# Do not iron — Laundry Care Symbol | Launderwise

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Ironing

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

# 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 ](/blog/getting-started-laundry/index.md)and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.

## Related terms

- [Iron without steam](/glossary/iron-no-steam/index.md)
- [Iron, low temperature](/glossary/iron-low/index.md)
- [Drip dry](/glossary/drip-dry/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)