Elisa, what does the symbol on the label of this garment mean? That's the question Dalia just asked me as she finished sewing the new batch of dresses.
A pictogram in the shape of a crossed-out rectangle with a circle inside that reminded me of one of our mottos:
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As?
Of course, by selecting ecological clothing .
But also knowing how to care for your clothes . And to do that, you must start by learning to read the symbols that appear on the labels of each garment. Simple or not so simple?
In this article, you'll find all the information you need, complete symbology, and an app that will become essential starting today: your personal label reader.
Are you coming?
What are the symbols on our clothing labels for?
Has your favorite dress come out of the washing machine a different color, shrunk, or ripped?
Don't worry, it's happened to us too. You see a triangle or a circle on the label and you don't know what the heck it means. You rush to put it in the washing machine, thinking, oh, a normal cycle will do , and you're left without your most beloved dress.
Let it be the last time!
The pictograms that appear on clothing labels provide us with all the information we need to avoid any irreversible damage.
Or, to put it another way, they tell us how to wash, dry, and iron our clothes so they stay in good condition longer. And so you never have to worry again when you discover your laundry.
The importance of following the instructions on the symbols on the labels
In Europe, Ginetex, a French association, is responsible for the pictogram system that you'll find on all textile labels on our continent.
In all, or almost all, because according to the OCU (Organization of American States), clothing manufacturers are not required to include this information on labels. However, they normally do so to avoid conflicts with consumers.
This series of signs was created in the 1960s and helped define norms and standards that we can understand internationally, regardless of our language. Hence the importance of knowing their meaning and following their instructions.
Once you learn them, you'll learn them forever. All European brands use the same system.
Look, here's the basis for understanding them all...
Main symbols to keep in mind
The symbols shown below belong to the ISO 3758 standard, which Ginetex (the International Association for Textile Care Labeling) adheres to, and are standardized worldwide.
They are divided into 5 categories based on these icons:
- Washing . Represented by the symbol of a bucket filled with water.
- Whitewash or bleaching . Indicated with a triangle.
- Drying . Shown from a square base.
- Ironing . From the pictogram of an iron.
- Professional care . Circled.
Are we going there?
Symbols for washing clothes
The pictograms in this category tell you whether you can wash your clothes at home, either by hand or machine, and how to do it.
- The numbers inside the wash tub specify the maximum temperature in degrees Celsius that you should not exceed.
- If you see horizontal bars , start preparing the delicate or extra delicate program.
- A hand inside the bucket indicates that you'll have to wash it by hand if you don't want it to get damaged.
- And if the bucket is crossed out , that garment only allows airing and brushing.
But if you want to be more sustainable and extend the life of your clothes, our recommendation is always this: it's best to always wash in cold water.
Symbols on the use of bleach on clothing
The signs you'll find in this section tell you whether or not you can use bleach to remove tough stains or whiten clothes.
However, at Elisa Muresan, we recommend that you avoid using bleach. Chlorine and other elements in its composition form compounds that are harmful to the environment. Instead, learn how to wash your clothes in an eco-friendly way . You'll see that it's possible.
Symbols for drying clothes
The square you'll find on all the signs in this section refers to the drying process. Look, it's very simple:
- If you see vertical lines inside the square, you can safely air dry and hang it vertically.
- However, if the line is horizontal , you should dry the garment on a flat surface of this type to prevent it from stretching or becoming deformed.
- If you see a circle inside , it means you're using a dryer. The more dots you have, the higher the temperature you can set on the program.
- And if the square with a circle inside is crossed out, it means you can't put the garment in the dryer. Otherwise, it will shrink or get damaged.
But if you want to be more sustainable and save energy, we recommend always avoiding the dryer.
Symbols for ironing clothes
With this one, in principle, there's no doubt. As you know, it's the symbol of an iron. But you might have doubts about the dots.
- If you don't see any stitches inside, you should iron at less than 110ºC. One stitch for 110ºC, two stitches for 150ºC, and three stitches for 200ºC.
- And if the iron is crossed out ... Bonus: you can skip the ironing process. This means that garment can't withstand high temperatures, so skip the iron and save energy.
Although, that said, more and more people are embracing the "Wrinkles are beautiful" maxim. Plus, if you hang your clothes properly, you can avoid ironing in most cases, thus, once again, being more sustainable.
Symbols for professional clothing care
It's probably happened to you before. You buy a blazer or any other item of clothing and realize, when it's too late, that you can only wash it if you take it to a dry cleaner. That was before, but now it won't happen again. Pay attention to the symbol in this section.
If you see a single circle or a circle with a letter inside, be careful! Don't even think about washing the garment at home. Take it to your nearest dry cleaner, and they'll know what to do.
“My Label” App, the clothing care sign reader on your mobile
Now Dalia, and the whole team, know what the pictogram in the form of a crossed-out rectangle with a circle inside that appears on the dress means.
And you?
If you don't know yet, now's the time. You've seen that understanding the meaning of clothing care icons is very simple, much simpler than you thought.
But wait, because there's more and it left us speechless.
You see, when we started writing this article, we thought about creating an infographic. A print-ready image with a complete guide to the symbols and their meanings. Perfect for keeping on hand, but...
But times are changing, and Ginetex, the company responsible for this symbolism we've already mentioned, has created a mobile app that lets you read your clothing labels instantly. It also offers tips and advice to help you care for the planet while cleaning your clothes and keeping them looking their best for longer.
Simply search for the MY CARE LABEL app or its Spanish version, MI ETIQUETA, on your phone and download it for free.
And remember, in addition to taking care of your clothes, always choose ethical and ecological clothing.
