Wool, silk, linen: read the label like a professional.

A five-minute guide to care symbols, water temperature and when to skip the dryer entirely.

The label is a recipe, not a warning. The tub means wash, the triangle means bleach, the square means dry, the iron means press — and every crossed-out symbol means skip that step completely.

Wool wants cool water and flat drying. Silk wants gentle handling and shade. Linen loves water but hates high dryer heat. Cotton is the most forgiving, but dark cotton still wants cold water and inside-out washing.

“Dry flat for knits, hang for wovens, and never hang a heavy wet sweater.”

When symbols disagree with common sense — a structured blazer labelled machine-washable, for example — trust the construction over the icon and bring it to Foldly for a free care check.