What to do
- Fill a clean basin with cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent.
- Submerge the garment and gently squeeze the water through it — no scrubbing or twisting.
- Soak 10–15 minutes, rinse in cool water until it runs clear.
- Press water out between towels, then lay flat or hang per the drying symbol.
What happens if you ignore it
A machine's agitation stretches knits, felts wool, and shreds delicate weaves. “Delicate cycle” is not the same as hand washing — if the label says hand wash, the machine is off the table.
Where you'll see it
Silk blouses, lingerie, cashmere and wool knits, swimwear, and embellished pieces.
Common questions
Can I use my machine's “hand wash” cycle?
Risky. Some machines have genuinely gentle cycles, but the label was written assuming actual hand washing. For anything you love, do it by hand.
What detergent should I use?
A gentle, pH-neutral detergent — wool/silk formulas are ideal. Skip regular detergent with enzymes for protein fibers like silk and wool.
Related symbols
- Do Not Wash — water itself will damage this garment
- Delicate / Gentle Cycle — use the delicate/gentle cycle: minimal agitation, a short slow spin, and ideally a mesh bag for anything that can snag
- Dry Flat — lay the garment flat on a surface to dry
- Do Not Wring — don't twist or wring this garment to squeeze water out
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.