannot be ironed. Otherwise, it can be ironed, and the letter inside the symbol shows the temperature range that can be ironed. For example, a letter like 高 indicates that the garment can be ironed up to 210°C.

Here's a summary of the common symbols you might encounter on care labels, along with their meanings:

By adhering to these care instructions, you can significantly reduce the risk of fabric wear and tear, and enjoy your Japanese clothes for years to come, maintaining their quality and appearance.

If you see a washing machine symbol with a number like 95, it means the garment can be washed in water up to 95 degrees. This is a common temperature limit for machine washing.

If the washing machine symbol has a weak sign inside, it means the garment needs to be washed gently. Choose a gentle or hand wash cycle to wash it in your machine.

Some garments may have a triangle symbol that indicates chlorine bleach can be used. However, if there's an X on the symbol, you should not use chlorine bleach. Always check the label before using bleach.

Here's a quick rundown of what the symbols mean:

Some special instructions may be the same across countries, but it's always a good idea to double-check the specific details. Japanese washing symbols are not entirely standardized internationally, so it's essential to familiarize yourself with Japanese symbols if purchasing Japanese clothing.

Many symbols are indeed standardized, but some specifics may vary between countries, which can cause confusion.

The care label on your Japanese clothes is a treasure trove of information, but it can be overwhelming if you don't know what to look for. A square shaped symbol represents a washing machine to show it is machine washable.

A number such as 95 shows the limit of the highest temperature when it is washed in water. If it says 40, it can be washed in water in up to 40 degrees.

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The presence of a 弱 inside the washing machine symbol means the garment needs to be washed gently. For the garment with this symbol, choose gentle or hand wash cycle to be washed in your washing machine.

A symbol like a triangle beaker means that chlorine bleach can be used, but only if there's no X mark on it. You must check when you use bleach.

Some garments have a X symbol, indicating that they cannot be washed in water. Others may have a 手洗イ symbol, meaning they are not machine washable.

Here are some common symbols you might encounter on care labels, along with their meanings:

By following these special care label instructions, you can ensure that your Japanese clothes remain in top condition for many wears to come.

Japanese washing symbols often include specific recommendations for ironing, such as temperature settings and whether to use steam.

The number of dots on the iron symbol indicates the temperature setting: three dots mean high heat, up to 210°C, two dots mean medium heat, up to 160°C, and one dot means low heat, up to 120°C.

If there is a steam symbol under the iron, it means steam ironing is not allowed, so be sure to check the symbol carefully before ironing your clothes.

A “X” on the symbol means ironing is not allowed, so it's best to avoid ironing the garment altogether.

Here's a quick reference guide to ironing temperatures based on the number of dots on the iron symbol: