# Do not dry clean — Laundry Care Symbol | Launderwise

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Professional cleaning

![Do not dry clean](/images/care-symbols/do-not-dry-clean.svg)

# Do not dry clean

An ISO 3758 circle crossed out, indicating the garment must not be professionally dry cleaned.

## What it means

A cross through the circle prohibits dry-cleaning solvents. The fibre, dye, adhesive or trim would be harmed by the solvents or the process, so the item must be cleaned by the water-based method shown elsewhere on the label.

## What to do

Do not take the item to a dry cleaner. Follow the wash and dry symbols on the label instead, and if it also carries a do-not-wash symbol, ask about professional wet cleaning rather than improvising.

## How to use this term

Use this professional-cleaning symbol when the item may need a dry cleaner or wet-cleaning specialist instead of home washing.

- Read do not dry clean 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

Do not override a dry-clean or professional-cleaning instruction just because the fabric feels sturdy.

For the broader method, use the [Silk care guide ](/blog/wash-silk-without-ruining-it/index.md)and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.

## Related terms

- [Dry clean](/glossary/dry-clean/index.md)
- [Professional wet cleaning (W)](/glossary/professional-wet-cleaning/index.md)
- [Machine wash, normal](/glossary/machine-wash-normal/index.md)

## Sources

- [ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols ](https://www.iso.org/standard/42918.html)— International Organization for Standardization

[ Back to the full glossary](/glossary/index.md)