Care labelling

Care symbols provide important details about how to wash, bleach, iron, dry clean, and tumble dry clothing. This information is crucial because the best care treatment isn't just based on the main fabric of the item. You need to consider everything that makes up the clothing: other materials used, any accessories, and even how it's dyed, finished, and textured.

Care labels give consumers essential care information that they might not otherwise know. Most consumers don't have the experience or technical knowledge to determine the best care treatment for their items.

By following the information provided with the symbols, consumers can avoid using incorrect treatments that might cause premature wear and tear. This leads to better results and longer-lasting clothing. Care labeling is done by garment makers to benefit everyone involved—textile manufacturers, dry cleaners, and consumers.

It's important to understand that care symbols are recommendations for cleaning the textile item they are attached to. They aren't a guarantee of how the item will perform or a mark of its quality.

These symbols indicate the maximum allowable treatments that a textile item can handle without being permanently damaged. You can always use gentler treatments if you prefer.

Washing

This symbol means that textile articles can be cleaned in an aqueous bath. More generally, the washtub symbolizes the domestic washing treatment (by hand or machine).

The number placed inside the washtub indicates the maximum temperature in degree celsius for machine wash.

The hand placed in the washtub means hand wash only.

The washtub can also be underlined (one bar or two bars) to warn the user that a mild or very mild treatment must be used.

Symbol	Maximum Washing Temperature	Care Process
	95° C	Mechanical action normal Rinsing normal Spinning normal
	95° C	Mechanical action reduced (1) Rinsing at gradually decreasing temperature Spinning reduced
	60° C	Mechanical action normal Rinsing normal Spinning normal
	60° C	Mechanical action reduced (1) Rinsing at gradually decreasing temperature Spinning reduced
	40° C	Mechanical action normal Rinsing normal Spinning normal
	40° C	Mechanical action reduced (1) Rinsing at gradually decreasing temperature Spinning reduced
	30° C	Mechanical action much reduced (1) Rinsing normal Spinning reduced
	40° C	Hand wash only
		Do not wash
	50° C	Mechanical action reduced (1) Rinsing at gradually decreasing temperature Spinning reduced
	40° C	Mechanical action much reduced Rinsing normal Spinning normal

Chlorine Based Bleaching

The triangle with Cl inside indicates that the bleaching process (chlorine process) is possible.

Symbol	Care Process
	Chlorine-based bleaching allowed only in a cold and dilute solution.
	Do not use chlorine-based bleach.

Ironing

Dots placed within the symbols (1, 2 or 3 dots) indicate the maximum temperature in degrees celsius for ironing textile articles.

Symbol	Care Process
	Iron at a maximum sole-plate temperature of 200° C
	Iron at a maximum sole-plate temperature of 150° C
	Iron at a maximum sole-plate temperature of 150° C (steam iron may be risky).
	Do not iron.

Dry Cleaning

Letters (A, P and F) in the circle refer to the solvents which may be used by dry cleaners.

Underlining the circle indicates that a specific process should be used (mild process with strict limitations on the addition of water and/or mechanical action and/or temperature during cleaning and/or drying). In this case, self-service cleaning is not allowed.

Symbol	Care Process
	Dry cleaning in all solvents normally used for dry cleaning with normal cleaning procedures.
	Dry cleaning in all solvents normally used for dry cleaning except trichloroethylene with normal cleaning procedures. Self-service cleaning is possible.
	The bar placed under the circle indicates strict limitations on the addition of water and/or mechanical action and/or temperature during cleaning and/or drying. Self-service cleaning is not allowed.
	Only petroleum solvents may be used with normal cleaning procedures.
	The bar placed under the circle indicates strict limitations on the addition of water and/or mechanical action and/or temperature during cleaning and/or drying. Self-service cleaning is not allowed.
	Do not dry clean - no stain removal with solvents.

Tumble Dry

The tumble-drying symbol (a circle in a square) must be completed by one or two dots for two different levels of temperature.

Symbol	Care Process
	No restrictions concerning the temperature of tumble drying after a washing process.
	Tumble drying possible at lower temperature setting (60° C maximum) after a washing process.
	Do not tumble dry.