How to read clothing labels

Frequent washing can be hard on fibre quality, especially when you don't pay attention to the label indications found on garments and fabrics.

If you do not know the meaning of the symbols, see the list to learn how to read care labels!

Washing

The washing symbols on garment or fabric labels indicate whether you can wash your leather skirt at 40°C in the washing machine or only wash a wool jumper with the delicate cycle. Which wash cycle is best? The following symbols will help you understand this:

A line under the basin indicates that the items can be washed in the washing machine but only at a low speed on a delicate cycle, with a cold rinse and a short spin cycle.

The double line under the basin indicates that the items can be washed in the washing machine but only at a low speed, on a special cycle for very delicate items with a cold rinse cycle.

Do not wash with water. This means that the garment or fabric must be dry cleaned.

This symbol indicates that the garment can only be hand washed at a maximum water temperature of 40°C. Rinse normally and wring gently.

The number in the basin indicates that the highest water temperature for the garment is 30°C. Wash and rinse with reduced motion and a normal spin.

The number shown in the basin indicates that the highest water temperature for the garment is 60°C. Wash and rinse with normal motion and a normal spin.

The number shown in the basin indicates that the highest water temperature for the garment is 95°C. Wash and rinse with normal motion and a normal spin.

Ironing and drying

The washing symbols on garment or fabric labels indicate whether you can wash your leather skirt at 40°C in the washing machine or only wash a wool jumper with the delicate cycle. Which wash cycle is best? The following symbols will help you understand this:

The symbol on the label means that it can be ironed with an iron. The dots inside the iron indicate the highest ironing temperature. Low temperature: maximum 110°C.

The symbol on the label confirms that the garment can be ironed with an iron. The dots inside the iron indicate the highest ironing temperature. High temperature: maximum 200°C.

The crossed-out iron symbol is obvious: do not iron the garment because it could compromise its integrity.

The label gives an important care tip for the garment and the fabric: dry the garment flat, not hanging.

The label recommends hanging the garment to dry without wringing and/or spinning to maintain the quality and integrity of the fabric.

The garment can be tumble dried. Any dots in the circle indicate the intensity of the drying temperature.

The garment cannot be tumble dried if this symbol is on the care label. It is important to air dry the fabric to maintain quality and not run the risk of damaging it.

This symbol means you should hang the garment (on a hanger) to dry after wringing or spinning.

The symbol on the label recommends drying the garment in the dryer at a low temperature on a delicate setting.

This symbol on the label indicates to dry the garment or fabric in the dryer, choosing the normal cycle.

The label symbol indicates laying the garment flat in the shade, and not to iron it.

This care label symbol indicates hanging on the garment out in the shade.

Dry Cleaning

The washing symbols on garment or fabric labels indicate whether you can wash your leather skirt at 40°C in the washing machine or only wash a wool jumper with the delicate cycle. Which wash cycle is best? The following symbols will help you understand this:

If the labels of your garments or other fabrics have a circle symbol, they can be dry cleaned.

When the care label shows this symbol, the garment may not be dry cleaned.

The garment must be dry cleaned. Additionally, the letter in the wash symbol indicates the solvent compatible with the garment or fabric.

Bleaching

The washing symbols on garment or fabric labels indicate whether you can wash your leather skirt at 40°C in the washing machine or only wash a wool jumper with the delicate cycle. Which wash cycle is best? The following symbols will help you understand this:

Do not use bleach if the garment or fabric has this symbol on the washing label.

When this symbol appears on labels, it means that using a mild bleach for colours is permitted, so that you can avoid unpleasant accidents!

Garments can be washed with bleach when this symbol is on the label. The washing temperature is not indicated, only whether the garment can be bleached.

Chanteclair products for clothing care

Discover the entire range of Chanteclair products, specially formulated for your laundry. Remove stubborn stains, leaving your clothes soft and smelling fresh.