At One Place

Iron at high temperature — three dots

Iron at high temperature — three dots
Iron with the soleplate no hotter than 200 °C (390 °F).
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What it looks like

Iron at high temperature — three dots

An outline of an iron with three dots on it.

What it means

Cotton and linen only. Linen in particular is close to unpressable below this — the creases simply do not move — and it wants the fabric damp as well as the iron hot. The risk at 200 °C is scorching rather than melting: cotton yellows and then browns, and on a dark fabric the first sign is a shine rather than a colour change. Anything with a printed transfer, a synthetic blend or a fused interlining should be ironed at the lowest dot on the label, not the highest fibre present.

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.
Any bleach allowed Any bleach may be used, including chlorine bleach.
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.

Common questions

What does the iron at high temperature — three dots symbol mean?
Iron with the soleplate no hotter than 200 °C (390 °F).
What does it look like?
An outline of an iron with three dots on it.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Official vendor product documentation — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked