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.
A single line below a 30 tub changes the cycle, not the numeric maximum. Look for the machine program described as easy care, permanent press or gentle; the exact program names vary by machine.
02 / WHAT TO DO
The practical decision.
Use a smaller load when the wash process calls for less abrasion. A 30°C normal wash may have the correct water temperature but still be mechanically too aggressive.
Hotter washing or stronger agitation than the label allows may change size, colour or finish.
03 / WHAT PEOPLE CONFUSE
One small detail changes the meaning.
The two-line 30°C symbol is stricter still: it calls for a very mild process suitable for particularly sensitive items.
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.