Know how to read labels to better care for your clothes

Have you ever looked closely at those little pictograms on your clothing labels and wondered what they were for? Don't worry, you're not the only one! In this article, we will help you understand these pictograms and interpret them to maintain your clothes and make them last over time.

The 5 Categories of Pictograms

There are five main categories of pictograms on your clothing labels: washing, drying, bleaching, ironing, and professional cleaning.

1. Washing

The first category is washing. There are three basic symbols:

1. Do not wash: This icon indicates that the garment should not be machine washed or hand washed. You will need to find another method to clean it.
2. Hand wash: Be sure to choose the correct detergent and wash gently.
3. Machine wash: This icon indicates that the garment can be machine washed. The bars below the icon represent the wash programs to use, while the numbers indicate the appropriate temperature.

2. Drying

The second category concerns drying. It is divided into two parts: tumble drying and natural drying .

For the dryer , the number of dots on the icons indicate the temperature.

1 point = 60 degrees maximum

2 points = 80 degrees maximum

For natural drying , the icons tell you whether you should hang the garment flat or on a line. If there are two lines inside the square, this means that you should not wring your garment. Finally, the diagonal lines tell you that the garment must be placed in the shade.

3. Ironing

The third category concerns ironing. The principle is identical: the number of points determines the temperature to use to iron the garment. Be sure to use the appropriate iron setting to avoid damaging your clothes.

1 point = 110 degrees

2 points = 150 degrees

3 points = 200 degrees

4. Whitening

There are three icons for bleaching your textiles. They tell you whether chlorine-based bleaching is allowed, prohibited, or if you can use a non-chlorine bleach.

5. Professional Cleaning

Finally, certain pictograms concern professional cleaning. If you see these symbols, it means you will need to have the garment professionally cleaned rather than washing it yourself.

Understanding these pictograms on your clothing labels will allow you to take better care of your clothes and extend their lifespan.

By following these simple instructions, you'll avoid common care mistakes that could damage your favorite clothes. Take a moment to read these labels, and you'll be rewarded with clothes that stay in perfect condition for longer.