View source for Laundry symbol

{{Short description|Pictograms providing clothing care recommendations}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}

[[File:Logo Textile care symbols.svg|thumb|Laundry symbols logo by [[GINETEX]]]]
[[File:Laundry symbols with japanese.jpg|thumb|Laundry care symbols with instructions in Japanese. The four symbols shown indicate that the garment must not be washed in water, must not be bleached, may be ironed only with a protective pressing cloth, and must be dry cleaned.]]
[[File:Guide to Procedures; LAUNDRY.jpg|thumb|upright|A poster from a laundromat in Beckley, West Virginia, that lists many of the common laundering instruction icons found on garment tags]]

A '''laundry symbol''', also called a '''care symbol''', is a [[pictogram]] indicating the manufacturer's suggestions as to methods of [[washing]], drying, [[dry cleaning|dry-cleaning]] and [[ironing]] [[clothing]]. Such symbols are written on labels, known as '''care labels''' or '''care tags''', attached to clothing to indicate how a particular item should best be cleaned. While there are internationally recognized standards for the care labels and pictograms, their exact use and form differ by region. In some standards, pictograms coexist with or are complemented by written instructions.

== Standards ==
[[GINETEX]], the France-based European association for textile care labelling, was formed in 1963 in part to define international standards for the care and labelling of textiles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ginetex.net/GB/ginetex/ginetex.asp|title=Who We Are|website=ginetex.net|publisher=[[GINETEX]]|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> By the early 1970s, GINETEX was working with [[ISO]] to develop international standards for textile labelling, eventually leading to the ISO 3758 standard, ''Textiles – Care labelling code using symbols''.<ref name="ISO">{{cite ISO standard|csnumber=42918|title=ISO 3758:2012 — Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols}}</ref><ref name="Japan">{{cite press release|title=Japan adopts the GINETEX textile care labelling symbols|date=21 June 2016|publisher=International Apparel Foundation|url=https://www.iafnet.com/2016/06/21/japan-adopts-the-ginetex-textile-care-labelling-symbols/|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> ISO 3758 was supplemented in 1993, revised in 2005 and again in 2012 and 2023 with reviews of the standard held on a five-year cycle.<ref name="ISO" />

In March 1970, the Canadian Government Specifications Board published 86-GP-1, ''Standard for Care Labelling of Textiles'',<ref>''Standard for Care Labelling of Textiles: 86-GP-1'', Canadian Government Specifications Board, Department of Supply and Services; Ottawa: March 1970.</ref> which promoted a symbol-based textile care labelling system in which symbols were colored: green indicated "no precautions are necessary", yellow indicated "some caution is necessary", and red indicated "prohibited". Publication 86-GP-1 was revised several times over the following three decades; the most noteworthy change was in 1979, when temperatures changed from Fahrenheit to Celsius, and any additional instructions were to be added in text, in both English and French. In 2003, the system was withdrawn in favor of a black-and-white symbol-based system harmonized with North American and international standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca02009.html|title=Guide to Apparel and Textile Care Symbols|website=IC.GC.ca|publisher=Office of Consumer Affairs}}</ref><ref name="Intertek2019">{{cite web|title=Care Label Recommendations|publisher=Intertek|date=2019|url=https://www.intertek.com/uploadedFiles/Intertek/Divisions/Consumer_Goods/Media/PDFs/Services/Low%20Res%20CompleteCareLabelling.pdf|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> The inclusion of care symbols on garments made or sold in Canada has always been voluntary; only fabric content labels are mandatory (since 1972).

In 1996, in the United States, [[ASTM International]] published a system of pictorial care instructions as D5489 ''Standard Guide for Care Symbols for Care Instructions on Textile Products,'' with revisions in 1998, 2001, 2007, 2014, and 2018.<ref>{{cite journal|title=ASTM D5489: Standard Guide for Care Symbols for Care Instructions on Textile Products|publisher=ASTM International|location=West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania|doi=10.1520/D5489-18|url=https://www.astm.org/Standards/D5489.htm|access-date=25 April 2021|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Care Tag Labels Decoded – What Do Those Laundry Symbols Mean?|last=Ortiz|first=Gerald|date=5 August 2020|work=Heddels|url=https://www.heddels.com/2016/10/care-tag-labels-decoded/|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

[[American Cleaning Institute|American Cleaning institute]] developed and published their guide to fabric care symbols.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laundry Basics {{!}} The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) |url=https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/laundry-basics |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=www.cleaninginstitute.org}}</ref>

Additional textile care labelling systems have been developed for Australia, China, and Japan.<ref name="Intertek2019" /> Worldwide, all of these systems tend to use similar pictograms or labelling to convey laundry care instructions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Caring About the Consumers Beyond the Label|url=http://www.intertek.com/uploadedFiles/Intertek/Divisions/Consumer_Goods/Media/PDFs/Services/Low%20Res%20CompleteCareLabelling.pdf|publisher=Intertek|year=2014|access-date=20 April 2014}}</ref> {{As of|2021}}, the pictograms are not encoded in [[Unicode]] standards, because these symbols are not in the [[public domain]] across various countries, and are [[copyright]]ed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laundry care symbols in Word, Excel and PowerPoint|author=<!-- no byline -->|date=25 March 2019|website=Office Watch|url=https://office-watch.com/2019/laundry-care-symbols-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint/|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

==Pictograms==
=== General ===
The care label describes the allowable treatment of the garment without damaging the textile. Whether this treatment is necessary or sufficient, is not stated. A milder than specified treatment is always acceptable. The symbols are protected and their use is required to comply with the license conditions; incorrect labelling is prohibited. A bar below each symbol calls for a gentler treatment than usual and a double bar for a very gentle treatment.

=== Washing ===
A stylized ''[[washing machine]]'' is shown. In international standards, the number in the tub means the maximum wash temperature (degrees Celsius). In the North American standard, dots are used instead of numbers, where more dots indicating hotter temperatures.

In the European standard, the level of wash agitation recommended is indicated by bars below the wash tub symbol. Absence of bar indicates a maximum agitation (cotton wash), a single bar indicates medium agitation (synthetics cycle), and a double bar indicates very minimal agitation (silk/wool cycle). A hand in the tub signifies that only (gentle) hand washing (not above 40&nbsp;°C) is allowed. A cross through washtub means that the textile may not be washed under normal household conditions.<ref name="GINETEX CARE LABELLING">{{cite web|title=Care Symbols|url=http://www.ginetex.net/GB/labelling/care-symbols.asp|website=ginetex.net|publisher=[[GINETEX]]|access-date=2018-03-21}}</ref>

<gallery perrow="5" class="skin-invert-image">
File:Waschen.svg|Washing symbol
File:Waschen 30.svg|Wash at or below {{convert|30|°C}} (US, 1 dot, ●)
File:Waschen 40.svg|Wash at or below {{convert|40|°C}} (US, 2 dots, ●●)
File:Waschen 50.svg|Wash at or below {{convert|50|°C}} (US, 3 dots, ●●●)
File:Waschen 60.svg|Wash at or below {{convert|60|°C}} (US, 4 dots, ●●●●)
File:ISO 7000 - Ref-No 3087.svg|Wash at or below {{convert|30|°C}}, medium agitation
File:ISO 7000 - Ref-No 3088.svg|Wash at or below {{convert|30|°C}}, gentle agitation
File:Handwäsche.svg|Hand wash
File:Nicht waschen.svg|Do not wash
</gallery>

=== Bleaching ===
An empty ''triangle'' (formerly lettered Cl) allows the [[bleach]]ing with [[chlorine]] or [[sodium percarbonate|non-chlorine bleach]]. Two oblique lines in the triangle prohibit chlorine bleaching. A crossed triangle prohibits any bleaching.

<gallery perrow="5" class="skin-invert-image">
File:Bleichen.svg|Bleaching symbol (allowed for both chlorine and non-chlorine bleach)
File:Bleichen mit chlor.svg|Bleaching with chlorine allowed (obsolete)
File:Sauerstoffbleichen.svg|Non-chlorine bleach when needed
File:Nicht bleichen v2.svg|Do not bleach
File:Nicht bleichen.svg|Do not bleach
</gallery>

=== Drying ===
A ''circle in the square'' symbolizes a [[clothes dryer]]. One dot requires drying at reduced temperature and two dots for normal temperature. The crossed symbol means that the clothing does not tolerate machine drying. In the US and Japan, there are other icons for natural/line drying.

==== Tumble drying ====
<gallery perrow="4" class="skin-invert-image">
File:Trommeltrocknen.svg|Tumble drying symbol
File:Trommeltrocknen 1.svg|Tumble drying (low temperature)
File:Trommeltrocknen 2.svg|Tumble drying (normal)
File:Nicht trommeltrocknen.svg|Do not tumble dry
</gallery>

==== Natural drying ====
<gallery perrow="4" class="skin-invert-image">
File:Trocknen.svg|Drying symbol
File:Trocknen (leine).svg|Line dry
File:Trocknen (liegend).svg|Dry flat
File:Trocknen (tropfnass).svg|Drip dry
File:Trocknen (schatten).svg|Dry in the shade
File:Trocknen (leine im schatten).svg|Line dry in the shade
File:Trocknen (liegend im schatten).svg|Dry flat in shade
File:Trocknen (tropfnass im schatten).svg|Drip dry in shade
</gallery>

=== Ironing ===
The ''iron'' with up to three dots allows for [[ironing]]. The number of dots are assigned temperatures: one prescribes {{convert|110|°C}}, two for {{convert|150|°C}} and three for {{convert|200|°C}}. An iron with a cross prohibits ironing.

<gallery perrow="5" class="skin-invert-image">
File:Bügeln.svg|Ironing symbol
File:Bügeln 1.svg|Iron at low temperature
File:Bügeln 2.svg|Iron at medium temperature
File:Bügeln 3.svg|Iron at high temperature
File:Nicht bügeln.svg|Do not iron
</gallery>

=== Professional cleaning ===
{{Main|Surfactant}}

A ''circle'' identifies the possibilities of professional cleaning. A bar under the symbol means clean gently, and two bars means very gentle cleaning.

==== Dry cleaning ====
The letters P and F in a circle are for the different [[solvent]]s used in professional [[dry cleaning]].

<gallery perrow="4" class="skin-invert-image"> 
File:Professionelle_reinigung.svg|Professional cleaning symbol
File:Professionelle reinigung (F).svg|Dry clean, hydrocarbon solvent only (HCS)
File:Professionelle reinigung (F)s.svg|Gentle cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents
File:Professionelle reinigung (F)ss.svg|Very gentle cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents
File:Professionelle reinigung (P).svg|Dry clean, [[tetrachloroethylene]] (PCE) only
File:Professionelle reinigung (P)s.svg|Gentle cleaning with PCE
File:Professionelle reinigung (P)ss.svg|Very gentle cleaning with PCE
File:Nicht chemisch reinigen.svg|Do not dry clean
</gallery>

==== Wet cleaning ====
The letter W in a circle is for professional [[wet cleaning]].

<gallery class="skin-invert-image">
File:Professionelle reinigung (W).svg|Professional wet cleaning
File:Professionelle reinigung (W)s.svg|Gentle wet cleaning
File:Professionelle reinigung (W)ss.svg|Very gentle wet cleaning
File:Nicht nassreinigen.svg|Do not wet clean
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Laundry symbols}}
* [http://www.ginetex.net/GB/labelling/care-symbols.asp GINETEX: The International Association for Textile Care Labelling-Care Symbols]
* [https://www.iso.org/standard/74401.html ISO 3758:2012 — Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols]
* [https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/office-consumer-affairs/en/product-safety-recalls-and-labelling/guide-apparel-and-textile-care-symbols The revised Canadian standard]
* [https://hygieniskt.se/allt-du-behover-veta-om-tvattsymboler/ Swedish care symbols]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161119030039/http://www.textileaffairs.com/c-common.htm United States care symbols]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161221232901/http://www.cfaccessories.com/information/ US, Japanese, and UK woven washing label symbols]

{{Clothing}}
{{Laundry navbox}}
{{Public health}}

[[Category:Consumer symbols]]
[[Category:Laundry|Symbol]]
[[Category:Pictograms]]