Dry clean
An ISO 3758 plain circle, indicating the garment should be professionally dry cleaned; letters and bars inside specify the permitted solvent and any restrictions.
What it means
The circle is the general professional-cleaning symbol. On its own it tells the wearer to use a dry cleaner; the letter inside (P, F or W) tells the cleaner which solvent or process is safe, and bars beneath it call for a gentler treatment.
What to do
Take the item to a professional cleaner and point out any visible stains, since pre-treatment differs from home washing. Do not attempt to wash a dry-clean-only item in water unless the label also shows a wash symbol.
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 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 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