At first glance, clothes cleaning labels can confuse you. While each country has different systems for these labels, many are adapting to the use of an international standard. If you learn the meaning of each symbol, you will be able to recognize them right away the next time you decide whether to machine, bleach, dry, iron or dry clean a garment.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Washing Clothes
Step 1. Find out if you can wash a garment in the washing machine
A garment is suitable for washing in the washing machine if it has a symbol that depicts a container with a wavy line at the top. To better remember this symbol, consider that it represents your washing machine filled with water. When you see it you can put the garment in the washing machine normally, without taking specific precautions.
- If the symbol has a line under it, use the medium speed wash program for synthetics.
- If the symbol has two lines underneath, use the gentle program.
- If the symbol contains a dot, wash the garment in cold water.
- If the symbol contains a colon, you can use warm water.
- If the symbol contains three dots, use hot water.
- If the symbol contains a number, wash your garment in water at a temperature corresponding to that number (in degrees Celsius).
Step 2. Recognize which items need to be hand washed
You must wash a dress by hand when the washing symbol contains a drawing of a hand. Avoid putting these items in the washing machine, as they are usually too delicate.
In general, you should not wash clothes by hand in water at temperatures above 40 ° C
Step 3. Recognize when a garment cannot be washed
Do not wash a garment if the washing symbol is marked with an X. This means that the garment is neither suitable for hand washing nor for washing in the washing machine. In these cases you will need to take it to a dry cleaner to make sure it is cleaned properly.
Part 2 of 5: Bleaching Clothes
Step 1. Use bleach if the label contains a triangle
While the triangle doesn't usually look much like a bottle of bleach, try to remember that it represents it. If you deem it necessary, you can bleach the garments that bear this symbol, using traditional or delicate formula products.
Step 2. Find out what type of bleach to use
You should only use a mild formula product if the triangle symbol contains diagonal lines. Traditional bleach removes colors from fabrics, so it is used almost exclusively for whites. Gentle formula products, on the other hand, are oxygen-based and shouldn't ruin or stain your clothes.
Step 3. Do not use bleach if the triangle symbol is marked with an X
This applies to both types of bleach. If the garment gets stained, try using another method to remove it.
Part 3 of 5: Dry Clothes
Step 1. Learn when to tumble clothes
You can do this if the label contains a square with a circle inside it. To better remember this symbol, consider that it represents your dryer. If there is, you can dry the dress as you normally would, without taking any special precautions.
- If the symbol contains a dot, dry the garment at a low temperature.
- If the symbol contains a colon, use the medium temperature program.
- If the symbol contains three dots, you can dry the dress at a high temperature.
Step 2. Recognize which items should not be tumble dried
Avoid this type of drying for clothes that have the tumble dryer symbol marked with an X. Using the dryer in these cases could damage the clothes, so be sure to hang or hang them out to dry. Look for other symbols on the label to decide which method is best.
Step 3. Let the clothes air dry if the label contains a square symbol
This symbol indicates "natural drying". In this case, do not put the garment in the dryer and do not use other methods of artificial drying.
- If the symbol contains a semicircle with the two top vertices connected to each other, hang the garment on a clothesline.
- If the symbol contains a horizontal line in the center of the square, you should dry the garment by placing it horizontally.
- If the symbol contains three vertical lines in the center of the square, the garment must be placed on a clothesline.
- If the symbol contains two diagonal lines at the top left, you should let the garment dry in the shade.
Part 4 of 5: Ironing Clothes
Step 1. Iron your clothes if you see the iron symbol on the label
This is easy to remember, because it looks a lot like a classic iron. You can iron these items as you usually do, without taking special precautions.
- If the symbol contains a dot, iron the garment at a low temperature.
- If the symbol contains a colon, iron the garment at medium temperature.
- If the symbol contains three points, iron the garment at a high temperature.
Step 2. Recognize when you can use steam
Do not steam iron a garment that on the label shows the symbol of an iron marked with an X with some lines starting from the bottom. To remember the symbol better, think of the lines that start from the iron as steam or water. Use only heat in this case, as the steam could damage or ruin the fabric.
Step 3. Know when to avoid ironing a garment
Do not do this if the label has an iron symbol marked with an X. If it has creases, put it in the dryer if possible. You can also hang it in the bathroom while taking a hot shower, as the moisture will help make the creases disappear.
Part 5 of 5: Dry Clean Your Clothes
Step 1. Dry clean items with a circle on the label
Take these clothes to a dry cleaner instead of washing and drying them at home. Usually fabrics with this symbol should not be wet. Water and high temperatures could damage or ruin the fabric.
Step 2. Recognize which solvent to use for dry cleaning
Dry clean the garment with a special solvent if there is a circle symbol with a letter inside on the label. The letter tells the dry cleaner which products to use for the specific fabric. The letter A indicates that all solvents can be used, the F indicates that only petroleum-based products are used, while the P stands for all solvents except trichlorethylene.
Step 3. Do not dry clean a garment if you see the circle symbol marked with an X on the label
This means that the dress is not suitable for dry cleaning. Check the label to see if you can wash and dry it at home.
