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A circle outline, the GINETEX base symbol for professional dry-cleaning or wet-cleaning instructions on a garment care label.
Also known as: Dry cleaning symbol, Circle symbol
One of five base categories in the GINETEX/ISO 3758 textile care labelling system, indicating professional care only (not domestic washing) — a letter inside the circle (P, F or W) specifies the professional cleaning process.
Indicates the garment requires professional care rather than domestic washing; the circle relates specifically to professional dry cleaning or wet cleaning, not machine washing. A letter inside specifies the process: P for perchloroethylene dry cleaning, F for petroleum-solvent dry cleaning, W for professional wet cleaning.
Contexts: Laundry
Related forms that are not treated as separate canonical symbols — see our variant rules.
P — perchloroethylene
A capital P inside the circle, indicating dry cleaning with perchloroethylene, the standard dry-cleaning solvent.
W — professional wet cleaning
A capital W inside the circle, indicating professional wet cleaning rather than solvent-based dry cleaning.
An empty circle outline. In the GINETEX care-labelling system the circle always means professional cleaning, whatever letter is placed inside it — the letters P, F or W identify which professional process applies, so the circle is the category and the letter is the instruction. A circle drawn inside a square is a different symbol: that means tumble drying.
Both belong to the Laundry care symbols system.