Wool
A very gentle, cool programme for machine-washable wool: little drum movement, low temperature and a slow spin so the fibres do not felt or shrink.
What it is for
Jumpers, scarves and other wool or wool-blend items whose label allows machine washing. Miele’s runs cold to 40 °C with 2 kg; Hotpoint’s 40 °C at 800 rpm with 2.5 kg; Beko advises detergent for woollens.
Makes differ, check your machine’s manual: the same drawing can mean different things on different brands, and only your model’s manual says exactly what a programme does, how hot and how long.
- What it looks like
- A ball of yarn — a circle wrapped in curved strands with a loose thread trailing out; sometimes beside a tub with a hand in it.
- Names makers use
- Wool (Hotpoint, Hoover, hOn); Woollens (Miele, Beko)
Where makes differ
Hoover draws “a ball of wool”, hOn “a ball of yarn (sometimes next to a basin with a hand inside)”. Hotpoint’s wool cycle is Woolmark-approved on the condition that products are washed as their labels say. Miele and Hotpoint keep silk out of it, in separate Silks and Silk & Curtains programmes.
What the makers tie to the care label
The maker’s own words, quoted from the manual cited below — not our advice. The care label on the garment comes first.
“The wool wash cycle of this machine has been approved by The Woolmark Company for the washing of machine washable wool products provided that the products are washed according to the instructions on the garment label and those issued by the manufacturer of this washing machine.”
— Hotpoint’s manual (source). Read the wash-tub symbol on the garment’s care label →
“You can wash your woollen/delicate clothes that bear “not machine-washable” labels for which hand wash is recommended on this program.”
— Beko’s manual (source). The hand-wash label, and the hand-wash dial programme →
Often confused with
A gentle, low-temperature programme with a light drum action and slow spin for fragile fabrics such as silk, satin, lace and viscose.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No single published standard defines washing-machine or dryer programme icons, so this meaning is taken from 5 makers’ own guides and manuals, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Hoover: Hoover UK — What do the symbols on your washing machine actually mean? — “A ball of wool, for woollen garments.” Checked 2026-09-25.
- hOn (Haier Europe): hOn — Washing Machine Symbols: how to interpret them with hOn — “Wool: represented by a ball of yarn (sometimes next to a basin with a hand inside).” Checked 2026-09-25.
- Hotpoint: Hotpoint washing machine Quick Guide (GB, PDF) — Wool – Wool Care: approved by The Woolmark Company for machine-washable wool washed according to the garment label. Table: 40 °C, 800 rpm, 2.5 kg. Checked 2026-09-25.
- Beko: Beko UK — WI 1382 washing machine user’s manual (PDF) — Woollens: machine-washable woollen garments; select the temperature according to the labels of your clothes; use detergents for woollens. Table: 40 °C, 1.5 kg. Checked 2026-09-25.
- Miele: Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, WWV 980 WPS Passion (PDF) — Woollens, cold to 40 °C, max 2.0 kg: wool or wool blend fabric; reduce spin for fabric that creases easily. Checked 2026-09-25.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.