Machine wash, normal
The basic ISO 3758 washtub symbol with no bar beneath it, meaning the garment can be machine washed on a normal (unrestricted) mechanical action, spin and rinse.
What it means
A plain washtub icon represents the standard wash process. The number inside the tub, when present, is the maximum water temperature in degrees Celsius; an absence of any bar under the tub signals that normal agitation, normal spinning and normal rinsing are all allowed.
What to do
Wash the item in a regular cottons or mixed cycle at or below the stated temperature. No special gentleness is required, so you can fill the drum to its rated load and use a standard spin speed.
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, normal 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 upgrade to a hotter or heavier cycle because the stain looks stubborn; the strictest care symbol still sets the limit.
For the broader method, use the Laundry temperature 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