Textile and Garment

Care Labels

What are Care Labels?

Care labels indicate how to clean textile articles in the best possible way. Care symbols provide all the necessary information on washing, bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning and tumble drying.

General appearance of care label

Contents of Care Labels

Fiber content Country of origin Care instructions

Sometimes other details like Size, style No. etc are also mentioned

Why care instructions ?

Technological advancements in textile and garment industry is at a higher rate Number of products are large

Traditional sources of care information and personal

experience are based on hit and trial method

Fibers and other components of wearing apparel are

relatively large in number in some products

Most of the products are new combinations or complex variety of old products

The finishes imparted to materials is also

diverse in nature
Information is so large that one cant recall all the information and on right time

About Care Labels

Provide complete instructions about regular care for the garment or provide warnings if the garment cannot be cleaned without harm. Ensure that care labeling instructions, if followed, will cause no substantial harm to the product. Warn consumers about certain procedures that they may assume to be consistent with the instructions on the label, but that would harm the product. For e.g, if a pair of pants is labeled for washing, consumers may assume they can iron them.

Contd
If the pants would be harmed by ironing, the label should read, "Do not iron." Therefore, Ensure that care labels remain attached and legible throughout the useful life of the product. Guarantee covers all component materials, colour fastness, appearance, dimensional stability and workmanship

Care Labels: A brief history

1972 - the Federal Trade Commission introduced the Care Labeling Rule. For the first time, requested manufacturers to

label their clothing with instructions.

January 1984 - FTC amended a rule to clarify care labeling requirements, simplify and unify the care label language and provide more specific and detailed information for consumers. July 1, 1997- FTC introduced a "conditional exemption" to its Care Labeling Rule and allowed manufacturers to use certain care symbols in place of written instructions. The symbols were developed by ASTM.

Types of Care Labeling

I. Temporary labels or tags Removes in the first wash Printed on low price disposable materials such as cardboard, processed papers and plastic sheets Used for garments on shelf Temporary labels II. Permanent Labels

Content is same as permanent label

Its basically used to attract more and more customers

Permanent labels
It lasts the complete fabric or garment life Printed on the garment or textile piece directly or stitched in the garment seam after printing on fabrics such as nylon, taffeta, satin etc. Is available for customer for regular reference on the garment or textile It is an aid for daily care routines

Labeling the Clothing

Labels are attached where they can be seen or easily found by consumers at the point of sale. If labels can't be seen easily because of packaging, additional care information must appear on the outside of the package or on a hang tag attached to the product. Labels are attached permanently and securely and be legible during the useful life of the product.

Contd
When a garment consists of two or more parts only one care label is provided, if the care instructions are the same for all pieces.

The label should be attached to the major piece of suit if it has two parts and but separate care instructions are provided if required

Labeling Piece Goods

Goods manufacturers and importers provide care information clearly and conspicuously on the end of each roll or bolt. This information give what regular care is needed. The information is applied to the fabric not to additional elements but not to the fabric, such as trim, lining, or buttons.

Care Labeling Material

Paper

Cardboard
Plastic Fabrics -Taffeta, Nylon, Satin, etc.

Components of Care Labeling

The instructions expressed should appear in the order of the processes Washing Bleaching Drying Ironing Dry cleaning

The instructions represented applies to the whole of the garment, including trimmings, buttons, zippers, linings, and so on

Decision on care instruction for a particular material

Made by the means of tests

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

standard guidelines for care instructions and symbols

published

It has test methods for all kinds of processes such as Washing and drying Bleaching Ironing Dry-cleaning

Washing and Drying

DESCRIPTION TEST METHOD ASTM D2057 ASTM D2051 ASTM D1683 Colour fastness of zipper to laundering Durability of finish on zipper to laundering Failure of sewn seams of woven fabric

Bleaching

DESCRIPTION TEST METHOD AATCC 3 AATCC 101 AATCC 172 Colour fastness to bleaching with chlorine Colour fastness to bleaching with peroxide Colour fastness to non-chlorine bleaches in home laundering

Ironing
DESCRIPTION TEST METHOD AATCC 88C AATCC 88B AATCC 128 Appearance of creases in durable press items after home laundering Appearance of seams in durable press items after home laundering Wrinkle method recovery of fabric: appearance

Dry-Cleaning

TEST METHOD

DESCRIPTION

AATCC 132
AATCC 158 ASTM D2052

Colour fastness to dry-cleaning

Dimensional changes to dry cleaning Colour fastness of zipper to dry-cleaning

Care Label Symbols

GINETEX - The International Association for Textile
Care Labeling manages the Care Label symbols. The GINETEX care symbols are registered with WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Some of the objectives of GINETEX are the followings:

To inform consumers on the correct care labeling of

textiles through a system of uniform and simple care labeling symbols, independent of language. To achieve and promote voluntary care labeling on an international basis.

About Care Symbols

Washing
The number below the level of water in the washtub indicates the maximum permitted temperature of the water in degrees centigrade.
The washtub and temperature also indicate that machine washing is possible. A hand in the washtub indicates that the garment can only be washed by hand.

Machine wash Cool/Low temp.

Machine wash Warm/medium temp.

Machine wash Hot/high temp.

Hand wash

An underline beneath the washtub indicates that a milder treatment is in order.

machine wash permanent press machine wash gentle or delicate

Bleaching
Bleach When Any commercially available bleach product Needed may be used in the laundering process. Only a non-chlorine or oxidizing bleaches, Non-Chlorine color-safe bleach may be used in the Bleach When laundering process. Needed Chlorine bleach may not be used. No bleach product may be used. The garment is not colorfast or structurally able to withstand any bleach.

Do Not Bleach

Ironing
Iron, Any Regular ironing may be needed and may be Temperature, performed at any available temperature with or Steam or Dry without steam is acceptable. Iron, Low Regular ironing, steam or dry, may be performed at Low setting (110C, 230F) only. Regular ironing, steam or dry, may be performed at Medium setting (150C, 300F). Regular ironing, steam or dry, may be performed at High setting (200C, 290F). Steam ironing will harm garment, but regular dry ironing at indicated temperature setting is acceptable. Item may not be smoothed or finished with an iron.

Iron, Medium

Iron, High

Do Not Steam

Do Not Iron

Dry Cleaning
Dry clean Dry clean, Solvent Any

Dry Clean, any solvent, any cycle any moisture, any heat. Dry Clean, any solvent. Usually used with other restrictions on proper dry cleaning procedure. Dry Clean using fluorocarbon solvent. Usually used with other restrictions. Dry cleaning using petroleum solvent other than trichloroethylene may be safely used. May be used with A, P, or F solvent restriction. May be used with A, P, or F solvent restriction.

Dry clean, Fluorocarbon solvent Only Dry clean, Any Solvent Except Trichloroethylene Dry clean, Short Cycle Dry clean, Reduced Moisture Dry clean, Low Heat Dry clean, No Steam

May be used with A, P, or F solvent restriction.

May be used with A, P, or F solvent restriction.

Do Not Dry clean

Garment may not be commercially dry-cleaned.

Drying
Tumble Dry, Normal A machine dryer may be regularly used at the hottest available temperature setting. A machine dryer may be regularly used at a maximum of Low Heat setting.

Tumble Dry, Normal, Low Heat Tumble Dry, Normal, Medium Heat Tumble Dry, Normal, High Heat

A machine dryer may be regularly used at a maximum of Medium Heat setting.

A machine dryer may be regularly used at a High Heat setting.

Tumble Dry, Normal, No Heat

A machine dryer may be regularly used only at No Heat or Air Only setting.

Tumble Dry, Permanent Press

A machine dryer may be regularly used only at the Permanent Press setting.

Tumble Dry, Gentle

A machine dryer may be regularly used only at the Gentle setting. A machine dryer may not be used. Usually accompanied by an alternate drying method symbol.

Do Not Tumble Dry

Drying

Contd

Do Not Dry

A machine dryer may not be used. Usually accompanied by an alternate drying method symbol. Hang damp garment from line or bar, in or out doors. Hang dripping wet garment from line or bar, in or out doors, without hand shaping or smoothing. Lay out horizontally for drying. Usually added to Line or Drip Dry. Dry away from direct sunlight. Do Not Wring.

Line Dry

Drip Dry

Dry Flat

Dry In Shade

Do Not Wring

Textile Care Labeling Standards Specifications In India

British Standards Institutes (BSI)
Founded in 1901 to co-ordinate the development of national standards and incorporated with Royal Charter in 1929 A non-profit distribution organization remaining independent of government, industry or trade association BS 2747 textile care labeling code BS 1903 glossary of terms used in clothing industry

Worlds Major Care-Labeling Systems

International Care Labeling System

British Care Labeling System

Canadian Care Labeling System Japanese Care Labeling System Australian Care Labeling System American Care Labeling System

British care labeling system

The British care labeling system uses graphic symbols. The 5 basic symbols used are as follows: Washtub indicates WASHING

Triangle indicates BLEACHING

Iron indicates IRONING

Circle indicates DRYCLEANING

Square indicates DRYING

Cross-Cross superimposed on any of the preceding symbols indicates, such a treatment or process should not be used.

Canadian Care labeling system

Consists of five basic symbols that are illustrated in three conventional traffic light colours.

Words in English and French are used, in addition to the symbols conveying special

instructions not covered by one of the basic

symbols.

Japanese Care labeling System

The basic symbols of the Japanese care labeling system are categorized as follows: WASHING BLEACHING IRONING DRYCLEANING WRINGING DRYING

Japanese Care labeling System

Bleaching Symbols
Symbol Instructions

Machine wash in water temperature of 95oC or less. No other restrictions. Machine wash in water temperature of 60oC or less. No other restrictions. Machine wash in water temperature of 40oC or less. No other restrictions. Machine wash at delicate cycle or hand wash in water temperature of 40oC or less. Machine wash at delicate cycle or hand wash in water temperature of 30oC or less. Hand wash in water temperature of 30oC or less. Do not wash (not washable).

Japanese Care labeling System

Bleaching Symbols
Symbol Instructions

Use chlorine bleach. Do not use chlorine bleach.

Japanese Care labeling System

Ironing Symbols Symbol Instructions May be ironed directly at 180-210oC

May be ironed directly at 140-160oC.

May be ironed directly at 80-120oC

Do not iron
May be ironed directly at 180-210oC if a cloth is placed between iron and garment.

Japanese Care labeling System

Dry Cleaning Symbols

Symbol

Instructions

Dry clean. Use any dry cleaning agent.

Dry clean. Use only a petroleum based agent.

Do not dry clean.

Japanese Care labeling System

Wringing Symbols
Symbol Instructions

Wring softly by hand or spin dry by machine quickly.

Do not wring by hand.

Japanese Care labeling System

Drying Symbols Symbol Instructions

Hang dry.

Hand dry in shade.

Lay flat to dry.

Lay flat to dry in shade.

American Care Labeling System

The rule became effective in July 1972 and was amended effectively in January 1984. Written instructions are used on the care labels in the USA rather than symbols. For washable garments For dry cleanable garments

For washable garments, the label give specific instructions for each of the following procedures
Washing Bleaching Drying Ironing

American Care Labeling System

For dry cleanable garments, the label state dry clean with the following exceptions: The label state which solvent (s) are safe to use. For e. g, professional dry clean: petroleum.

If some process normally used would damage the

garment, the label state it. For e.g., professional dry clean: no steam.

If the label states dry clean only, proof shows that washing harms the garment.

Australian Care Labeling System

Similar to the US care labeling system, the Australian system uses words with a few symbols to describe the care instructions. Based on Australian Standard 1957-1987, phrases and symbols used in laundering and dry-cleaning instructions fall into five categories: General and warnings Washing Drying Ironing Dry cleaning

A few examples of wash care symbols for different fabrics according to ASTM D5489-96c
Cotton fabrics:
Washing Bleaching Drying Ironing Dry cleaning

White

Color

White cotton Bleach with chlorine.

Dried in a tumble drier.

200oC; the goods should be damp.

All normal solvents can be used.

Dark color

A few examples of wash care symbols for different fabrics according to ASTM D5489-96c
Wool fabrics:

Washing

Bleaching

Drying

Ironing

Dry cleaning

Should not be Do not dry in 150oC; With Per chloro bleached. direct sun steam or a ethylene can light or direct damp cloth. be used. heat.

A few examples of wash care symbols for different fabrics according to ASTM D5489-96c
Silk fabrics:

Washing

Bleaching

Drying

Ironing

Dry cleaning

Should not bleached.

be

Do not dry in direct sun light

120o-150oC; Do not press seams.

Per chloro ethylene can be used.

A few examples of wash care symbols for different fabrics according to Japanese care labeling system
Light colour 100% Nylon Negligee

Water temperature 30oC. Machine wash or lightly by hand.

Use a neutral detergent. Not chlorine bleach.

Use a cool iron.

Hang in place.

shady

A few examples of wash care symbols for different fabrics according to Japanese care labeling system
Single colour 70% Acrylic 30% Polyester Sweater

Water temperature 30oC. Hand wash. Use a neutral detergent.

Use a medium-hot iron with a cloth.

Use any dry cleaning agent

Do not wring.

Lay out in a shady place.

Bibliography

http://www.carelabel.com/about.html http://www.paxar.com http://www.apparelkey.com/apparelkey/document/Japanese_CL_01.htm Managing Quality in Apparel Industry by P.V.Mehta Fiber To Fabric by Corbman