Care labels a need of the day

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Care labels: a need of the day
Laga S.K. Vignesh Dhanabalan and Joshi Rashmi M.
D.K.T.E.S Textile & Engineering Institute, Ichalkaranji-416115(M.H), India
Email: swapan.laga@gmail.com,vigneshdhanabalan@hotmail.com,
xpress.joshi99@gmail.com
Issue » March, 2014 Volume 07, Issue 03 Print this News
Abstract
Labeling of textiles is an important aspect to provide required information to the
distributer, buyer and consumer about the product. However, labeling
requirements do not apply until the products are ready for sale to the
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consumers. Labeling of textiles normally include the measurements, fibre
content, care instructions, country of origin and manufacturer’s identification.
Different law labels, flammability tags and safety tags are also attached
depending upon the product and they gives adequate additional information to
the consumers prior to purchase to take necessary precautions. This type of
labeling will protect consumers against misrepresentation in labeling and
advertising of textile fibre products and enable consumers to choose textile on
the basis of fibre content. In this paper, we have emphasized the care label
information with respect to washing, bleaching drying, ironing and dry cleaning
of textile goods.
Keywords: Bars,Bleach, Dots, Dry, Dry Clean, Iron, Warning, Wash
1. Introduction
Care label means a permanent label or tag, containing regular care information
and instructions, that is attached in such a manner that it will not become
separated from the product and will remain legible during the useful life of the
product.
(a). Basic care label symbols
As a minimum, laundering instructions include four symbols – washing,
bleaching, drying and ironing. Dry cleaning instructions include one symbol. The
basic five symbols are:
(b) Order of the care label symbols
For apparel that needs to be laundered, at least four symbols must be used and
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they must appear in the following order – washing, bleaching, drying and
ironing. If there is evidence that dry cleaning will damage the item and one
wishes to warm against it, one should add the “do not dry clean” symbol last. If
dry cleaning is the suggested care, only the dry cleaning symbol with any
appropriate additions needs to be used. Following orders can be used:
2. Representation of symbols
2.1 Dot (s) in symbol
Dot(s) added to the symbol indicates increasing heat or temperature. Dot(s) must
be used to indicate the temperature. Dot(s) is in addition to the three symbols
like
For example:
2.2 Bar(s) under the basic symbol
Bar(s) under to a basic care symbol means minus or reduced action or treatment.
Mild treatment – A bar [ _ ] under the symbol means that the treatment
should be more mild than indicated by the same symbol without a bar i.e.
reduced agitation. It is also referred as “permanent press cycle/setting”.
Very mild treatment – A double bar [ = ] under the symbol describes a very
mild process e.g. much reduced agitation. It is also referred as
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mild process e.g. much reduced agitation. It is also referred as
“gentle/delicate setting”.
For example:
2.3 Dot(s) and Bars(s) added together
Many times both Dot(s) and Bar(s) are added to the same symbol depending
upon the type of care instruction to be conveyed.
For example:
2.4 “X” Over symbol
This is a warning symbol i.e. treatment not permitted.
For example, an “X” over the wash symbol means “do not wash”. Other examples
are also given below:
Warning
3. Representation of treatment
3.1 Care symbols for washing
Washing is the process designed to clean textile articles in an
aqueous bath.
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machine). It is used to convey information regarding the maximum washing
temperature and the maximum washing process severity.
Table No 1: Washing care symbols
Minimum washing instructions
At a minimum, a washing instruction would include a method of washing and a
method of drying, like “Machine wash. Tumble dry”. This 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.
3.2 Care symbols for bleaching
Bleaching is the process carried out in an aqueous medium, before, during or
after washing, requiring the use of an oxidizing agent including either chlorine
or oxygen/non-chlorine products, for the purpose of improving soil and stain
removal and improving whiteness.
The triangle symbol represents the bleaching process.
Table 2: Bleaching care symbols

3.3 Care symbols for drying
Drying is the process carried out on textile articles after washing to remove
excess water (or moisture).
Drying process is of two types
Natural drying
Natural drying is the process carried out on textile articles after
washing, with the intention of removing residual water by line
drying or drip drying or drying flat in the sun or in the shade. Square symbol
represents the natural drying process. Additional symbolization within the
square represents the specific natural drying process.
Tumble drying
Tumble drying after washing is the process carried out on
textile articles after washing, with the intention of removing
residual water by treatment with hot air in a rotating drum. The circle in square
symbol represents tumble drying after washing process and the maximum
temperature setting is being indicated by dot(s) placed within the symbol.
Table 3: Natural drying symbols
Table 4: Tumble drying symbol
3.4 Care symbols for ironing

The ironing and pressing is the process carried out on textile article to restore its
shape and appearance by means of an appropriate appliance using heat,
pressure and possibly steam.
The iron symbol represents the domestic ironing and pressing process, with or
without steam.
Table 5: Iron care symbols
3.5 care symbols for dry cleaning
Dry cleaning is the process for cleaning textile articles by
means of treatment in any solvent (excluding water) normally
used for dry cleaning by professions. The circle symbol represents the dry
cleaning and wet cleaning process for textile articles (excluding genuine leather
and furs) carried out by “professional textile care” process.
Table 6: Dry cleaning care symbols
Letters A, P and F in the circle refer to the solvents which may be used by dry
cleaners.
4. Textile and apparel to be labeled
4.1 Information required on the care Label

Care labels for textile wearing apparel must provide either washing or dry
cleaning instructions. Only one safe method of care is required to be provided
regardless of the number of other safe methods that could also be used.
It is important to note that the manufacturer is not required to include
information about other care procedures that may not be safe.
Care label must also warn about any part of a prescribed that is reasonably
excepted to be used that could harm the garment.
In European Union and Switzerland, following requirements are sought:
Mandatory requirement
Size
Fibre content
Care labeling/washing instructions
Voluntary requirements
Origin marking
Brand or product name
Other consumer information
In USA, Federal Trade commission requires that imported and domestic textile
products such as wedding gowns be attached with care labels. For example
following four pieces of information must be there on the wedding gown label.
Wedding gown labels must contain four pieces information:
The identify of any one business in the distribution channel
The manufacturer
The manufacturer’s registered identification Number (RN), which is issued to
companies in the U.S. and registered by the FTC.

The retail store’s name or RN.
The RN or business name of any other company in the U.S. directly involved
in the distribution of the gown.
The label showing the name RN may be sewn-in or attached as a hang tag.
Either way, it must be conspicuously placed.
100% Silk Dry clean only RN 00001
Garment’s fibre content
65% Polyester 35% Silk
Country of origin
The imported wedding gowns must identify the country where they were
processed or manufactured –
Gowns made entirely in the U.S. of materials also made in the U.S. must be
labeled “Made in U.S.A. or an equivalent phrase.
Gowns made in the U.S. of imported materials must be labeled to show the
processing or manufacturing that takes place in the U.S., as well as the
imported component.
Gowns manufactured partly in the U.S. and partly abroad must identify both
aspects.
If a gown is imported, the country- of origin label must be sewn in to comply
with U.S. Customs Service requirements. If a gown is made in the U.S. – of
either imported or domestic fabric –the country of origin information can be
sewn in or placed on a hang-tag. In any case, the country-of-origin disclosure
must be placed as close as possible to centre of the neck.

Care instructions
The care label must identify –
At least one safe cleaning method either washing or dry cleaning and any
necessary warnings about the cleaning method.
Example: If the care instruction is to dry-clean, the label must satisfy one type of
solvent that may be used, unless all commercially available types of solvents can
be used safely on the gown.
Example: If the gown is labeled for washing, the label must say whether any step
of the normal washing process- washing, bleaching, drying, or ironing could
harm the garment or other items cleaned with it.
4.2 Information not required on care label symbols
Exempted apparel:
Footwear, gloves and hats, or other articles used exclusively to cover or
protect the head.
Excluded items:
Neckties, belts and other apparel items not used to cover or protect parts of
the body.
Non-woven garments specially prepared for one-time use and do not require
ordinary care.
Leather and suede are exempt, as well as household articles.
Garments sold to institutional buyers for commercial use.
Disposable garments.

A few textile articles do not require a permanently affixed care label, but care
instructions must be provided.
Totally reversible apparel without pockets.
Textile articles that can be washed and dry-cleaned by the strongest
possible method without harm.
Apparel where a label would harm its appearance.
International standards on care labels
ISO 3758: 2005
ASTM D5489
Efforts are being made to establish a harmonized care symbols among Europe,
Asia and the US. Working teams have come to an agreement on a single symbol
set that will accomplish the objectives of ISO 3758 and ASTM D5489 that satisfies
the needs of European, American and Asian manufacturers and their consumers.
The proposed harmonized symbol set is basically the current ASTM symbols with
minor changes.
4.4 Size and colour of care label
Care label symbols do not have to be a specific size. But they do have to meet the
existing Care Label Rule requirements of legibility. Of course, it is important to
keep in mind, that failure to print legible care symbols may be considered an
unfair or deceptive practice and result in civil penalties.
The care symbols do not have to be a particular color. However, coloured
symbols may also be used for conveying specific instructions like:
In case, care symbol is in RED, it means “DO NOT” (like when symbol is

marked with “X”)
In case, care symbol is in YELLOW, it means “WITH CARE”
In case, care symbol is in GREEN, it means “OK”
In case care symbol is in BLACK, there is no significance of colour only
symbol itself convey the meaning of instructions.
4.5 Use of additional words with the symbols
The use of other additional words may be necessary where any part of the
prescribed regular care procedure, which the consumer or professional cleaner
could reasonably be expected to use, would harm the product or others being
cleaned with it.
The number of additional words in the table should be kept to a minimum.
Examples are shown in below
Table 7:Examples of additional wording
remove…before washing Professional leather clean only
Wash separately No optical brighteners
Wash with like colours Use wash net
Wash before use Do not steam
Wash inside out Steam only
Do not wring or twist Do not soak
Damp type only Steam iron recommended

Do not add fabric conditioner Dry away from direct heat
Remove promptly Reshape whilst damp
Iron reverse side only Line Dry
Do not iron decoration Reshape and dry flat
Dry flat Dry away from the sun
4.6 Examples of care labels
100% COTTON MACHINE WASH IN
COLD WATER TUMBLE DRY LOW
REMOVE PROMPTLY
100% COTTON MACHINE WASH LUKE
WARM WATER DO NOT
BLEACHTUMBLE DRY COOL IRON
100% SILK DRY CLEAN ONLY MADE
IN USA
HAND WASH COLD LINE DRY, MAY BE
DRY CLEANED
5. Conclusions
The care label contains information on how to take care of the apparel. The
beautiful textile materials can be deteriorated due to exposure to the specific
environment and conditions such as washing, drying, ironing, bleaching and dry
cleaning. Thus it has been imperative to have care label on apparels so as to
retain their original properties. Care label is vital to consumer to the extent that
it may influence the purchase decision. There are several standards of care label
like Canadian, Australian, European, American and alike. Depending on the
country we should follow the standard of care label.

6. Bibliography
Noemia D’souza, Fabric Care, New Age International Publication.
Subrata Das, Performance of Home Textiles, Woodhead publishing India in
Textiles.
http://www.fabriclink.com/Care/Caresymbols.cfm retrieved on 25th Dec 2013.
Chris Tebbs, Care Labeling The Future, retrieved on 25th Dec 2013
http://www.textileaffairs.com/c-common.htmbrowsed on 26th Dec 2013
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