Care labelling for clothing and textiles

About care labels

Care labelling for clothing and textiles covers items such as clothing, furnishings, plastic coated fabrics, leathers and furs.

Care labelling provides the public with enough information to:

  • know how to care for clothing and textile products
  • have prior knowledge of costs such as dry cleaning in the ongoing care of clothing and textile products
  • understand how to clean clothing and textile products properly (e.g. cold hand wash only)
  • maximise the life of clothing and textile products
  • avoid damage such as dyes running (e.g. wash separately).

Changes to the information standard for care labelling

On 5 September 2023 the information standard for care labelling for clothes and textiles was updated.

The new information standard requires that textile products including clothing, textiles, furnishing, suede skins, leathers and furs must have adequate care labelling instructions attached to them.

Suppliers must continue to provide care instructions written in English until 4 March 2024. From 5 March 2024, suppliers can provide care instructions written in English or by using the international care symbols. 

The care labelling symbols

The new information standard allows care instructions to be provided by the 5 internationally recognised care symbols, each relating to a different aspect of garment care. These well recognised symbols have been widely used since 2006 in many countries. These care symbols provide an alternative to the written care instructions.

  • Washing (a washtub)
  • Bleaching (a triangle)
  • Drying (a square)
  • Ironing (an iron)
  • Professional Care (a circle)

Meaning of the symbols

Symbol

Description

Maximum washing temperature shown in Celsius degrees inside the washtub.

Normal process.

Maximum washing temperature shown in Celsius degrees inside the washtub.

Mild process.

Maximum washing temperature shown in Celsius degrees inside the washtub.

Very mild process.

Wash by hand with a maximum washing temperature of 40°C.

Do not wash.

Symbol

Description

Any bleaching agent is allowed.

Only oxygen/non chlorine bleach (contained in most universal detergents) is permitted.

Bleaching is not allowed.

Symbol

Description

Tumble drying is possible at a low temperature (exhaust temperature maximum 60°C).

Tumble drying is possible at a normal temperature (exhaust temperature maximum 80°C).

Do not tumble dry.

Flat drying.

Drip flat drying.

Line drying.

Drip line drying.

Flat drying in the shade.

Drip flat drying in the shade.

Line drying in the shade.

Drip line drying in the shade.

Symbol

Description

Suitable to iron at low temperatures (maximum plate temperature of 110°C).

Suitable to iron at moderate temperatures (maximum plate temperature of 150°C).

Suitable to iron at hot temperatures (maximum plate temperature of 200°C).

Do not iron. Irreversible changes should be expected if an iron is used.

Symbol

Description

Professional dry cleaning with per­chloroethylene and hydrocarbons.

Normal process.

Professional dry cleaning with per­chloroethylene and hydrocarbons.

Mild process.

Professional dry cleaning with per­chloroethylene and hydrocarbons.

Very mild process.

Professional dry cleaning with hydrocarbons.

Normal process.

Professional dry cleaning with hydrocarbons.

Mild process.

Do not dry clean.

Professional wet cleaning.

Normal process.

Professional wet cleaning.

Mild process.

Professional wet cleaning.

Very mild process.

Do not professional wet clean.

Important notice: these Care Labelling Symbols are protected by intellectual property owned by GINETEX. Any use of these symbols requires prior authorization from GINETEX.

For more information: http://www.ginetex.net or ginetex@ginetex.net.

Is this page useful?