# Dry clean — Laundry Care Symbol | Launderwise

---

Professional cleaning

![Dry clean](/images/care-symbols/dry-clean.svg)

# 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 ](/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, any solvent](/glossary/dry-clean-any-solvent/index.md)
- [Professional wet cleaning (W)](/glossary/professional-wet-cleaning/index.md)
- [Do not dry clean](/glossary/do-not-dry-clean/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)