CLOTHING CARE

How can I make my clothes last longer when I first get them? Should I take any garment to dry cleaning? At what temperature should I iron my shirts?

To ensure your clothes look their best when you wear them, learn to read the labels and symbols.

SYMBOLS

Dry Cleaning A Symbols:

• A within circles represents dry cleaning.
• Garments with the A symbol can be dry cleaned with all solvents.

Dry Cleaning P Symbols:

• Empty circles with a P inside denote dry cleaning.
• The P symbol is used with tetrachloroethylene and monofluorotrichloromethane solvents.
• Normal cleaning processes are unrestricted.
• A single line indicates a gentle treatment for delicate garments, while a double line means no mechanical action for extremely delicate clothes.

Dry Cleaning F Symbols:

• The F symbol is used with all solvents.
• Normal cleaning processes are unrestricted.
• A single line indicates a mild treatment without adding water or mechanical action, and without raising the temperature.
• Cleaning isn't recommended in automatic service-type machines for clothes marked with double lines.

Dry Cleaning W Symbols:

• W symbol is used only with specific solvents and special washing agents.
• Handwashing sensitivity with low mechanical action and medium spinning speed.
• Extremely delicate garments should soak in cold water without any mechanical action.

Dry Cleaning X Symbols:

• The X inside a circle means no dry cleaning is allowed.
• Solvents shouldn't be used to remove stains.

Hand Wash:

• The hand wash symbol is quite self-explanatory. If you see a hand, it means handwashing is required.
• Check for the 'squeeze or no squeeze' symbol after successfully washing. If there's a wrapped object, squeezing is okay. If there's an 'x' with a crossed out item, avoid squeezing.

Washing Machine Symbols:

• An empty washing symbol implies washing with cold water.
• Symbols with numbers or dots inside indicate maximum temperature based on the given number or dot.

 

Washing Care Symbols:

Single Line Underneath:
Indicates delicate washing. If there are no numbers, wash in cold water with gentle agitation. Low spin cycle.

Double Line Underneath:
Used for very delicate garments. Clean by soaking in cold water, avoiding mechanical agitation. Do not wring, leave to dry.

 

Hand Wash or Do Not Wash Symbols:

Symbol with Hand:
It signifies that delicate items can be gently washed by hand with care, using water, detergent, or soap.

X Mark:
If marked, it is not suitable for any washing process without risk of damage. This symbol is often found on garments meant for dry cleaning, followed by dry cleaning symbols.

 

Ironing:

If there is an iron symbol on the label, it means it is safe to iron the garment. You can use your iron without any hesitation to smooth out wrinkles! If there is a dot in the middle of your iron, it indicates the temperature degree for ironing the garment for the best results.

1 dot = Low temperature for delicate products,

2 dots = Medium temperature for synthetic products (silk, nylon),

3 dots = High temperature for cotton and linen.

In essence, the more delicate the fabric, the lower the iron temperature should be.

If there are two straight lines underneath the iron symbol, it means you should use steam for the best results (if an 'x' appears within the same symbol = no steam ironing). However, if the entire symbol contains an 'x', the garment should not be ironed.

 

Ironing Symbols:

An empty iron symbol indicates that your laundry can be ironed.

The number of dots inside the iron symbols indicates the level of heat:

One dot: Low heat

Two dots: Medium heat

Three dots: High heat

 

Ironing Symbols:

An iron symbol with an X on it indicates that the laundry should not be ironed.

If there is an X on the steam part below, it means the laundry can be ironed, but without using steam.

Bleach Usage:

Bleaching Symbols:

• An empty triangle allows all bleaching products.
• CL inside the triangle means chlorine bleach can be used.
• Horizontal lines inside the triangle indicate non-chlorine bleach.
• An X inside both filled and empty triangles implies no bleaching.

 

Drying:

The final stage of the process—folding, carrying, placing, or hanging...

If you're curious about the best ways to dry your clothes, look at the circle in the instructions. If it's empty, it's safe to dry. The dots inside the circle indicate the temperature you should use.

1 dot = low temperature, 2 dots = medium temperature, 3 dots = high temperature.

If there's a line underneath, dry without heat for delicate clothes. If you see a circle-square with an 'x' inside, it means the item should be air-dried without movement in the machine. Hanging these clothes in their dry form is the safest way to avoid deformation.

Machine Drying Symbols:

A square containing an X indicates that machine drying is not recommended.

An empty circle indicates that machine drying is safe.

Circles with dots inside represent the temperature settings for machine drying:

• One dot: Low temperature
• Two dots: Medium temperature
• Three dots: High temperature

Machine Drying Symbols:

A circle inside a square with a single line below indicates delicate fabric that requires gentle drying.

Two lines below the circle signify very delicate fabrics that should be dried at a low temperature for an extended period.

Hand Drying Symbols:

A square by itself indicates that the item can be air-dried without the use of a machine.

A square symbol containing an X means that the item should not be dried.

Hand Drying Symbols:

• A lone square means the garment can be air dried.
• An X inside the square indicates no drying.
• Horizontal lines within the square imply drying in the shade.

Hand Drying Symbols:

A square with a horizontal line inside indicates that the item should be laid flat to dry.

A square with vertical lines inside suggests that the item should be drip-dried.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

SHOULD I WASH CLOTHES?

If the clothes aren’t very dirty, airing them out and brushing might suffice. This helps save energy and extends the life of your clothes.

DETERGENT

Using an eco-labeled detergent can be environmentally friendly. Try not to use more detergent than recommended on the bottle. Using excess detergent can cause staining and skin issues on clothes.

FABRIC SOFTENER

Using fabric softener is unnecessary and highly damaging to the environment.

BLEACH

Use bleach in cold water and for a maximum of one hour. Avoid using iron, bronze, or steel containers.

HAND WASHING

Make sure to completely dissolve the detergent before adding clothes. Separate clothes for the first few washes, as the water might discolor.

WASHING MACHINE

Use the washing machine at full capacity. It’s recommended to use a program that consumes less energy when washing a small load. Most modern washing machines have such programs. Don't forget to empty pockets.

WASHING MACHINE TEMPERATURE

Always follow the specified washing machine temperature. Colored clothes that should be washed at 60 degrees might bleed at 40 degrees or when hand-washed. Washing at low temperatures isn't always better.

DRYING

It’s advisable to thoroughly spin-dry clothes before drying. Air-drying clothes outdoors is best. However, to prevent colors from fading, try to avoid direct sunlight exposure.

IRONING

Sort clothes according to the temperature level indicated on the label, starting with those requiring low temperatures. It's better to iron clothes slightly damp. Afterward, use a damp cloth to clean any residue stuck to the iron before it dries.

RECYCLING YOUR CLOTHES

Donate clothes you don’t use to organizations that distribute them to those in need. This will extend the life of your clothes.

DENIM

Denim gets its appearance from a dyeing technique that might bleed during washing. Wash them inside out to prevent white marks in crease areas.

DOWN FILLING

To ensure even distribution, place tennis balls in the washing machine with down-filled items.

THICK KNITWEAR

To maintain their original shape, thick knitted clothes should be dried flat wrapped in a towel.

WATERPROOF CLOTHING

Waterproof clothes can be hand-squeezed for drying. If using a washing machine, always opt for a very low temperature setting.

FABRICS

WOOL

If washed at very high temperatures, wool shrinks and loses its shape when air-dried. It provides good thermal insulation but tends to shrink and felt.

COTTON

Cotton shrinks at very high temperatures. It's resistant to ironing and, if colored, should be washed separately the first time. It's cool, flexible, and highly durable but prone to wrinkling.

LINEN

Always wash linen at low temperatures, by hand, and without spinning. It's resistant to ironing, cool, pleasant to the touch, and doesn't soil easily.

SILK

Avoid washing silk at high temperatures or spinning. It should be ironed at a low temperature without steam. It's strong, lightweight, pleasant to the touch, and doesn't easily lose color. It's delicate and might require professional care for stubborn stains.

ACETATE, RAYON, OR VISCOSE

To prevent them from losing shape, avoid spinning. They have a silky touch and don't easily lose color. When wet, their durability is low, they burn easily, and are prone to static electricity.

POLYESTER OR NYLON

They are sensitive to heat and should be washed in warm water and ironed at a low temperature without steam. They are very durable, wrinkle-resistant, and don't easily lose color. They burn easily and are prone to static electricity.