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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Laundry Garment Care Labels

Laundry Garment Care Labels

You should always check garment care labels for special requirements before washing, drying or ironing. Below we explain what each symbol on garment care labels mean.

Washing Symbols


Wash Cycle Related

Washing Permanent Press symbol Machine Wash (Permanent Press) Garments which have been permanently shaped (are wrinkle resistant) should be laundered in the "permanent press" cycle. This cycle normally involves a cold rinse before a reduced spin cycle.
Washing Gentle or Delicate symbol Machine Wash (Gentle, Delicate) Wash only on the gentle cycle, involving a reduced spinning cycle and gentle agitation.
Hand Wash symbol Hand Wash Only Wash these garments using water, detergent or soap gently using your hands.
Do Not Wash symbol Do Not Wash These garments cannot be safely washed. Usually, these will need to be dry cleaned.

Temperature Related

Washing symbol Machine Wash (NORMAL) When there is no temperature or dots in the symbol, and no line underneath, it is recommended the garment be washed with hottest available water temperature, as hot water washes better than cold.
Washing 30C symbol
Washing Cold symbol
Machine Wash (COLD) When 30C or one dot is shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 30°C (85°F).
Washing 40C symbol
Washing Warm symbol
Machine Wash (WARM) When 40C or two dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 40°C (105°F).
Washing 50C symbol
Washing Hot 50C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 50C or three dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 50°C (120°F).
Washing 60C symbol
Washing Hot 60C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 60C or four dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 60°C (140°F).
Washing 70C symbol
Washing Hot 70C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 70C or five dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 70°C (160°F).
Washing 95C symbol
Washing Hot 95C symbol
Machine Wash (HOT) When 95C or six dots are shown, the recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 95°C (200°F).

Bleaching Symbols

Bleach symbol Bleach As Needed Any bleach may be used when needed on the garment.
Non-Chlorine Bleach symbol Bleach As Needed (Non-Chlorine Only) Only non-chlorine, colour-safe bleach may be used on these garments when needed.
Do Not Bleach symbol Do Not Bleach Garments with this symbol are not able to withstand any bleach.

Drying Symbols

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Drying Procedures

Permanent Press symbol Tumble Dry (Permanent Press) Garments may be dried in a tumble dryer, but only on the "permanent press" setting.
Gentle or Delicate symbol Tumble Dry (Gentle) Garments may be dried in a tumble dryer, but only on the "gentle" setting.
Do Not Tumble Dry symbol
Do Not Dry symbol
Do Not Tumble Dry Garment may not be tumble dried. Usually one of the alternative symbols below will be supplied.
Line Dry symbol Line Dry Hang the garment to dry.
Drip Dry symbol Drip Dry Hang the garment to dry, without shaping or smoothing.
Dry Flat symbol Dry Flat Lay the garment out flat to dry.
Dry In Shade symbol Dry In Shade This symbol may appear in conjunction with Line or Drip Dry. Dry the garment in the shade, away from direct sunlight.
Do Not Wring symbol Do Not Wring Do not wring the garment to dry.

Temperature Related

Tumble Dry symbol Tumble Dry (Normal) Garment may be tumble dried at the hottest available setting.
Cold Tumble Dry symbol Tumble Dry (Cold) Garment may be tumble dried only at the cold "No Heat" or "Air Only" setting.
Low Heat symbol Tumble Dry (Low Heat) Garment may be tumble dried only at a low heat.
Medium Heat symbol Tumble Dry (Medium Heat) Garment may be tumble dried up to a medium heat only.
High Heat symbol Tumble Dry (High Heat) Garment may be tumble dried at a high heat.

Ironing Symbols

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Iron symbol Iron (Normal) Garments may be ironed at any temperature, using steam or dry.
Iron Low symbol Iron (Low Heat) Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at Low setting, 110°C (230°F), only.
Iron Medium symbol Iron (Medium Heat) Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at Medium setting, 150°C (300°F).
Iron Hot symbol Iron (High Heat) Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at High setting, 200°C (390°F).
Do Not Steam symbol Do Not Steam Garment may be ironed, but only dry. Using steam may damage the garment.
Do Not Iron symbol Do Not Iron Garment may not be ironed.

Dry Cleaning Symbols

Dry Clean symbol Dry Clean Dry clean the garment, using any solvent, cycle, moisture & heat.
Any Solvent symbol Dry Clean (Any Solvent) Dry clean the garment, using any solvent. This symbol may appear with others restricting the cycle, moisture or heat.
Petroleum Solvent symbol Dry Clean (Petroleum Solvent) Dry clean only using a petroleum-based solvent.
Not Trichloroethylene symbol Dry Clean (Not Trichloroethylene) Dry clean the garment using any solvent, except trichloroethylene.
Short Cycle symbol Dry Clean (Short Cycle) Dry clean using the short cycle.
Reduced Moisture symbol Dry Clean (Reduced Moisture) Dry clean using reduced moisture.
Low Heat symbol Dry Clean (Low Heat) Dry clean on a low heat setting.
No Steam symbol Dry Clean (No Steam) Dry clean using no steam.
Do Not Dry Clean symbol Do Not Dry Clean Garment may not be dry cleaned.

Care symbol garment

Garment Care Symbols

DRY CLEANING SYMBOLS

Dry Clean

This is the dry cleaning symbol, but the symbol itself doesn't tell the full story. There should be an additional letter inside the circle, indicating what type of dry cleaning a garment can be put through. In addition, the bar underneath the symbol gives additional information.

Symbol

Meaning

Instruction

Material Types

Dry Clean

Dry CleanArticles cleanable in all normally available dry cleaning solvents, using any solvent, cycle, moisture & heat.
Wool, cotton, rayon, linen, polyester and nylon.

Dry Clean (Not Trichloroethylene)

Dry Clean (Not Trichloroethylene)Fabrics which are stable inperchloroethylene, and hydrocarbons, without restriction.Wool, cotton, rayon, linen, polyester and nylon, where restrictions on agitation are not indicated.

Dry Clean (Not Trichloroethylene)

Dry Clean (Not Trichloroethylene)Garments cleanable in the above range but with restrictions on heat, water addition and agitation.Acrylics, polyesters and silks where weaves, surfaces or fibre mixes make garments or fabrics sensitive to treatment.

Dry Clean (Petroleum Solvent)

Dry Clean (Petroleum Solvent)Articles cleanable in hydrocarbons (white spirit) and solvent 113 using normal dry cleaning techniques.Garments where surfaces, additions or materials are sensitive to cleaning solvents or heat.

Dry Clean (Petroleum Solvent)

Dry Clean (Petroleum Solvent) Fabrics sensitive in normal cleaning solvents but with further restrictions on water addition, agitation and heat.Any fabric with this symbol is very sensitive to heat and movement. It should be cleaned in a bag and not pre or post treated.

Dry Clean (Short Cycle)

Dry Clean (Short Cycle)Dry clean using the short cycle.
Dry Clean (Reduced Moisture)
Dry Clean (Reduced Moisture)Dry clean using reduced moisture

Dry Clean (Low Heat)

Dry Clean (Low Heat) Dry clean on a low heat setting

Dry Clean (No Steam)

Dry Clean (No Steam)Dry clean using no steam

Do Not Dry Clean

Do Not Dry CleanDO NOT DRY CLEANPolyolefins: Items with special finishes or additions

IRONING SYMBOLS

Iron (Normal)

The ironing symbol lets you know that you can iron a garment or fabric. However the dots let you know what temperature you can iron at.

Symbol

Meaning

Instruction

Material Types

Iron (Normal)

Iron (Normal)

Garments may be ironed at any temperature, using steam or dry.

Iron (Low Heat)

Iron (Low Heat)

Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at Low setting, 110°C (230°F), only.

Acrylic, nylon, acetates and polyester.

Iron (Medium Heat)

Iron (Medium Heat)

Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at Medium setting, 150°C (300°F).

Wool, Polyester mixtures

Iron (High Heat)

Iron (High Heat)

Garments may be ironed using steam or dry, at High setting, 200°C (390°F).

Cotton, linen viscose and derivatives of viscose.

Do Not Steam

Do Not Steam

Garment may be ironed, but only dry. Using steam may damage the garment.

Do Not Iron

Do Not Iron

Garment may not be ironed.

Plasticised materials & some Acrylics

WASH SYMBOLS

Machine Wash (Permanent Press)

This symbol solely refers to machine washing. The correct temperature for washing has been indicated by a number inside the tub or a series of dots.

Symbol

Meaning

Instruction

Material Types

Machine Wash (Permanent Press)

Machine Wash(Permanent Press)

Garments which have been permanently shaped (are wrinkle resistant) should be laundered in the "permanent press" cycle. This cycle normally involves a cold rinse before a reduced spin cycle.

Machine Wash (Gentle, Delicate)

Machine Wash(Gentle, Delicate)

Wash only on the gentle cycle, involving a reduced spinning cycle and gentle agitation.

Hand Wash Only

Hand Wash Only

Wash these garments using water, detergent or soap gently using your hands.

Do Not Wash

Do Not Wash

These garments cannot be safely washed. Usually, these will need to be dry cleaned.

TEMPERATURE RELATED

Machine Wash (NORMAL)

Machine Wash (NORMAL)When there is no temperature or dots in the symbol, and no line underneath, it is recommended the garment be washed with hottest available water temperature, as hot water washes better than cold.

Machine Wash (COLD)

Machine Wash (COLD)

Machine Wash (COLD)When 30C or one dot is shown, wash with gentle machine action for 1/2 load with a short spin. The recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 30°C (85°F).

Silk and printed acetate fabrics with colours not fast at 40o.

Machine Wash (WARM)

Machine Wash (WARM)

Machine Wash(WARM)When 40C or two dots are shown, wash with reduced action for 1/2 load capacity and short spin. Warm 40o wash with normal agitation, rinse and spin. The recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 40°C (105°F).Wool including blankets and wool mixes with cotton and rayon. Cotton linen and rayon where colours are fast at 40obut not at 60o.

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)When 50C or three dots are shown, Hot wash with cold rinse and short spin or drip dry. The recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 50°C (120°F).

White nylon or white polyester/cotton mixes.

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)When 60C or four dots are shown, wash on maximum agitation normal rinse and spin. The recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 60°C (140°F).Cotton, linen and rayon item which are both colour fast and have no special surface finishes

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)When 70C or five dots are shown, wash with 1/2 load capacity and short spin. The recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 70°C (160°F).

White cottons and linens with delicate weaves prone to distortion.

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)

Machine Wash (HOT)When 95C or six dots are shown, wash 95oto boil wash with maximum agitation, normal rinse and spin. The recommended maximum temperature for washing the garment is 95°C (200°F).

White cotton and linen with no special finishes

DRYING SYMBOLS

Symbol

Meaning

Instruction

Material Types

Tumble Dry (Permanent Press)

Tumble Dry (Permanent Press)Garments may be dried in a tumble dryer, but only on the "permanent press" setting.

Tumble Dry (Gentle)

Tumble Dry (Gentle)Garments may be dried in a tumble dryer, but only on the "gentle" setting.

Do Not Tumble Dry

Do Not Tumble Dry

Do Not Tumble DryGarment may not be tumble dried. Usually one of the alternative symbols below will be supplied. Wool, acrylic and most flocked polyesters

Line Dry

Line DryHang the garment to dry.Any kind of fabric.

Drip Dry

Drip DryHang the garment to dry, without shaping or smoothingSoft polyesters & acrylics

Dry Flat

Dry FlatLay the garment out flat to dry.Acrylics, Cashmere Loose knitted knitwear

Dry In Shade

Dry In ShadeThis symbol may appear in conjunction with Line or Drip Dry. Dry the garment in the shade, away from direct sunlight.Cotton, Linen and any vivid colour garment

Do Not Wring

Do Not WringDo not wring the garment to dryWool, acrylic, Silk and most flocked polyesters

TEMPERATURE RELATED

Tumble Dry (Normal)

Tumble Dry (Normal)Garment may be tumble dried at the hottest available setting.

Tumble Dry (Cold)

Tumble Dry (Cold)Garment may be tumble dried only at the cold "No Heat" or "Air Only" setting.

Tumble Dry (Low Heat)

Tumble Dry (Low Heat)Garment may be tumble dried only at a low heat.Polyester, nylon, acetates, loose weave garments and those with surface finishes.

Tumble Dry (Medium Heat)

Tumble Dry (Medium Heat)Garment may be tumble dried up to a medium heat only.Cotton and linen.

Tumble Dry (High Heat)

Tumble Dry (High Heat)Garment may be tumble dried at a high heat.Cotton and linen.

BLEACH SYMBOLS

Symbol

Meaning

Instruction

Material Types

Bleach As Needed

Bleach As NeededAny bleach (including chlorine) may be used when needed on the garment.Cotton, acrylic, polyester

Bleach As Needed

Bleach As Needed(Non-Chlorine Only) Only non-chlorine, colour-safe bleach may be used on these garments when needed.Some wools & silks, anything OK with chlorine bleach

Do Not Bleach

Do Not Bleach Garments with this symbol are not able to withstand any bleach.Wool, silk