What does Very Gentle Wash mean?

Detailed explanation

The very gentle wash symbol (a washtub with two horizontal bars underneath) is the most cautious machine wash setting defined in ISO 3758. Two bars indicate minimal drum speed, a very short agitation phase, and often minimal or no spin at the end of the cycle. This symbol is reserved for the finest woollen knitwear, cashmere, embellished garments, and items whose construction would be damaged by even the standard gentle cycle. Many machines achieve this by selecting "Wool", "Hand-wash" cycle, or the slowest drum setting available.

How to follow the Very Gentle Wash symbol:

1. 1

   Place the item in a mesh laundry bag

   mandatory for all two-bar wash items without exception

2. 2

   Select your machine's most delicate programme

   "Wool", "Hand Wash", or the slowest available cycle

3. 3

   Use a specialist wool or cashmere wash that is pH-neutral and enzyme-free

   never a standard biological detergent

4. 4

   Use cool water (30°C or below) even if a temperature is not specified

   items requiring a two-bar wash are almost always heat-sensitive

5. 5

   Select "no spin" or the minimum spin speed available (400 rpm or less); set spin speed independently if your machine allows it

6. 6

   Wash alone or with just one similar item

   the drum must be nearly empty for the very gentle mechanical action to be effective

7. 7

   Remove immediately when the cycle ends, support the full weight of the garment as you lift it out, and reshape before drying flat or on a hanger as the other symbols direct

When does this symbol appear on care labels?

• For cashmere, fine merino wool, and luxury knitwear
• For heavily embellished garments with fragile decorations
• For very fine silk that the manufacturer confirms is machine washable
• For antique or vintage textiles where structural integrity is uncertain
• Only when the label explicitly shows the double-bar symbol

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using the single-bar gentle cycle instead of the two-bar very gentle cycle — the difference in drum speed and agitation duration is significant
• Not selecting "no spin" at the end — a standard spin cycle on a very gentle item can cause as much damage as a normal wash
• Washing with other items — even other delicates exert mechanical pressure in the drum

Common Materials