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CHECK THE TAG / THE GARMENT CARE FIELD GUIDEEDITION 05 · REFERENCE SNAPSHOT 2026-11-01
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CARE MARK / WASHING / ISO 3758:2023

Hand wash at ambient temperature symbol.

Hand wash gently at ambient water temperature, about 20–30°C; do not rub or wring.

EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONSOURCE-TRACEDINTERNATIONAL REFERENCE
Use this mark in the decoder
ILLUSTRATIVE CARE MARKINDEX / HAND-WASH-AMBIENT
Hand wash at ambient temperature symbol: Hand wash gently at ambient water temperature, about 20–30°C; do not rub or wring.
THE MARK IS NOT A TEST RESULTCTT / 05
THE SHORT ANSWER

What does it mean?

Hand wash gently at ambient water temperature, about 20–30°C; do not rub or wring.

01 / HOW TO IDENTIFY IT

Match the shape, not just the words.

A wash tub is the base shape. Read the number or hand inside it, then count the lines beneath the tub. Each added line indicates a gentler process.

This newer ISO 2023 hand-wash variant indicates water at ambient temperature, commonly around 20–30°C, rather than a generic 40°C hand wash.

02 / WHAT TO DO

The practical decision.

Treat delicate and coloured pieces promptly, avoid rubbing and wringing, and reshape them if appropriate. Make sure that the icon on your actual label matches the ambient-temperature variant.

Do not skip this detail

Using hot water or machine agitation may damage a delicate article.

03 / WHAT PEOPLE CONFUSE

One small detail changes the meaning.

This is different from the older or higher-temperature hand-wash mark: the precise printed treatment matters.

30°C · very mild cycle mark30°C · very mild cycle40°C · very mild cycle mark40°C · very mild cycle30°C · normal cycle mark30°C · normal cycle

04 / AFTER YOU IDENTIFY IT

Check the rest of the tag.

The washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional-care instructions work together. This page interprets one symbol only; a blank or unreadable mark does not grant permission for any other treatment.

Never replace the maker’s written instructions with a guess based only on material composition or appearance. Read the complete care-label method.

EXPLORE THE INDEX

Other marks in washing

FIELD NOTE 30°C · very mild cycle symbolMachine wash at no more than 30°C on a very mild cycle.FIELD NOTE 40°C · very mild cycle symbolMachine wash at no more than 40°C on a very mild cycle.FIELD NOTE 30°C · normal cycle symbolMachine wash at no more than 30°C on a normal cycle.
REFERENCE CHECK / 01 NOV 2026

The source behind this interpretation

Care marks describe permitted treatments for the finished article, not a guarantee of results. Some standards require purchase and the illustrations here are independent teaching representations. Read the evidence and licensing limits.