Hand wash
Wash by hand, not in a normal machine cycle, in water no warmer than 40 °C.
What to do
Dissolve a mild detergent in plenty of water first, move the item through it gently, rinse well, then press the water out — do not rub, wring or leave it lying wet.
- Maximum temperature
- 40 °C (104 °F) wash water
- Family
- Washing (tub)
- ISO 3758 name
- Hand wash, maximum 40 °C
- Distinguishing mark
- hand
On US and Canadian labels
The North American guide lists hand washing with a stated limit — not exceeding 40 °C, or a separate 30 °C version — so a US or Canadian label may pair the hand with a temperature.
Often confused with
Hand wash in water at room temperature — roughly 20 to 30 °C — rather than warm water. The bar under the hand-wash tub is the only thing that tells it apart from ordinary hand wash.
Other washing symbols
Wash at 95 °C95Wash at 70 °C70Wash at 60 °C60Wash at 60 °C, gentle cycle60 + 1 barWash at 50 °C50Wash at 50 °C, gentle cycle50 + 1 barWash at 40 °C40Wash at 40 °C, gentle cycle40 + 1 barWash at 40 °C, very gentle cycle40 + 2 barsWash at 30 °C30Wash at 30 °C, gentle cycle30 + 1 barWash at 30 °C, very gentle cycle30 + 2 barsHand wash in cool waterhand + 1 barDo not washcrossMachine wash, any temperatureempty tub · USDo not wringcrossed twist · US
Sources
- GINETEX — Care symbols (existing care symbols under ISO 3758:2023) — checked 2026-09-22
- clevercare.info (GINETEX consumer site) — Care symbols index — checked 2026-09-22
- Government of Canada, Office of Consumer Affairs — Guide to Apparel and Textile Care Symbols (North American system) — checked 2026-09-22
Meanings are paraphrased from these sources, not quoted, and checked on the date shown.