Complete Laundry Symbols Chart for Dubai Residents

Understanding laundry symbols is your first line of defence against garment damage. For Dubai residents managing diverse wardrobes that include everything from cotton casual wear to silk abayas, knowing what each symbol means can save you from costly mistakes. Here's a comprehensive chart and guide tailored to the UAE context.

Washing Symbols Explained

The washing symbol is represented by a tub filled with water. A number inside the tub indicates the maximum wash temperature in Celsius - 30, 40, 50, 60, or 95. In Dubai's context, most everyday clothing works well at 30-40 degrees, which is sufficient to clean perspiration and dust while conserving energy. Only heavily soiled whites and towels typically need higher temperatures.

Lines beneath the tub indicate the wash cycle intensity. No line means a normal cycle suitable for sturdy fabrics like cotton and denim. One line indicates a synthetic or permanent press cycle with reduced agitation, and two lines mean a delicate cycle with minimal agitation. A hand symbol inside the tub means hand wash only - common on silk scarves, delicate lingerie, and embellished garments.

A crossed-out tub symbol means the item should not be washed with water at all and requires professional dry cleaning. In Dubai wardrobes, you'll commonly see this symbol on structured blazers, embellished evening wear, premium suits, and certain traditional garments with delicate finishing.

Drying and Ironing Symbols

The drying symbol is a square, with variations indicating the recommended drying method. A circle inside the square means tumble drying is acceptable, with dots indicating heat level - one dot for low heat, two for medium, and three for high. A square with a horizontal line inside means dry flat, while a curved line at the top means line dry. In Dubai, line drying works exceptionally well for most of the year thanks to the warm, dry climate.

The ironing symbol is straightforward - a simple iron shape with dots indicating maximum temperature: one dot for low (110°C, suitable for synthetics and silk), two dots for medium (150°C, for wool and polyester blends), and three dots for high (200°C, for cotton and linen). A crossed-out iron means do not iron, while an iron with lines beneath means do not steam.

For Dubai residents, understanding drying symbols is particularly important because the intense summer sun can bleach colours if items are left outdoors too long. The drying symbol guidance combined with local climate knowledge ensures your garments are dried safely and effectively.

Bleaching and Professional Care Symbols

The bleaching symbol is a triangle. An empty triangle means any bleach can be used, a triangle with diagonal lines means only non-chlorine bleach is permitted, and a crossed-out triangle means do not bleach. In Dubai's hard water environment, bleaching whites requires extra care as mineral deposits can react with bleach to cause yellowing.

The professional care symbol is a circle, with letters inside indicating the type of solvent to be used. 'P' means tetrachloroethylene (perc) solvents are safe, 'F' means petroleum solvents only, and 'W' means professional wet cleaning. A crossed-out circle means do not dry clean. Sharing these symbols with your laundry service ensures they select the correct professional treatment.

Book Your Laundry Collection in Dubai Today

Swabi Laundry makes it straightforward to start using a professional laundry service without any long-term commitment or upfront cost. The first step is a simple booking - through the website in under two minutes, or via WhatsApp. Select the pickup day and time window that works for your schedule, and a driver will collect from your door.

There is no need to sort or prepare garments in any particular way. Everything goes in the collection bag, and the processing team handles sorting, identifying fabric types, selecting the correct cleaning method, and applying any necessary pre-treatment. Items with specific care requirements - a loose button, a visible stain, a care label preference - can be noted via WhatsApp or by attaching a note to the item.

Every listed price is published before pickup; the exact total is confirmed when we count the items at the facility, before cleaning begins. Wash and iron from AED 10 a shirt. Dry cleaning from AED 10 a shirt. Alterations from AED 15. Shoes from AED 30 a pair for kids and AED 75 for adults, booked and priced at cleanmyshoes.ae. Curtains from AED 15 per sq metre. Carpets and rugs from AED 20 per sq metre (a 2 by 3 metre rug is AED 120); Persian and silk +50%. Home linen from AED 6 an item, or a bag of up to 15 items at AED 89 wash and fold or AED 149 wash and press. No hidden charges, no contracts, any order size.

For new customers: 20% off your first order of AED 100 or more; say it is your first order when you book. Combined with free pickup and delivery from AED 30 and a 48-hour turnaround across 51 Dubai areas, it is a low-risk way to experience the service and decide whether regular use makes sense for your household. Open 10 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week; pickups from 10:00. 4.7 on Google from 200+ reviews, 1,000+ customers, 7,500+ items a week, since 2017.