On any textile product sewn at the factory, there is a special label with symbols that help determine the features of caring for it. Following the symbols on clothes allows you to extend the life of things and avoid premature damage.
Symbols on labels and their designations
Marking on the product is an integral additional element. On the product label, manufacturers leave a so-called message to each future owner to help them enjoy things for as long as possible.
If the owner puts a stain on the product and goes to dry cleaning with it, then the receiver can easily determine the rules for wearing and caring for the item according to the symbols on the clothes indicated on the label. Only after studying this data will a decision be made on hand or machine washing and other actions.
Following the recommendations from the product label, you can save it for a long time.
Deciphering marked elements
Care labeling systemfor clothing was designed in such a way as not to cause any difficulties for consumers. At first glance, these laundry symbols on clothes labels may seem incomprehensible to many, but once you study them, everything will become clear.
Conditional basic symbols are elements that indicate actions that are allowed to be performed with textiles. All elements applied to the tags are divided into several large groups depending on the way the product is cared for and, accordingly, the graphic image. There are only five basic elements, consider the list of badges on clothes:
- Illustration of a basin filled with water - standard wash.
- Triangle - whitening with special products of all types is allowed.
- Square - natural and tumble drying allowed.
- Image of an iron - the product can be ironed.
- Circle - item can be dry-cleaned or wet-cleaned.
Each group, in turn, contains additional graphic elements that specify the features of caring for a particular thing. Symbols on the tags can be found as follows:
- Horizontal line - action must be performed in delicate mode.
- Pair of horizontal lines arranged in parallel - only special delicate mode allowed.
- Lines located "crosswise" - it is forbidden to carry out any actions.
Depending on these icons, additional recommendations for the type of fabric are attached to each designation.
Symbols for washing
The label symbols on laundry clothes with a numerical value indicate the maximum water temperature that can be used for this product.
- Crossed-out basin - item cannot be washed.
- Basin - washable textile.
- Bowl with the number 95 - washing is allowed at a water temperature of 95˚С, in addition, the thing can be boiled. This symbol generally indicates that caution is not required. This symbol is most often found on the labels of linen and cotton products.
- Basin with the number 60 - the temperature of the water for washing should not be higher than 60˚С. This label designation is found on colored garments made from fine cotton or heat-resistant polyester.
- Number 40 on the basin - wash in water with a temperature index of up to 40˚С and the use of neutral detergents. This marking is inherent in products made of polyester, cotton, melange and viscose.
- Basin with the number 30 - the water temperature should not exceed 30˚C, only neutral detergents are used. This symbol is found on the labels of woolen items that can be washed in a washing machine.
- Hand immersed in a basin - only hand washing is applicable to the product, rubbing, twisting and exposing it to other mechanical influences is prohibited. The temperature indicator of water for hand washing should not be higher than 40˚С.
- Bowl with underthem with a horizontal line - gentle / delicate washing. Any aggressive mechanical action is prohibited.
- Basin with two horizontal lines under it - extra soft wash with plenty of water, minimal mechanical stress and a short rinse.
Tips for delicate washing
If you find the symbol "washing" on the clothing label with a horizontal strip below it, the following conditions must be observed:
- The washing machine drum is filled to a maximum of 2/3 of the permitted limit.
- Drum rotation speed is the lowest.
- Spin speed should not be higher than average (when spinning by hand, maximum accuracy must also be observed).
If the label has a “wash” symbol with two horizontal stripes, then this decoding of the symbol on the clothes consists of the following actions:
- The drum of the washing machine is filled to a maximum of 1/3 of the allowable value.
- Drum rotation speed at minimum.
The use of the spin function is only allowed at the lowest values, in addition, the time must be reduced. If you plan to squeeze the product manually, then you need to do this without twisting. The ideal option for an item that has this washing symbol on the label is to refuse push-ups at all.
Symbols forwhitening symbols
Allowable effects on the product during bleaching are marked by the following symbols on clothing:
- The crossed-out triangle - a thing with this designation is prohibited from bleaching.
- Triangle - can be bleached with various oxidizing agents.
- Dashed triangle - whitening is acceptable, but with restrictions. Use of products without chlorine and oxygen-containing bleaches is allowed.
- Triangle with the letters CL - for bleaching, you can use products that contain chlorine.
Symbols for natural drying
Textile products can be dried both naturally and in a typewriter. As a rule, the “drying” pattern is found on labels only when special conditions must be met. If the item can be dried in any way, then there will most likely be no symbols on the clothes at all. How is drying classified?
- Quadangle - allowed to dry the product.
- Crossed out quadrangle - no drying allowed.
- One vertical strip inside the rectangle indicates that the item needs to be dried in a vertical state.
- Two strips inside a quadrilateral, arranged in parallel, are used to indicate the drying of the product in a vertical state without wringing.
- One horizontal strip inside a quadrangle - the item can only be dried on a horizontal surface in a straightened form.
- Two horizontal stripes inside a quadrilateral, locatedin parallel - drying without wringing, only on a flat horizontal surface in a straightened form.
- The oblique line in the upper left corner of the quadrangle - the textile product can only be dried in the shade.
Machine Dry: Symbols on Clothing Labels
Tumble dry limits are noted as follows:
- Crossed-out square with a circle inside - do not tumble dry.
- Square with a circle inside - tumble dry allowed.
- Circle with one dot in the middle - the symbol indicates a delicate drying mode at low temperature (60˚С). At the same time, drum loading and cycle time should be minimal.
- Circle with two dots inside - normal tumble dry at 80˚C is acceptable.
- Crossed twisted product - it is forbidden to twist the product during the spin cycle.
Symbols indicating ironing
The following symbols are used to mark the ironing action on textile labels:
- Crossed-out iron - do not iron.
- Iron - the thing can be ironed.
- Iron with one point at the base - the textile product can be ironed with an iron with a temperature regime not exceeding 110˚С.
- Two dots on the base of the iron - the maximum heating temperature of the soleplate is 150˚C.
- Iron symbol with three dots - the maximum heating temperature of the device is 200˚С.
- Iron with crossed out vertical stripes underneathit - the product cannot be steamed.
Symbols for professional cleaning
Professional cleaning of textiles is divided into two types - dry (dry cleaning) and wet (aqua cleaning). Both types are carried out exclusively in specialized institutions.
On product labels, not only symbols in the form of geometric shapes, but also letters are used to indicate the recommended type of professional cleaning. Consider the dry cleaning conventions on clothes:
- P - This item can only be dry cleaned with trichlorethylene.
- W - wet cleaning allowed.
- A - Any kind of chemical is allowed.
- F - Flammable products may be used.
Dry cleanable elements
Admissible dry cleaning rates are indicated on the labels with the following symbols:
- Crossed circle - do not dry clean.
- Round - dry cleanable.
- Circle with letter P in the middle - cleaning of textiles with trichlorethylene and other solvents is allowed.
- Circle with a P and a stripe underneath - limited trichlorethylene dry cleaning. In this case, it is necessary to observe the water level, the temperature regime during drying, as well as the intensity of the mechanical impact.
- Circle with letter F - Trifluorotrichloroethane and hydrocarbons are allowed in cleaning.
- Circle withletter F and a strip below it - limited dry cleaning with hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloroethane (water level, drying temperature and degree of mechanical action are set individually).
- Circle with letter A - Dry cleanable with all types of solvents.
Wet dry cleaning conventions
Deciphering the symbols on the labels of clothes for wet cleaning is as follows:
- Crossed circle with F and stripe underneath - no wet cleaning.
- Letter W in the center of the circle - standard wet cleaning is acceptable.
- The letter W in the center of the circle and a strip below it - only delicate wet cleaning is possible with the regulation of the liquid level, drying temperature and the degree of mechanical action.
- Two parallel stripes under the circle with the letter W in the center - extra delicate wet cleaning.
Care requirements according to material type
In addition to the recommendations indicated on the labels, there are general rules for the care of natural and artificial fabrics.
Natural materials:
- Cotton - can be washed at any temperature both by hand and in the machine using universal detergents. Fabric shrinkage - 3-5%.
- Silk is a very whimsical matter that needs delicate care. Only hand wash with special detergents is recommended. The water temperature should not exceed 30˚. Soak silk productsis strictly prohibited, colored items should be washed separately.
- It is preferable to wash wool products by hand, but it is not forbidden to use a special “wool” program in washing machines, detergents must be special. Spin mode - minimum. Drying exclusively in a natural way in a straightened form on a towel.
Artificial / synthetic materials
- Viscose, rayon, modal. We recommend hand washing or in the washing machine at the lowest temperature. Only mild detergents are used to clean these fabrics. Material shrinkage - 4-7%.
- Dacron, polyester, tactile, lycra, polyamide and elastin. Machine washable at 40˚C with standard detergents. The listed fabrics are afraid of a hot iron.
- Supplex and rubberized materials. They are used for tailoring training clothes, for example, OBS brand sports equipment (“OBS”). The symbols in the cut of clothes are as follows: after training, you should dry the thing, and only then wash it, and only by hand. Spinning in a centrifuge is prohibited, you should slightly remove the water with your hands and allow the residue to drain. Drying clothes made from these fabrics is done in a straightened position, on a coat hanger.
