Laundry Care Symbols Chart Printable, Australian Labels Explained (A4 Poster)

Since March 2024, Australian clothing and textile labels may give care instructions with symbols only, without words (Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 2023, enforced by the ACCC). This chart decodes the five symbol families: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional care.

Print it on A4 or A3 and stick it inside the laundry cupboard.

• 1 A4 poster (scales to A3)
• All five symbol families with plain-English meanings
• Three colourways

1. Print on A4 or A3, portrait.
2. The number in the washtub is the highest safe water temperature in °C.
3. A cross through any symbol means don't.

Do Australian labels have to use words?
Not any more. Since March 2024 suppliers can use English, the international symbols, or both (Product Safety Australia).

What do the dots mean?
On the iron and the tumble dryer, more dots mean more heat: one dot low, two medium, three high.

• Product Safety Australia: care labelling mandatory standard