Care labels around the world follow one of two systems: a picture-based one used almost everywhere, and a text-based one used mainly in the United States. Laundry Master's scanner is built to read both.
ISO 3758 — the international symbol system
ISO 3758 is the international standard behind the small picture symbols sewn or printed into most garments sold outside the United States — a stylized tub for washing, a triangle for bleaching, a square for drying, an iron for ironing, and a circle for professional textile care. Each symbol carries specific meaning through its shape, the lines and dots inside or around it, and whether it's crossed out.
It's a published, paid technical standard maintained by ISO. This page doesn't reproduce its text or symbol definitions — it describes what kind of system it is and how Laundry Master relates to it.
ASTM D5489 — U.S. text-based care labels
Garments sold in the United States commonly carry care instructions as printed English sentences instead of symbols — "Machine Wash Cold. Tumble Dry Low. Do Not Bleach." ASTM D5489 is the standard that governs this text-based approach. Laundry Master's scanner reads these printed instructions directly, the same way it reads symbols on an ISO-style label.
What "recognises" means here
Recognition is AI-assisted: a photo of a label is analyzed, and the symbols, printed text, and fabric-composition percentages found on it are matched against known patterns and explained in plain language, with a confidence indicator on every result.
- Laundry Master recognises the 41 care symbols listed in its own reference set, covering washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and professional-care categories
- Printed English text-based instructions (the ASTM D5489 style)
- Fabric composition percentages printed on the label
This is interpretation, not certification
"Recognises" describes supported interpretation patterns, not a certification, formal compliance claim, or membership of any kind with ISO or ASTM. Laundry Master is not certified against ISO 3758 or ASTM D5489 by any standards body, and this page does not claim it recognises every symbol either standard defines — only the 41 it's built to read.
Recognition also depends on real-world conditions: image quality, lighting, and how worn or unusual a particular label is all affect the result, as described on the Care-Label Scanner page.
The garment's own label is always the final authority
If a scan result and the physical label on your garment ever seem to disagree, follow the physical label. Laundry Master's reading is a helpful interpretation of what's already printed on your garment, never a replacement for checking it yourself.