People are stunned when they realise what triangle on washing labels really means

When it comes to buying clothes, how frequently do you examine the washing label for washing instructions?

In today's of fast , most items can be cleaned at the standard 30 to 40 degrees and should steer clear of tumble dryers. However, you may not have noticed that there's a wealth of information available on how to best care for your garments, including which chemicals should or shouldn't be used.

Understanding what your are trying to communicate is crucial for keeping them looking and feeling as fresh as possible. You certainly don't want to discover you've used the wrong setting and now your favourite wool jumper is out of shape. Instead, sort your laundry by colours and care symbols to ensure each piece receives the appropriate care. One fashion-savvy individual took to social media to share their confusion over the on a pair of trousers they'd recently purchased in Japan.

The care label featured the usual symbol for washing at 40 degrees, a square with a circle and a cross in the middle indicating they can't be tumble dried, an iron symbol, and an F in a circle. But the symbol that puzzled most people was a triangle with two straight lines inside, reports .

Do you know what it signifies?

An educated Reddit user has dropped some knowledge, explaining: "These are clothing care symbols. 40 in a tub of water Means Wash at or below 40C, the triangle Means NO Bleach allowed, Crossed-out circle in a square Means Do not tumble dry. The other square means it's safe to dry on a washing line, the iron with two dots Means Iron on medium temperature, and an F in a circle Means Petroleum solvent only for dry cleaning."

Indeed, intrigue around laundry symbols, particularly triangles, is being demystified. Ariel's guidance notes that "If you see an empty triangle, that means you can safely use bleach on your piece of clothing when necessary. Diagonal lines inside the triangle refer to the use of non-chlorine bleach, however in the case when the triangle is crossed out by two lines, you shouldn't use bleach at all."

The revelation has left folk on the Reddit thread gobsmacked, prompting shared stories of mishaps and gratitude for the newfound clarity. One user noted: "They should teach you stuff like this in school. I've definitely ruined clothes before." While someone else learned something new, saying: "I didn't know about the triangle! I thought it had something to do with the clothes hanger."