# Ironing symbols explained Canonical page: https://everydaygarmentcare.co.uk/fabric-care/ironing-symbols-explained/ Publisher: Everyday Garment Care Fabric care / Label guide Read ironing dots and steam restrictions, understand current and older temperature charts, and match the care label to the controls on your iron. By Everyday Garment Care · Updated November 2026 ![An iron resting beside a garment and its care label]() ## Choose the heat from the label and check steam separately The dots on an iron symbol indicate the maximum soleplate temperature. Current guidance uses 120°C, 160°C and 210°C. Check older garments carefully, follow any steam restriction and use your appliance manual to choose the matching control position. ## Read the iron shape and the written instruction together Look inside a side seam, neck or waistband for the care label. Find the iron shape, count the dots and check whether there is a cross or steam restriction. Read any written instruction beside it. A label can permit pressing the body of a T-shirt while excluding its printed design, or ask you to use the reverse of a delicate face. Use the label for the finished garment. Fibre content alone cannot tell you how the lining, print, trim or bonded parts respond to heat. If a wool blend has a lower ironing limit than a similar pair of trousers, follow the lower limit on that pair. The [complete care label guide]() puts ironing alongside the washing, drying and professional-care instructions. A crossed-out iron prohibits ironing. If the label is missing or unreadable, look up the exact garment reference with its maker before trying heat. The shape of the garment or a guess at its fibre content gives you less information than its original instructions. ## Check which temperature chart applies GINETEX's current guidance under ISO 3758:2023 uses maximum soleplate temperatures of 120°C, 160°C and 210°C. Older symbol charts commonly show 110°C, 150°C and 200°C. GINETEX documents those previous values alongside the revised ones in its published comparison of the harmonised system. **Current maximum soleplate temperatures and older chart values** | Dot count | Current guidance | Older charts | Before pressing | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | One dot | Maximum 120°C | Maximum 110°C | Check steam restrictions and the exact low setting | | Two dots | Maximum 160°C | Maximum 150°C | Follow the garment's instructions for moisture and pressure | | Three dots | Maximum 210°C | Maximum 200°C | Check trims and any instructions for the face fabric | A maximum tells you the upper limit for the permitted process. It does not require starting at that temperature. If you own an older garment, keep to its original instructions and any stated temperature. If the edition is uncertain, ask the maker before increasing the heat. Photograph the label and include the product reference so the maker can identify its construction and finish. Check what the iron's dial actually offers. Dot markings, fibre names and digital temperature controls use different ways to present the setting. Use the appliance manual to translate the garment's limit into a control position. An approximate fibre name is especially unhelpful for a mixed or decorated item whose most sensitive part has a lower limit. ## Check steam before filling the tank The current system includes an explicit low-temperature symbol without steam. The broader low-temperature guidance also warns that steam can cause damage. Use the garment's complete instruction and check the appliance's steam range. Some irons only produce steam at a temperature above the garment's limit. If dry ironing is required, switch the steam control off as the manual directs. Keep the spray and boost buttons clear during the task. A garment with an instruction to avoid moisture needs that followed as well. A reservoir containing water and a steam selector are parts of the appliance setup, so read the model's dry-ironing procedure before assuming that one control change covers the whole routine. The Russell Hobbs Supreme Steam 23060 provides a temperature dial and a separate steam control. Its manual specifies the dry position and chosen temperature. For dry ironing lasting 20 minutes or more, the manual directs you to empty the reservoir first to prevent unexpected steam. Follow its instructions for cooling and emptying before preparing that setup. [View on Amazon]() For occasional straightforward pressing ### Russell Hobbs Supreme Steam 23060 A stainless-steel soleplate, temperature dial and self-clean function cover the main jobs for occasional ironing. The 2 m cord suits a nearby socket. Good for A few shirts at a time when simple controls matter more than the highest quoted steam figures. Bear in mind Its stated steam burst is lower than the other models here. Check your board and socket position, and fill only to the tank’s own maximum marking. - 300 ml listed tank - 2400 W - Up to 40 g/min stated continuous - 110 g stated steam shot ## Work within the limit on a small section With the iron on its proper rest, smooth the garment on a clean, stable board. Look underneath the panel you will press. A seam, pocket edge or decoration can sit below the visible layer and leave a mark or receive heat. Move those areas clear where the garment allows. Test a hidden section of the same fabric and finish using the permitted setting and method. Let it cool before comparing colour, sheen and texture. If a cloth is required, keep it smooth and check the face after each short section. Our [pressing cloth guide]() covers placement and how to inspect the finish. If you move from a high-temperature item to a lower-temperature one, allow the iron to cool as its manual directs. Turning a dial changes the requested temperature while the soleplate still holds heat. Check the ready indication for the model before touching the next garment. ## Use the garment instructions for the finish you want For a cotton shirt that permits ironing, the collar, cuffs and seams may need separate positioning. For linen, slightly damp pressing may be appropriate where its label allows it. Use the [cotton shirt]() or [linen shirt]() method within the allowed heat and steam settings. If the item has printing, read the [printed T-shirt guide]() before working near a design. When an automatic-temperature iron gives no dial position, check its own permitted garment range against the full label. If the two instructions cannot be reconciled, get the garment maker's advice before pressing. ## Save the setting information for the next time Keep a photograph of the full label with the garment's product reference if the writing is starting to fade. Note which iron manual you used to identify the control position. When you replace an iron, check the new model's instructions before repeating the same dial position by memory. If a garment has been altered or decorated since purchase, ask about the added material's care limits and keep that instruction with the original label information. ## Sources and appliance instructions - [GINETEX current ironing guidance]() - [GINETEX comparison of current and previous temperatures]() - [GINETEX overview of ISO 3758:2023 revisions]() - [Russell Hobbs Supreme Steam 23060 manual]() - [Woolmark explanation of garment care instructions]() ## Frequently asked questions ### What do one, two and three ironing dots mean? Current GINETEX guidance under ISO 3758:2023 gives maximum soleplate temperatures of 120°C, 160°C and 210°C respectively. Use any lower written garment limit and match the setting to the iron's instructions. ### Why do some charts say 110°C, 150°C and 200°C? Those values appear in older guidance. GINETEX documents the change in its comparison with the updated standard. Keep to the instructions for an older garment and ask its maker if the heat limit is unclear. ### Does one dot mean I can use steam? Check for the steam restriction and the garment's wording. GINETEX cautions that steam can damage low-temperature items. Many irons only supply steam at higher settings, so check the manual before choosing a method. ### Can a pressing cloth make a hotter setting safe? Keep the iron within the garment's heat limit when using a cloth. The cloth passes heat and moisture through. Use it in the way the garment and appliance instructions permit. ### Can I use a steamer on clothes marked do not iron? Ask the garment maker about the exact piece and read any separate steam instruction. A garment steamer also applies heat and moisture, and a no-ironing label alone does not establish that it is suitable. **Everyday Garment Care** We research manufacturer instructions and product specifications to explain practical garment care and equipment choices. [Editorial policy]() **Affiliate disclosure.** If you buy through a product link on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. [How our links work]().