Reading a Garment Care Label: Every Symbol Explained

Straight answer: care labels use five symbol families — a tub for washing, a triangle for bleach, a square for drying, an iron for pressing, and a circle for professional cleaning — and each carries dots or lines that specify temperature and intensity. On activewear specifically, the two symbols that matter most are the wash temperature (usually 30°C) and the dry setting, since both directly control how long spandex and elastane keep their stretch.

The Wash Tub Symbol: Temperature and Cycle

A tub of water is the washing instruction. The number inside (or dots above it: one dot = 30°C, two dots = 40°C, three dots = 50°C) sets the maximum safe temperature. A hand under the tub means hand-wash only; a line beneath the tub means gentle or permanent-press cycle; two lines mean an even gentler cycle. Almost all HIVOLT activewear, from the Performance Short Sleeve T-Shirt to leggings and sports bras, specifies a 30°C gentle cycle wash — that low temperature is what protects the spandex content in the fabric from breaking down early.

The Triangle: Bleach Instructions

An empty triangle means bleach is safe if needed. A triangle with two diagonal lines inside means non-chlorine bleach only, and a triangle with an X through it means no bleach at all. Most activewear labels show the crossed-out triangle, since chlorine bleach degrades spandex fibers and fades performance prints and dyes far faster than a normal wash cycle would.

The Square: Drying Instructions

A square with a circle inside represents tumble drying; dots inside indicate heat level the same way they do for washing (one dot = low heat, two = medium, three = high). A square with a line through the circle means no tumble drying, and a plain square with horizontal lines inside means line-dry or drip-dry. This symbol matters most for stretch recovery: tumble drying on anything above low heat is the single fastest way to permanently weaken elastane fibers, which is why care labels on leggings and sports bras almost always call for "tumble dry low" at most.

The Iron: Pressing Temperature

An iron symbol with one dot means low heat, two dots medium, three dots high, and an X through the iron means do not iron at all. Synthetic activewear fabrics like polyester and spandex blends can melt or glaze under a hot iron, so most training pieces either specify low heat or skip ironing entirely — which is rarely needed anyway since knit activewear resists deep wrinkling by design.

The Circle: Dry Cleaning

A plain circle means dry clean only, while a circle with an X means never dry clean. Most activewear falls into the second category since dry cleaning solvents can strip the finish off technical fabrics and degrade bonded seams. You'll see this symbol far more often on structured jackets and outerwear than on leggings or tees.

Full Symbol Reference Table

Symbol	Meaning	Detail Read From Dots/Lines
Tub	Washing	Dots = temperature; lines beneath = cycle gentleness
Triangle	Bleaching	Empty = safe; lines = non-chlorine only; X = no bleach
Square	Drying	Circle inside = tumble dry; dots = heat level; lines = line/drip dry
Iron	Pressing	Dots = temperature; X = do not iron
Circle	Professional cleaning	Plain = dry clean; X = never dry clean

Why This Matters More for Activewear Than Regular Clothing

Cotton t-shirts survive a hot wash and dry with little consequence. Stretch fabric doesn't get that same margin — heat is the primary cause of premature elastane breakdown, more than mechanical wear from actual training. Following the label on pieces like HIVOLT's Women's High-Waisted Yoga Leggings (75% nylon, 25% spandex, 230 g/m²) or the Cropped Half-Zip Hoodie (28% cotton, 72% polyester, 320 g/m²) is the cheapest way to extend garment life, no different from the mechanics covered in our cotton blends in loungewear guide.

A Simple Wash Routine for Activewear

Turn garments inside out before washing to reduce pilling and surface fading, wash in cold to 30°C water on a gentle cycle, skip fabric softener (it coats fibers and reduces wicking performance), and either air dry or tumble dry on low. This routine applies across nearly every HIVOLT piece and protects both the stretch recovery discussed in our opacity ratings guide and the color retention on printed or color-block pieces.

FAQ

What does the number of dots on a care label mean?

Dots indicate temperature or heat intensity for washing, drying, or ironing — one dot is the lowest setting, two is medium, and three is the highest safe setting for that fabric.

Can I put activewear in the dryer?

Most activewear can go in the dryer on low heat, but high heat should be avoided since it permanently weakens spandex and elastane fibers over repeated cycles. Air drying is always the safest option for stretch fabric.

Why do care labels say no bleach for leggings and sports bras?

Chlorine bleach breaks down spandex fibers and fades printed or dyed fabric much faster than normal washing, which is why nearly all stretch activewear labels show the crossed-out bleach triangle.

Does ironing activewear damage the fabric?

A hot iron can melt or glaze synthetic fibers like polyester and spandex, so most activewear either specifies low heat or skips ironing since knit fabric rarely needs it.