WTF does this washing label mean?

[Melassa]

Just that. It’s a linen shirt. The linen is patterned but I wouldn’t have thought that precluded it from any sort of washing?

if I hand wash that should be ok, or not? I’m just a bit wary as I did hand wash a dry clean only viscose crepe top and that shrunk. But linen is a natural fibre so surely not?

so what’s the consensus, should I hit it with water or not?

I have 100% linen tops they get chucked in the washing machine at 30 degrees. Never had a problem (other than the bloody things creasing as soon as I look at them!).

F in a circle means dry clean, but saying that I've always machine washed any linen clothes I've had.

Where's it from? If it's from somewhere fast-fashiony, then they probably just haven't done any testing on the fabric and the label is a catch all. If it's somewhere expensive, maybe they're trying to make it look a bit posher (I'm cynical about these things though).

If I bought a linen shirt, it wouldn't have occurred to me to look at the washing label - I'd have just bunged it in with everything else. It's a natural fibre, so it might shrink a little if it hasn't been pre-washed, but that shrinkage will happen however you wash it (if you do wash it).

The circle means dry-clean only - the letter within is instruction as to the chemicals to be used for dry-cleaning.

Thanks all. Yes, my instinct was to bung it in at 30 degrees, but after my other top fiasco I hesitated.

it’s fairly high end, which also made me suspicious. I have designer stuff in totally normal fabrics which all say dry clean only. Probably to make them seem more exclusive than they are. They were all bunged in at 30.

thanks for the reassurance!