If you've ever looked at the label on a piece of clothing and been baffled by what the symbols mean, you're not alone.

Following the manufacturer's suggestions on washing a particular garment can be important for ensuring your clothes have a long life and don't lose colour or shrink.

Some are more intuitive than others, such as the bucket of water with a temperature indicator indicating how hot it should be machine-washed.

But the meaning of others isn't always obvious.

Wash care labels aren't a legal requirement, but most things in your wardrobe will have one, and at some point, you may have come across square symbols.

The square indicates how the item should be dried, and there are three variations on it. A square with a circle in it means the item can be tumble-dried.

Clothing unsuitable for this drying method will also have a square and circle with an X symbol, meaning they should NOT be put in the dryer.

If you find a plain square without a circle, the garment should be air-dried on a (rotary) clothesline or a drying rack.

You may also find a square with a horizontal line, which means the item should be dripped flat. If you see this symbol with two lines in the square's top left, it should be dripped in the shade.

You can find a full overview of what each of the symbols means .

Other families of symbols, with variations within them, can provide further information. The tub or bucket represents washing, the triangle represents bleaching instructions, and ironing is represented by an iron.

Meanwhile, a represents dry cleaning and a square for drying.

Salah Sun, Head of Product Marketing at Beko Plc UK and Ireland, says: "Throwing a pile of laundry in your washing machine isn't uncommon; we've all done a quick drum dash without looking to see what we're putting inside, but this can damage your clothes.

"Everything you need to know about your clothes is on their labels. Knowing your symbols and clothing inside out can help you avoid laundry mishaps and keep your favourite clothes lasting longer."