Have you ever come across labels on clothes full of symbolsand got confused about how to properly care for your pieces? Knowing how to interpret these designs is essential to keep your clothes in good condition for longer, avoiding damage and unnecessary wear and tear.
We often ignore these labels or remove them after purchase, but they carry crucial information about fabric conservation and must be taken into account. Check below how to correctly read the information on the label!
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Understanding the importance of these symbols and to help you make more conscious decisions when washing, ironing and drying your clothes, we sought guidance from Marinês Cassiano, a specialist in textile care at 5àsec.
Let's unravel the meaning of the main symbols present on the labels so that you can guarantee the durability and quality of your pieces.
washing temperature: Represented by a number inside a circle or a container, this symbol indicates the maximum temperature at which the garment can be washed.
Pay attention to this information, as it varies from 30ºC to 95ºC. If there is a dash below the circle, it indicates reduced spin, while two dashes mean untwisted spin.
bleaching: The triangle is the key symbol to understand how to target the piece. One trianglealone indicates that the use of bleach, such as bleach, is prohibited. If there are the letters “CL” inside the triangle, it means that chlorine bleaching is allowed.
Drying: The symbol representing drying is crucial to prevent damage to fabrics. If a garment has the symbol of a crossed rotating drum, tumble drying is prohibited.
If there are dots inside the symbol, one dot indicates low temperature and two dots, maximum temperature for tumble drying.
ironing: The design of an iron with dots indicates the maximum temperatures that the garment can withstand during ironing. One point allows heat up to 110ºC, two points up to 150ºC and three points for a maximum temperature of 200ºC. If the iron has an X, the piece cannot be ironed.
Dry clean: The symbol of a circle with an X indicates that dry cleaning or the use of solvent to remove stains is prohibited.
If the circle is alone, then dry cleaning is allowed. If there is the letter “A” inside the circle, all types of solvents can be used. “F” indicates hydrocarbon and “P”, perchlorethylene.
clothesline drying: The symbol of a piece hanging on a clothesline indicates the recommendation for drying in the open air. Always check the label as some garments may require different drying such as shaded, flat or drip drying.
washing: The figure of a hand in water indicates manual washing. If there is an X, the item cannot be washed. If there is no hand, the piece can be washed manually or in the machine. If there is a trace underneath, reduced machine wash is allowed.
Marinês points out that there are more than 40 symbols related to the care of clothes during cleaning. In addition, some garments require specialized treatment, such as dry cleaning.
If you have doubts about how to care for your clothes, it is advisable to look for a laundryprofessional, such as 5àsec, which has expertise in the care of different fabrics and will ensure proper cleaning, extending the durability of your clothes by up to five times.
Now that you know what the symbols on the labels mean, you can better preserve your clothes and avoid unnecessary damage. After all, taking care of the pieces properly not only maintains their original appearance, but also contributes to conscious and sustainable consumption.
