Garment Care Labels

A laundry symbol, also called a care symbol, is a pictogram which represents a method of washing, for example drying, dry-cleaning and ironing clothing. Such symbols are written on labels, known as care labels, attached to clothing to indicate how a particular item should best be cleaned. There are different standards for care labels for the different countries/regions of the world. In some standards, pictograms coexist with or are complemented by written instructions.

Dry Cleaning Symbols

Ironing Symbols

Tumble Dry Symbols

Washing Cycle Symbols

The care label describes the allowable treatment of the garment without damaging the textile. Whether this treatment is necessary or sufficient is not stated. A milder than specified treatment is always acceptable. The symbols are protected and their use is required to comply with the license conditions. Incorrect labelling is prohibited. A bar below each symbol calls for a gentler treatment than usual and a double bar for a very gentle treatment.

Care labels are required by the Care Label Regulation on most textile apparel products and are included on many textile furnishing products. Carpet and furniture manufacturers include care labels, tags or instruction with their products even though such information is not required. This service is provided because consumers have begun to expect it on all textile products.

Because many different terms can be used to describe proper care of a product, the industry has developed guidelines for explaining appropriate care or refurbishing procedures, including definitions for terms and explanations for symbols that are used on care labels and tags. These standards are used in developing care labels and in evaluating the accuracy of the information included on such labels. The industry works closely with the Federal Trade Commission to ensure unified efforts. Standardizing the information helps to minimize misunderstandings by consumers, so that they interpret labels correctly and do not inadvertently produce or contribute to product failure during cleaning.

Several major problems with care labels remain. Many consumers do not consult care labels before they clean soiled items, negating the efforts of manufacturers, retailers and industry organizations. Some companies use labels that indicate procedures that are far more restrictive than necessary. For example, a product that would survive machine washing and machine drying with no adverse effect should not be labelled dry clean only. A final problem with care labelling is that some instructions do not make any sense. For example, some denim jackets with leather collars are labelled “machine wash, machine dry; remove trim before washing”. It is not realistic to expect that consumers will remove the collar before washing and reattach the collar before wearing.

The ASTM guide (ASTM D 3938, Determining or Confirming Care Instructions for Apparel and other Textile Consumer Products) is used by manufacturers and retailers to ensure that correct information is included on care labels for products and materials. Care instructions are a series of directions that describe procedures for refurbishing a product without adverse effects. Care labels should include warnings for those practices that are expected to have a harmful effect. A care label is a label that gives directions for cleaning a textile product.

The ASTM guide helps companies establish a basis for the care information printed on product labels. It addresses evaluation of materials or products after cleaning for changes in dimension, hand, appearance and performance. Changes in performance include durable press, water repellency, static build up, flame resistance, and soil release.

ASTM D 3136, Standard Terminology Relating to Care Labels for Textile and Leather Products other Than Textile Floor Coverings and Upholstery, provides a uniform language for use on care labels. ASTM D 5253, Standard Terminology Relating to Floor Coverings and Textile Upholstered Furniture, defines terms used for products that cannot be cleaned by normal washing or dry cleaning processes.

Because of the global market, many product labels include symbols. One set of care labels that incorporate information of the type and form required by laws in many markets is much cheaper than separate sets of care labels for each market. Labels with wider application make it easier to get the product to the right market. ASTM D 6322, International Test Methods Associated with Textile Care Procedures, lists AATCC, ASTM, ISO and CGSB (Canadian General Standards Board) standards. ASTM D 5489, Standard Guide for Care Symbols for Care Instructions Textile Products, provides a uniform system of symbols for use on products including garments; piece goods; and bath, kitchen and bed linens.

How to write care instructions?

Care instructions must include all components of the product, including non-detachable linings, trim, and other details. Any special considerations for such components should be contained in the instruction as a warning, e. g., remove trim, or close zipper. A detachable component, such as a zip-out liner, must be separately labelled when it requires a different care procedure than the main product.

At a minimum, a washing instruction would include a method of washing and a method of drying, such as "Machine wash, Tumble dry." This minimal wording, however, means that the product can be machine washed and tumble dried at any temperature, that ironing is not necessary, that any type of bleach can be used, and that no warnings are required. Thus, all elements of a proper washing instruction would have to be considered - washing, drying, ironing, bleaching, and warnings.

The Rule requires ironing instructions (l) if ironing is needed on a regular basis to preserve the appearance of the product or (2) as a special warning when a consumer reasonably can be expected to use an iron and the use of a hot iron would harm the product. In these cases, it is reasonable to expect some consumers to use an iron. Therefore, the instruction could read "Cool iron, if needed." This indicates that ironing is not needed on a regular basis, but if an iron is used, it should be set at the lowest temperature setting.

Care label that only contains the words "Do not use chlorine bleach" is not acceptable. If regular use of chlorine bleach would harm a product, but regular use of a non-chlorine bleach would not, the care label must say "Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed." This instruction is designed to warn the consumer that chlorine bleach is not safe, but non-chlorine bleach is safe for regular use. For further clarity, the care label may say "Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed. Do not use chlorine bleach."

While a dry-cleaning instruction generally must include the types of solvent that can be used safely, if any type of commercially available solvent can be used, i.e., perchloroethylene, petroleum, or fluorocarbon, the instruction may omit the list. Thus, a care instruction containing only the word "Dry-clean" means that any solvent may be used safely in a process that includes machine cleaning, moisture addition to solvent of up to 75% relative humidity hot tumble drying up to 160’F., and restoration by steam press or steam-air finishing.