Machine wash, cold
An ISO 3758 washtub showing 30 °C (or a single dot), indicating the garment should be machine washed at a maximum water temperature of 30 °C.
What it means
The figure 30 inside the tub, or a single dot, caps the wash water at 30 °C. Washing cooler protects colours and elastane and saves energy, but it also means heavily soiled or greasy loads may need a pre-treat or a longer cycle.
What to do
Select a 30 °C programme and pair it with a detergent formulated to work in cool water (most modern enzymatic liquids are). Pre-treat oily or set-in stains separately, because 30 °C alone will not dissolve them.
How to use this term
Use this washing symbol before choosing water temperature, cycle intensity or whether the item should go in the machine at all.
- Read machine wash, cold 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
The cold symbol is a ceiling, not a reason to run only cold cycles. Washing solely at 30 °C may not get the drum hot enough to shift residue and body oils, so smells and buildup can slowly develop inside the washer itself rather than on the clothes. Even an all-cold wardrobe can benefit from an occasional hotter maintenance wash to keep the machine fresh.
For the broader method, use the Clean a Smelly Washing Machine 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