Care Labels
Washing Instructions
Depending on the symbol on the garment will depend on the way a garment should be washed. Things such as fibre type, embellishment and use will all be taken into consideration when creating washing instructions.
Cotton Wash
Washing instructions are shown with a picture of a washtub. When there is no bar underneath the washtub and instead a number inside the symbol you should wash the garment up to the specified temperature shown and no more as this could potentially cause damage to the garment.
Synthetics Wash
A single bar underneath the washtub indicates that there are synthetic fibres in the garment therefore the clothing should be treated with a wash designed for synthetic fibres.
Wool Wash
Two bars underneath the washtub indicates that the garment should be washed very carefully at a lower temperature such as 30 degrees as to not damage or shrink the garment.
Hand Wash
A picture of a washtub with a hand inside it indicates that the garment should not be washed in a machine and instead be washed carefully by hand. This is commonly used on garments with a lot of embellishment or very delicate materials.
No Washing
The final washing symbol seen on care labels is a wash tub with a cross through it. This tells us the particular garment shouldn’t be washed by hand or machine as it will cause damage to the garment.
Bleaching Instructions
Depending on the symbol on the garment will depend on the way a garment should be bleached. Things such as fibre type and dyes already used will be taken into consideration when selecting which bleaches can be used on a garment if any at all. Bleaching is represented on a garment care label as a triangle.
Any Bleach Allowed
If the triangle is plain with nothing inside it the garment is safe to bleach. As long as the solution is diluted and cold it is safe to use Chlorine based bleaches on the fabric as well as oxygen based bleaches.
Oxygen / Non-Chlorine Bleach
When there is diagonal lines scored through the triangle this shows that the particular garment in question can still be bleached but cannot be bleached with a chlorine based bleach and can only be bleached with oxygen based bleaches.
Do Not Bleach
When the triangle has a cross through it this tells us that the garment is not safe to bleach. This goes for both Chlorine based bleaches and Oxygen based bleaches as they have the potential to damage the garment.
Ironing Instructions
The iron symbol on a care label indicates how a garment can be ironed without causing damage. Not all garments can be ironed due to the fibres potential to shrink and become damaged.
Cool Iron
A iron symbol with a single dot inside it indicates the garment can be ironed but only at temperatures of 110 degrees and under without causing damage or shrinkage to the garment. Steaming garments are not recommended with these care instructions.
Warm Iron
An iron symbol with two dots inside it indicates the garment can be ironed at warm temperatures. This tends to be at a temperature of 150 degrees and under without causing damage or shrinkage. Steaming a garment with this care label does not risk the fabric.
Hot Iron
An iron symbol with three dots insides it indicates the garment can be ironed with a hot temperature up to 200 degrees. This is normally used for fabrics which are extremely heat resistant and are very difficult to cause shrinkage or damage through heat. Steaming a garment with this care label does not risk the fabric.
Do Not Iron
Finally an iron symbol with a cross through it tells us that this garment shouldn’t be ironed as even the lowest temperature of iron can cause shrinkage and damage to the fabric. This is used for very delicate fabrics which are damaged through either ironing or steaming.
Dry Cleaning Instructions
The dry cleaning symbol is represented by a circle. This tells people whether or not the garment can be dry cleaned safely as well as telling dry cleaners how to clean the garments in order to preserve the garments quality and not cause any damage.
Dry Clean
The circle symbol without anything inside it tells people that a garment can be safely and easily dry cleaned without causing damage to the garment.
May Be Dry Cleaned
The circle symbol with a letter in the middle tells people that the garment can still be safely dry cleaned much like the plain dry clean symbol. The difference is the letter in the middle which tells the dry cleaner what solvents and process should be used when cleaning the product to ensure the garment is cleaned safely and to a high quality.
Do Not Dry Clean
The circle symbol with a cross through the centre tells people that the particular garment is not safe to dry clean without damage occurring. This also tells the person that they cannot use solvents on the garment in order to remove stains.
Tumble Dry Instructions
The tumble dry symbol is represented by a square with a circle within it. This symbol tells people whether or not it is safe to tumble dry their garments as well as what setting on the tumble dryer to use to make sure the garment is dried safely.
Tumble Dry
A square with a circle within it on the care label shows that the garment can be safely tumble dried without damaging the garment.
Tumble Dry Low
A square with a circle within it as well as a single dot shows that the garment can still be safely tumble dried without any damage or shrinkage but must be dried on a low heat setting in order to do so. Not following these instructions can cause the garment to shrink or burn.
Tumble Dry High
A square with a circle within it as well as a pair of dots shows that the garment can be dried on most settings but will get the best results from drying the garment on a high heat setting. This could be used for garments that would take a long time to dry. The garments dried on a high heat setting have to be heat resistant as well as resistant to shrinkage.
Do Not Tumble Dry
A square with a circle within it as well as a cross through the middle indicates that it is not safe to tumble dry the garment without causing damage including shrinkage and burning. Therefore why some garments are not safe to tumble dry.
Line Dry Instructions
Line dry instructions are symbolised by a square with another symbol within it to determine how is best to dry the garment. All garments are possible to line dry.
Hang / Line Dry
A square with a curved line at the top tells the consumer that when drying the garment the garment should be hung on a line. This is done when tumble drying could distort or damage the garment.
Dry Flat
A box with a horizonal line in it tells us that garments should be dried on a flat surface. This is done for garments which can be distorted by drying hung up.
Drip Dry
A box with three vertical horizontal lines through indicates that the particular garment should be drip dried. This is mainly done with synthetic materials which withstand being distorted.
References
Persil. (2019). Wash Care Symbols. Available: https://www.persil.com/uk/laundry/laundry-tips/fabrics/wash-care-symbols.html#!. Last accessed 14/01/19.
Amy Mckerrell 