Product Care

A care label on a textile product gives the consumer useful information about product maintenance. Good labels provide details on:


  • Fibre content, which is the percentage of each fibre used to make a fabric, eg 50 percent cotton, 50 percent polyester. This is a legal requirement.
  • Flammability. This is a legal requirement for children’s nightwear.
  • Standard care symbols (see diagrams).
  • Standard size, which is a standard measurement of the human body. For example, women’s clothes might come in sizes 10, 12, 14, 16.


All manufacturers use similar symbols to tell the consumer how to look after the product; the care of textile products depends on the fibre content and fabric finishes used.


Washing instructions

Symbol Instructions Symbol Instructions
95white Wash at 95 degrees, whites only 40darkcolours Wash at 40 degrees, dark colours only
60colours Wash at 60 degrees, colours 40viscose Wash at 40 degrees, viscose
60modal Wash at 60 degrees, modal 30degrees Wash at 30 degrees
50degrees Wash at 50 degrees onlyhand Wash by hand only
40degrees Wash at 40 degrees notwash Do not wash

Washing instructions are shown as a washing bowl. Similar symbols are found on washing machines to show different cycles. The number in the washing bowl shows the maximum temperature, and the line underneath the bowl tells you to use a special wash for synthetic fabrics. A hand in the bowl means you can only hand wash the product.


Bleaching instructions

Symbol Instructions Symbol Instructions
aBleach Bleach notBleach Do not bleach

Bleaching instructions are shown as a triangle. A cross over the triangle means do not wash with bleach.


Ironing instructions

Symbol Instructions Symbol Instructions
ironHigh Iron: high tempreature ironLow Iron: low temperature
ironNormal Iron: normal temperature ironCold Iron: cold, do not use steam

Ironing instructions are shown by a picture of an iron. The dots on the iron show the maximum temperature at which it is safe to iron the product: three dots is very hot; one dot is cool. A cross over the iron means do not iron.


Instructions for dry cleaning

Symbol Instructions Symbol Instructions
a Dry clean: all methods p Dry clean with perc (dry-cleaning fluid, tetrachloroethylene) only

Dry cleaning instructions: a circle symbol means that it’s safe to dry clean the product. The letter inside tells the dry cleaners what method should be used. A cross over the circle means do not dry clean.


Tumble drying instructions

Symbol Instructions Symbol Instructions
tumbleHigh Tumble dry: high temperature tumbleViscose Do not tumble dry: viscose
tumbleLow Tumble dry: low temperature tumbleDry Do not tumble dry
tumbleLowModal Tumble dry: low temperature, modal

Tumble drying instructions are shown by a square with a circle inside. The dots show the temperature at which it is safe to dry the product. A cross over the symbol means do not tumble dry.