There are various terms used to refer to the pictograms for garment care on clothing labels: textile care symbols, care instructions, clothing label symbols, or laundry symbols.
Different textile care symbols appear on clothing labels according to European and American standards. Furthermore, there are also distinct Chinese laundry symbols!
In France, the inclusion of standardized pictograms regarding the recycling of the product and even its packaging is now a prerequisite for the sale of clothing. Currently, on the clothing labels and accompanying tags of products sold in Europe, it is mandatory to include clothing label symbols or textual care information that complies with European standards.
The order of the clothing label symbols is also mandatory according to the standard, and the shape of the symbol indicates the type of treatment procedure to which the symbol refers:
Here is the precise meaning of the clothing label symbols (textile care symbols) found on clothing labels:
Do not wash!
Dry clean only!
Hand wash at environmental temperature allowed.
Hand wash at 40°C environmental temperature allowed.
Hand or machine wash maximum 30°C allowed.
Gentle hand or machine wash maximum 30°C allowed.
Very gentle hand or machine wash maximum 30°C allowed.
Hand or machine wash maximum 40°C allowed.
Gentle hand or machine wash maximum 40°C allowed.
Very gentle hand or machine wash maximum 40°C allowed.
Machine wash maximum 60°C allowed.
Gentle machine wash maximum 60°C allowed.
Machine wash maximum 95°C allowed.
Do not bleach!
Bleaching with any agent allowed.
Bleaching with oxygen-based bleach allowed, but do not use chlorine bleach.
Do not tumble dry!
Tumble dry at low temperature (approx. 50°C) allowed.
Tumble dry at normal temperature (approx. 70°C) allowed.
Dry flat after spinning.
Dry flat without spinning.
Line dry after spinning.
Line dry without spinning.
Dry flat in shade after spinning.
Line dry in shade after spinning.
Line dry in shade without spinning.
Drip dry flat in shade without spinning.
Do not iron!
Iron at low temperature, maximum soleplate temperature 110°C (one dot on the iron symbol), without steam.
Iron at low temperature, maximum soleplate temperature 110°C (one dot on the iron symbol).
Iron at medium temperature, maximum soleplate temperature 150°C (two dots on the iron symbol).
Iron at high temperature, maximum soleplate temperature 200°C (three dots on the iron symbol).
Do not dry clean!
Dry clean with perchloroethylene.
Gentle dry clean with perchloroethylene.
Dry clean with hydrocarbons.
Gentle dry clean with hydrocarbons.
Wet cleaning procedures can be used during garment care.
Gentle wet cleaning procedures can be used during garment care.
Very gentle wet cleaning procedures can be used during garment care.
Do not wring!
There is a compelling reason why consumer protection authorities everywhere mandate the inclusion of care instructions when distributing textile products. Furthermore, it is also a requirement that the markings be placed in a conspicuous location, be clearly visible, and be non-removable! This latter criterion is not met if, for example, this information is provided on an easily peelable adhesive label on the garment.
However, if the textile clothing label, which also includes textile care symbols, is sewn into the product, or if the cardboard accompanying tag is attached to the product with a plastic tag pin, or if it is woven or printed directly onto the product itself, then the manufacturing or distributing company perfectly complies with this regulation.
All of this serves to provide the buyer with adequate assistance regarding the proper care of the product. This can be useful both in terms of the intended lifespan of the garment and in protecting the wearer from potential health hazards resulting from improper care (e.g., the effects of harmful substances possibly leaching from the material due to improper cleaning).
It is also in the interest of the manufacturer and distributor to provide correct information regarding the care of the product in a manner that complies with applicable laws and standards. This allows them to eliminate complaints from customers and avoid sanctions from consumer protection authorities in this regard.
No, more than 5 care symbols can be indicated.
In what cases is it recommended or advisable to include more pictograms?
If, for example, both dry and wet cleaning are permitted, it is advisable to include the appropriate clothing label symbols for both procedures. Dry cleaning businesses thus receive more detailed instructions on the dry cleaning procedures that can be carried out without damaging the product, which is in the interest of the distributor/manufacturer, the consumer, and the dry cleaning business alike.
The pictograms for machine and natural drying can also be indicated simultaneously in these cases.
In these cases, the two dry cleaning or drying pictograms can be indicated next to or below each other:
Mostly, the latter, indicating them below each other, allows for larger pictograms to be displayed on the labels.
Indicating other care symbols that are not included in the standard but serve to provide further information to consumers is also not prohibited by regulations or laws. For example, the pictogram prohibiting wringing the garment.
In this case, it is necessary to include these instructions in text form in the relevant section of the clothing label. Examples include:
