In plain English: Dry cleaning solvents will damage this garment. Clean it by the method the rest of the label allows — usually water washing.
What it looks like on the tagA circle with an X crossed through it.
What to do
- Follow the washing symbol on the same label; it's the intended cleaning route.
- Tell any cleaner about the symbol if you hand the garment over for stain work.
- For technical gear, use the fabric maker's recommended wash-in products.
What happens if you ignore it
Solvents dissolve polyurethane coatings, waterproof laminates, foam padding, and some elastics — the exact technologies in rainwear and activewear.
Where you'll see it
Waterproof shells, down jackets with coated fabrics, swimwear, and PU-coated pieces.
Common questions
Why would dry cleaning hurt anything? It's “dry.”
It's a liquid solvent bath, not air. Solvents that dissolve body oils also dissolve coatings and laminate glues.
My suit got this symbol — now what?
Unusual but real: some unstructured or coated suits are wet-clean designed. Find a cleaner offering professional wet cleaning.
Related symbols
- Dry Clean — professional dry cleaning is safe
- Professional Wet Clean — professional wet cleaning is approved: a controlled, water-based process with specialized machines and finishing
- Machine Wash Cold — wash this garment in cold water
Or just scan the label
CareLabl reads the entire care label in one photo — every symbol on it, decoded into plain English, plus the fabric composition. Works with international and US labels. Try Pro free for 3 days, no credit card needed.