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The iron symbol on the care label sets a ceiling: one dot 120°C (248°F), two dots 160°C (320°F), three dots 210°C (410°F), and a crossed-out iron means do not iron (GINETEX). Choose the heat from the label, not from a guess about the fibre; the fibre chart below helps you read the label, it does not replace it.
GINETEX, the body behind the ISO 3758 care symbols, pairs each iron dot with a fibre setting. Cotton and linen correspond to the three-dot setting. Wool, silk, polyester and viscose correspond to the two-dot setting. Acrylic (polyacryl), nylon and acetate correspond to the one-dot setting. Some fibres sit outside the scale: UGA Extension says never iron 100% olefin. The dots are maximums, and an iron-maker’s typical settings sit lower. On silk and polyester, the sources do not agree.
The three iron dots and their ceilings
Each symbol below is a maximum sole-plate temperature with its own fibre setting and steam rule, as GINETEX’s care-symbol page (which cites ISO 3758:2023) states them. The °F values are conversions of GINETEX’s °C figures.
| Label symbol | Max sole plate | GINETEX setting | Steam and handling (GINETEX) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One dot, steam crossed out | 120°C / 248°F | Polyacryl, polyamide (nylon), acetate | Iron without steam; press cloth or inside out for shiny or pressure-sensitive pieces |
| One dot | 120°C / 248°F | Polyacryl, polyamide (nylon), acetate | A steam iron may cause irreversible damage; press cloth or inside out if needed |
| Two dots | 160°C / 320°F | Wool/silk/polyester/viscose | Moderately moist intermediate cloth; a steam iron can be used; avoid heavy pressure |
| Three dots | 210°C / 410°F | Cotton/linen | Iron whilst damp, moisten if necessary; a steam iron may be used; press cloth or inside out for shiny or pressure-sensitive pieces |
| Crossed-out iron | Do not iron | None | Irreversible changes must be expected if an iron is used |
- One dot: max 120°C / 248°F. GINETEX setting: Acrylic (polyacryl), nylon (polyamide), acetate. Steam crossed out: iron without steam. Plain one dot: a steam iron may cause irreversible damage. If necessary, a press cloth or inside out for shiny or pressure-sensitive pieces.
- Two dots: max 160°C / 320°F. GINETEX setting: Wool, silk, polyester, viscose. Under a moderately moist cloth; a steam iron can be used; avoid heavy pressure.
- Three dots: max 210°C / 410°F. GINETEX setting: Cotton, linen. Iron whilst damp, moisten if necessary; a press cloth or inside out for shiny or pressure-sensitive pieces; a steam iron may be used.
Outside the scale
- Crossed-out iron: do not iron: irreversible changes must be expected (GINETEX).
- 100% olefin: never iron; melts at relatively low temperatures (UGA).
- Modacrylic: generally cannot be pressed; those containing Verel may be pressed with a very cool iron (UGA).
- Spandex / elastane: melts at relatively low heat; no ironing instruction given (UGA).
Each dot is a maximum, not a target. Choose it from the care label, not from the fibre content (GINETEX).
GINETEX: care symbols, ISO 3758:2023. UGA: University of Georgia Extension. °F values are conversions.
GINETEX’s rule is that the maximum temperature must be selected solely from the care label, not from the fibre content. A garment labelled with two dots stays at two dots, whatever the fibre looks like.
The ceiling is also not the number to aim for. Rowenta’s own chart gives approximate settings of about 110°C for silk, 120–150°C for polyester, about 150°C for wool and about 205°C for linen. Rowenta notes that most steam irons use three main temperature levels — low, medium and high. If you are choosing a steam iron↗, check that its dial or display marks those levels, and keep a pressing cloth for the rows below that call for one.
Ironing temperature by fabric
Each row gives the GINETEX setting a fibre corresponds to, that setting’s ceiling, and one fibre-specific rule from a named textile source.
| Fibre | GINETEX setting | Ceiling | Fibre-specific rule (source) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Three dots | 210°C / 410°F | Does not melt, but may scorch (UGA) |
| Linen | Three dots | 210°C / 410°F | Usually around 200°C, slightly damp, on the reverse (Alliance flax-linen); pressing on the right side develops a sheen (UGA) |
| Wool | Two dots | 160°C / 320°F | Steam, not dry, iron; press cloth on the wrong side (UGA) |
| Silk | Two dots | 160°C / 320°F | May turn yellow if the iron is too hot; no dry heat; press cloth (UGA) |
| Polyester | Two dots | 160°C / 320°F | If pressing is necessary: low temperature, with steam; melts if too hot (UGA) |
| Viscose / rayon | Two dots | 160°C / 320°F | Medium-hot iron; high-wet-modulus rayon needs a lower temperature (UGA) |
| Nylon (polyamide) | One dot | 120°C / 248°F | Press cloth or inside out for shiny or pressure-sensitive pieces (GINETEX) |
| Acrylic | One dot | 120°C / 248°F | Low iron temperature, wrong side; melts if too hot (UGA) |
| Acetate | One dot | 120°C / 248°F | While damp, wrong side, lowest setting; press cloth on the right side (UGA) |
| Spandex / elastane | None named | Follow the label | Melts at relatively low heat; no ironing instruction given (UGA) |
| Modacrylic | None named | Generally not pressed | Fabrics containing Verel: very cool iron only (UGA) |
| Olefin (100%) | None named | Never iron | Melts at relatively low temperatures (UGA) |
For a blend, do not average two rows. Use the label, because GINETEX ties the maximum to the care label rather than to the fibre content.
Read the whole labelTurn the iron dots into a setting, then check them against the wash, bleach and drying symbols on the same tag.
Decode a labelWhere the sources disagree
The standards body, the iron-maker and the university extension place silk and polyester differently. The table shows each position and what to do about it.
| Question | GINETEX | Rowenta | UGA Extension | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silk: which dot? | Two-dot setting (wool/silk/polyester/viscose) | Low heat, 1 dot | May turn yellow if the iron is too hot | Follow the label; with no label, start at the lowest setting |
| Polyester: how hot? | Two-dot setting | Medium, 2 dots (about 120–150°C) | Low temperature, with steam | Follow the label; with no label, start low and raise gradually |
| Silk: steam or dry? | Moderately moist intermediate cloth (two-dot setting) | Minimal steam, pressing cloth | No dry heat; press cloth | Use a press cloth, which all three name |
Because the sources disagree, the ceiling comes from the label (GINETEX), not from a fabric chart. For silk washing and drying, see how to wash silk without ruining it.
US labels that use words, not dots
Care labels sold in the US may spell the instruction out. The Care Labeling Rule (16 CFR 423) defines each term by dial position, not by degrees.
| Label wording | Meaning under 16 CFR 423 |
|---|---|
| Iron (no temperature) | The highest temperature setting may be regularly used |
| Warm iron | Medium temperature setting |
| Cool iron | Lowest temperature setting |
| Iron wrong side only | Turn the article inside out |
| Steam iron / Steam press | Use the iron at its steam setting |
| Iron damp | The article should feel moist |
| Use press cloth | A dry or damp cloth between iron and fabric |
| Do not iron | Not to be smoothed or finished with an iron |
The same rule says a label that mentions ironing must state a temperature that may be used, unless regular use of a hot iron will not harm the product. A plain “Iron” is therefore a hot-iron permission, not a missing detail.
No label: test before you press
When there is no label, or you cannot read it, Rowenta’s routine is:
- Sort garments by fabric type before you start.
- Start at the lowest temperature setting.
- Test on a hidden seam or inner hem first.
- Use a pressing cloth as a protective barrier.
- Raise the heat gradually, only if wrinkles remain.
- Let the iron cool before switching to a lower setting.
On dry cotton or linen, GINETEX’s three-dot instruction is to iron whilst damp and moisten if necessary; a water spray bottle↗ is one way to moisten it.
Edge cases and mistakes
- Ironing a crossed-out garment on low. The symbol forbids the iron, not a heat level: GINETEX warns that irreversible changes must be expected if an iron is used. See do not iron .
- Steam on one dot. Both one-dot symbols warn against steam: one says iron without steam, the other warns that a steam iron may cause irreversible damage (GINETEX).
- Prints, embossing and appliqués. GINETEX advises caution when fabrics have embossed effects or applications, and to note the care label.
- Metallic threads. Some metallic yarns have low heat resistance and should be ironed at low temperatures; turn the garment inside out for pressing (UGA).
- Pressed-in creases on linen. UGA Extension advises against pressing creases into linen, because they are difficult to remove.
The bottom line
Read the iron symbol first; its dots are a ceiling, and a crossed-out iron ends the question. Then use the fibre row for how to press: cloth, side, steam or none. Where the sources disagree, or there is no label, start at the lowest setting and test on a hidden seam.
Keep reading
- How to iron a shirt — the order and technique for a shirt, once you know its setting.
- How to wash linen — washing and drying the three-dot fibre before it reaches the board.
- Laundry temperature guide — wash heat, the other temperature on the label.
- Drying and ironing — every drying and ironing guide in one place.