What do the icons for washing on clothes mean and how to decipher them

Many housewives prefer to ignore tags and stickers present on clothing. And in vain. They are placed there for nothing. Such designations are designed to tell the buyer exactly how to care for the purchased things. Compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations - a guarantee that your favorite underwear, dress or jeans will serve you faithfully for quite some time.

So it's time to carefully inspect the labels. Some notations may not be very clear at first glance, while others do not need any explanations at all. What do the pictures on the labels mean, how to understand their meaning and not to be mistaken?

Types of tools ASA1410But most often they are associated with washing modes, t ˚C water, bleaching methods. All symbols, depending on what they mean, can be divided into such groups:

• wash;
• drying and spinning;
• ironing;
• whitening;
• cleaning.

Let's take a closer look at the signs for washing on clothes and decipher the notation located on things.

General rules

Badges located on tags are generally easy to understand. Washing modes are indicated by a “basin”, which is an inverted trapezoid. Ironing looks like an iron, drying modes are indicated by a square, and cleaning - a triangle. If a badge is crossed crosswise, it means that the action is prohibited. Icons underlined with a single line indicate that a gentle mode should be used, and two - particularly delicate.

Wash

As already mentioned, a “wash” is used to indicate the washing process, and the temperature mode is indicated by numbers or dots. Not every thing can be turned in a washing machine at maximum power. For example, washing a down jacket is far from simple. If you do not carefully examine the marking, you can permanently spoil the thing.

Designation	Interpretation
	Wash allowed or not allowed, respectively.
	It is possible to erase only in the delicate or especially delicate mode, on the minimum turns. Sometimes a temperature is added to the “basin”, which is not recommended to exceed.
	The use of any type of washing machine is prohibited.
	The product assumes only hand washing, at t ˚C not higher than 40˚С, machine wash is prohibited.
	The laundry can be washed at t˚ = 95˚С, and even boiled if necessary. Which mode to choose is up to you.
	Item can be washed at t при = 60˚, 50˚, 40˚, 30˚С respectively.
	You can erase both manually and in a typewriter at a temperature of 30 ° C, 40 ° C and above 60 ° C, respectively.
	Do not use temperatures over 40 ° C, and you should use neutral detergents.
	It is strictly prohibited to squeeze the laundry with such a designation on the label, or, more precisely, to unscrew it both manually and using a washing machine.

Drying and Spin

Special designations also exist for these processes. Drying, for example, a down jacket is completely different from drying a terry towel. So as not to spoil the fabric, it is worthwhile to examine the label.

Designation	Decoding
	This icon indicates the possibility or impossibility of drying in principle.
	These symbols determine the temperature regime of the permitted drying. The more dots, the higher t ˚C can be applied.
	You can / can not dry and wring out the fabric in a drum-type washing machine.
	Thing is recommended to dry, spreading out on a flat surface.
	It is impossible to squeeze such a fabric, and it is imperative to dry it in a vertical state.
	Such a thing can be dried, hanging on a rope.
	Fabric should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Provided drying in the shade. Laundry before drying should be turned inside out.
	Such icons prescribe to dry the product vertically or horizontally without first pressing.

Ironing If many products normally tolerate machine washing, then not every fabric can withstand high temperatures. If, when ironing, for example, a down jacket, you do not follow the instructions, you can overdo it with the temperature and just burn a rather expensive thing. Therefore, the following notation is extremely important for each hostess.

Designation	Decoding
	Symbols of this kind denote the possibility of using iron. The second, as you understand, means "Ironing is prohibited."
	Dotted icons mean that the product can be ironed, only the temperature conditions need to be observed. More points - higher temperature. In this case, it is 200 ° C, 130 ° C and 110 ° C, respectively.
	You can iron the product, but the iron temperature should not exceed 140 ° C.
	After seeing such a designation on the label of your clothes - turn off the steam function. Excessive moisture and hot steam can damage the thing.

Bleaching

There are not many signs related to bleaching compared to others.

Designation	Decoding
	Such an icon allows or prohibits bleaching of things.
	These symbols allow / prohibit the use of various bleach containing chlorine.
	Chlorine-free bleaching agents are not permitted. But bleaching with other substances is allowed.

Cleaning

Unfortunately, not all contamination can be removed with a conventional washing machine. Sometimes you have to resort to dry cleaning services. Here, too, has its own rules. The table below will save you from rash decisions.

Designation	Decoding
	This symbol, located on things, signals that they can be cleaned with any known solvents.
	Such icons refer to dry cleaning of the product. The first one allows it, the second one prohibits it.
	This designation refers to the use of monofluorochloromethane and perchlorethylene in the cleaning of substances. The first icon allows the use of these substances, and the second indicates the need to comply with a lightweight mode: limited use of water and temperature control, the inadmissibility of mechanical stress.
	Such recommendations are dry cleaning with treatment with hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane. The second picture means all the same, only with the use of lightweight mode. What is meant can be seen above.
	The product needs to be cleaned with care, not all solvents are resistant.
	Thing should not be cleaned with any chemicals.
	These symbols refer to wet cleaning of the fabric, allow or prohibit it.
	Such marking implies a delicate or very delicate wet cleaning of the fabric. Pay special attention to humidity, t ˚C and mechanical processing.

The letters on the labels

The inscriptions on some labels may contain not only pictures, but also letters. They show what fabric the product is sewn from and how to properly care for it.

Designation	Russian name	Interpretation
AC	Acetate fiber	Things from this fabric can be washed and ironed at medium and high t ˚C.
AR	Acrylic	Able to withstand high t ˚C.
CO	Cotton	Allowed to use high temperatures, and even boil solid colors.
EL	Elastane	Only low t ˚C and gentle mode.
LI	Flax	Leaving with an average t ˚C.
MD	Modal	Possible processing using medium and high temperature conditions.
PA	Polyamide( Nylon)	Things from this fabric can be ironed and washed with an average t ˚C, do not boil.
PC	Polyacryl	Able to withstand high t C.
PE	Polyester	Leaving at an average temperature.
SE	Silk	Extremely low t ˚C and minimal machining.
VI	Viscose	For such fabrics, an average temperature is applied.
WO	Wool	Only a low t ˚C, do not rub, do not unscrew.