Professional wet cleaning (W)
An ISO 3758 circle containing the letter W, indicating the garment should be professionally wet cleaned — a controlled, water-based process carried out by a cleaner.
What it means
The letter W specifies professional wet cleaning: a gentle, computer-controlled water process using specialised detergents and drying, offered as a lower-solvent alternative to traditional dry cleaning. Bars beneath the circle call for an even milder cycle.
What to do
Take the item to a cleaner that advertises professional wet cleaning, not just dry cleaning. Do not try to replicate it at home; the controlled moisture, mechanical action and drying are what stop the fabric distorting.
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 professional wet cleaning (w) 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