Washing and maintaining your clothes properly allows not only to extend their useful life but also to protect the environment. Next, we help you understand how to read washing labels and decipher all the clothing care symbols.
What Information Do The Labels On Our Garments Give Us?
The labels usually inform us about the size of the garment, the place of manufacture, its composition, and very importantly, how to care for and maintain our garments. Although many times we don’t read them, they allow us to avoid washing “accidents” such as unpleasant shrinkage or color changes.
The labels usually carry symbols that indicate the ideal treatment for each garment. These codified symbols have been developed by Gentex, the International Association for Textile Conservation Labelling. They are intended to give us the necessary information for the correct treatment of textile products.
How To Decipher The Symbols?
Although very graphic, the symbols can sometimes be difficult to understand. Next, we help you understand them.
First of all, you have to know that they are divided into 5 categories: washing, drying, ironing, whitening, and dry cleaning. Each category is represented by a symbol.
The numbers, lines, dots, and letters allow you to specify the maintenance instructions to follow:
- A symbol crossed out with a cross means a prohibition.
- The numbers correspond to the maximum recommended washing temperature.
- A double-underlined symbol recommends a very moderate treatment.
- The more points, the higher the temperature can be.
- The lines in the square recommend natural drying.
Radiography Of The Symbols By Category
- We have prepared an image that summarizes all the symbols.
- You will no longer have an excuse: how to read the labels will no longer be a secret for you, and you will be able to avoid unpleasant washing “accidents”.
Water Wash
The symbols used for machine washing are as follows. Crossed-out drum symbol, in this case, the garment should never be washed with water and the only possible alternative is dry cleaning. Hand inside the drum. As the symbol clearly suggests, it is recommended to wash the garment in question by hand to preserve its quality. Drum with degree indication Garments marked with this symbol can be washed in the washing machine; however, pay attention to the maximum recommended temperature indicated on the symbol, in degrees centigrade.
Normally, the washing instructions show the following possibilities: 30°, 40°, 60°, 95° (less often, 50° and 70° are indicated). Lines under the drum indicate degrees Again, it is possible to wash the garment in the washing machine, but the presence of the lines under the drum indicates the need to use a washing program for delicate garments. One line allows temperatures above 60°, while two lines recommend the use of a very gentle cycle and therefore temperatures should not exceed 40°.
Wash Codes: The Bucket
- This symbol indicates the first stage of washing. The numbers indicated inside the cuvette indicate the maximum temperature of the wash in degrees Celsius. The hand in the bucket means it can be washed by hand. The symbol underlined with a line indicates special precautions to be observed.
- Drying codes: The circle inside the square.
- This symbol tells us how to dry our garments if we can use the dryer and the recommended temperature level.
Ironing Codes, The Iron
This symbol defines the maximum temperature to be used in 1, 2, or 3 points. It also indicates the possibility of using steam.
Whitening Codes: The Triangle
This symbol indicates if bleaching with all types of products is allowed, or if there are restrictions, such as the use of chlorine or oxygen-based products.
Dry Cleaning Codes: The Circle
This symbol is primarily intended for cleaning professionals. The letters inside the circle: P, F or W indicates the types of processes and solvents tolerated by the textiles. The symbol underlined with a line indicates special precautions to be observed.
