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As manufacturers, importers and retailers, your brand value is dependent on each product’s
appearance. How do you ensure that care labels placed on your product are understandable
for consumers and apparel caregivers, while simultaneously meeting the national and
international requirements trade?
Our Solutions
Many countries have mandatory or voluntary standards for care label instructions that apply to
either apparel or soft home furnishing products:
U.S.A. : Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel and Certain Piece Goods as Amended
Europe: Textiles - Care Labeling Code Using Symbols
Japan: Care Labeling of Textile Goods
Canada: Care Labeling of Textiles
Australia: Textiles - Care Labeling
China: Chinese Textile - Care Labeling Code Using Symbols
In addition to the care label instructions, manufacturers and retailers must provide labels that:
1. Are permanently attached so they can be easily seen at point of sale. If the
product is packaged, displayed or folded so that customers cannot find the
label, care information must also appear on the side of the package or on a
hang tag.
2. Remain permanently attached and legible for the useful life of the product.
American Care Labeling
Any Heat High Medium Low No Heat/ Drip Dry Dry Flat
Air
Iron-dry or Steam
In the Shade No Steam
(added to line (added to iron)
dry, drip dry or
flat dry)
Maximum Temperature 200C 150C 110C
Iron (390F) (300F) (230F)
High Medium Low
A P F
Dryclean Any Any Solvent Except Petroleum Do Not Short Reduce Low No Steam
Solvent Trichloroethylene Solvent Only Dryclean Cycle Moisture Heat Finishing
Note: This figure illustrates the symbols to use for laundering and drycleaning instructions.
As a minimum, laundering instructions should include, in order, four symbols: washing,
bleaching, drying and ironing; drycleaning instructions shall include one symbol. Additional
words may be used to clarify the instructions.
European Care Labeling
The ISO care labeling standard ISO 3758 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38, Textiles,
Subcommittee SC2, Cleansing, finishing, and water resistance tests. The care symbols used in this
standard was established based on the GINETEX care labeling system, the symbols are registered as
international trademarks. GINETEX has 18 member countries, the national committees are given a
mandate to represent GINETEX to insure the correct use of the care symbols in their national territory.
For details, please visit http://ginetex.info/ginetex/.
The first and second editions ISO 3758 were published in 1991 and 2005. The third edition ISO
3758:2012 has been published and replaces the previous version of the standard (ISO 3758:2005). Key
changes are the addition of symbols for natural drying processes and the change of ‘Do not bleach’
symbol. The previous version used a blackened triangle; in the 2012 version this has now reverted back
to a lined version. The care symbols used in ISO 3758: 2012 consist of 5 main treatments and shall
appear in the order washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional textile care.
The current Japanese standard for care labeling code JIS L0217:1995 will be replaced by
a new standard JIS L0001:2014 effective from 1 December 2016. In addition, according to
the Household Goods Quality Labelling Act, a care label should be permanently attached to
most household goods.
There are a number of changes in JIS L0001: 2014 when compared to JIS L0217: 1995.
This new standard is written on the basis of ISO care labeling code ISO 3758: 2012,
which features five main treatments that shall appear in the order of washing, bleaching,
drying, ironing and professional textile care. However, most of the test methods stated in
JIS L0001: 2014 are newly designated when compared to JIS L0217: 1995 by referencing
a list of JIS test methods that covers the five treatments in the care labeling system.
Do Not Dry
(used with do Any Heat High Medium Low No Heat/ Drip Dry In the
not wash) Air Shade
Iron-Dry or Steam
P F
Professional Do Not Any Solvent Except Petroleum
Textile Care Dry-clean Trichloroethylene Solvent Only
W
Do Not Wet-Clean
Wet-Clean
Australian Care Labeling
National Textile Base Standard Technical Sub-committee discussed and voted for revision
of GB/T 8685 in the Huangshan annual technical meeting in April 2008. An updated
standard GB/T 8685-2008 is issued and is effective from 1 March 2009.
A permanence label shall include symbols of washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and
professional cleaning in sequence. Sufficient and appropriate symbols shall be used to
ensure garment would not be damaged during cleaning process.
- Do not bleach
- Maximum washing temperature 60 C
- Normal process
Symbol Natural Drying Process
- Maximum washing temperature 60 C
- Mild process - Line drying
- Tumble dry
- Low temperature
- Hand wash
- Maximum exhaust temperature:
- Maximum washing temperature 40 C
60 C
- Do not wash
- Do not tumble dry
Chinese Care Labeling
- Do not iron
- Do not dryclean
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Regional Contact
CHINA
+86 400 886 9926
china.softlines@intertek.com
FRANCE
+33 (0) 2-32-63-31-45
france.softlines@intertek.com
GERMANY
+49-911-74075-0
germany.softlines@intertek.com
india.softlines@intertek.com
UK
+44-1942-265-700
uk.softlines@intertek.com
US
+1 800 WORLDLAB (967 5352)
northamerica.softlines@intertek.com