Do not iron
An ISO 3758 iron symbol crossed out, indicating the garment must not be ironed or pressed.
What it means
A cross through the iron forbids ironing entirely. The heat or pressure would melt, glaze, flatten or otherwise ruin the fabric or its decoration — common on heavily synthetic, coated, sequinned or pile fabrics.
What to do
Do not apply an iron. Remove creases another way: hang the item in a steamy bathroom, use a handheld garment steamer held away from the surface, or smooth it by hand while it dries flat.
How to use this term
Use this ironing symbol before applying heat, steam or pressure to the garment surface.
- Read do not iron 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 press over a stain, print, coating or delicate fibre until you know heat is allowed and the mark is gone.
For the broader method, use the Beginner laundry guide 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