Any bleach allowed
Any bleach allowed
Any bleach may be used, including chlorine bleach.
What it looks like
An empty triangle.
What it means
Only white cotton and linen normally carry this. Chlorine bleach works by oxidising the coloured compounds in a stain, and it cannot tell a stain from a dye, so anything coloured loses colour. It also attacks wool, silk, spandex and most synthetics directly rather than just their dye. Even on white cotton it weakens the fibre over repeated use — this is a symbol that permits bleaching, not one that recommends it.
Defined by ISO 3758. Where a symbol differs between standards, the difference is described above rather than resolved — both versions are in circulation on real labels.
Other laundry and care labels symbols
| Symbol | Means |
|---|---|
| Wash (plain tub) | The item can be machine washed. |
| Wash at 30 °C maximum | Machine wash at 30 °C (86 °F) or cooler. |
| Wash at 40 °C maximum | Machine wash at 40 °C (104 °F) or cooler. |
| Wash at 50 °C maximum | Machine wash at 50 °C (122 °F) or cooler. |
| Wash at 60 °C maximum | Machine wash at 60 °C (140 °F) or cooler. |
| Wash at 70 °C maximum | Machine wash at 70 °C (158 °F) or cooler. |
| Wash at 95 °C maximum | Machine wash at 95 °C (203 °F) or cooler — a boil wash. |
| Mild wash — one bar under the tub | Wash at the stated temperature but with reduced mechanical action — the permanent press or synthetics cycle. |
| Very mild wash — two bars under the tub | Wash at the stated temperature on the gentlest machine cycle, with a much reduced load and spin. |
| Hand wash only | Wash by hand at 40 °C (104 °F) or cooler. No machine washing. |
| Do not wash | Do not wash in water at all, by machine or by hand. |
| Do not wring | Do not twist the item to squeeze water out. |
| Non-chlorine bleach only | Oxygen bleach only — no chlorine bleach. |
| Do not bleach | No bleach of any kind, chlorine or oxygen. |
| Tumble dry (circle in a square) | The item may be tumble dried. |
| Tumble dry low — one dot | Tumble dry on a low-heat setting. |
| Tumble dry normal — two dots | Tumble dry at normal heat. |
| Tumble dry high — three dots | Tumble dry at high heat. |
| Tumble dry, no heat | Tumble dry with the heat off — the air-fluff or air-dry setting. |
| Do not tumble dry | Do not put this in a tumble dryer at any temperature. |
Common questions
- What does the any bleach allowed symbol mean?
- Any bleach may be used, including chlorine bleach.
- What does it look like?
- An empty triangle.
Related pages
- Non-chlorine bleach only Oxygen bleach only — no chlorine bleach.
- Do not bleach No bleach of any kind, chlorine or oxygen.
- Wash (plain tub) The item can be machine washed.
- Wash at 30 °C maximum Machine wash at 30 °C (86 °F) or cooler.
- Wash at 40 °C maximum Machine wash at 40 °C (104 °F) or cooler.
- Wash at 50 °C maximum Machine wash at 50 °C (122 °F) or cooler.
- Wash at 60 °C maximum Machine wash at 60 °C (140 °F) or cooler.
- Wash at 70 °C maximum Machine wash at 70 °C (158 °F) or cooler.
- Wash at 95 °C maximum Machine wash at 95 °C (203 °F) or cooler — a boil wash.
- Mild wash — one bar under the tub Wash at the stated temperature but with reduced mechanical action — the permanent press or synthetics cycle.
- Very mild wash — two bars under the tub Wash at the stated temperature on the gentlest machine cycle, with a much reduced load and spin.
- Hand wash only Wash by hand at 40 °C (104 °F) or cooler. No machine washing.
Sources
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place