Non-chlorine bleach only
An ISO 3758 triangle with two diagonal lines inside it, indicating only non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach may be used; chlorine bleach is prohibited.
What it means
The two diagonal stripes restrict bleaching to oxygen-based products such as sodium percarbonate. Chlorine bleach would damage the fibre or strip colour, so it is excluded while colour-safe oxygen bleach remains allowed.
What to do
Reach for an oxygen bleach (sometimes sold as colour-safe or all-fabric bleach) rather than household chlorine bleach. Dissolve it in warm water for a soak, and never substitute chlorine bleach on an item carrying this symbol.
How to use this term
Use this bleach symbol before choosing chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach or a no-bleach stain route.
- Read non-chlorine bleach only with the other symbols on the same care label; the strictest symbol wins.
- Match the instruction to the garment's most fragile part, including trims, lining, prints and finishes.
- If the label, fabric behaviour and stain method disagree, test a hidden area or choose the lower-risk route.
Common mistake
The two thin diagonal lines are easy to miss on a small woven label, so the mark gets read as the plain "any bleach" triangle and household chlorine comes out. Items carrying this symbol are usually coloured or synthetic, and on elastane blends chlorine can cause yellowing that is hard to reverse. Confirm both stripes are there before any bleach touches the load.
For the broader method, use the What Fabrics Can You Bleach and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.
Related terms
Sources
- ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols — International Organization for Standardization