I recently had the experience of: 1) not being able to decipher the little graphic images in the tag of a favorite sweater of mine, 2) not being able to decipher the little graphic image on the bottom of a plastic container, and 3) destroying both by putting the sweater in the laundry at the wrong setting and putting the container in the dishwasher. What a mess! I called a good friend of mine and described my dilemma over my sweater (I really didn’t care about the plastic container) and got the following question, “Didn’t you read the tag?” I replied, “Hell yeah, it had a few pictures on it that I didn’t understand.” Then came the drop the mic response, “Didn’t you google it? You google EVERYTHING!” What could I say to that? NOTHING. If you are like me and are lost about what all those different images mean or never even paid attention before here’s a guide. A survival skill chart, or how not to mess up and waste money destroying a favorite sweater, dress, pant, kids toy and pulling out hair trying to find a replacement.

Laundry symbols:

Dishwasher symbols: