CARE LABELLING.
Definition:
According to Federal Trade
Commission(FTC), care label is defined as a
permanent label tag, containing regular
care information and instructions, that is
attached or affixed in such a manner that
it will not become separated from the
product and will remain legible during the
useful life of the product.
Labels for textile wearing apparel must have
either washing or dry cleaning instruction.
The instruction can be either symbolic or
descriptive (terms).
Need for care labels-
Care labels indicate how to clean textile articles in the best
possible way.
Care symbols provide all the necessary information on
washing, bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning and tumble drying
Thus care symbols are recommendations on how to clean a
textile article on which they are affixed;
Care labels often are a deciding factor when consumers
shop for clothing. While some consumers look for the
convenience of dry-cleaning, others prefer the economy of
washable garments. In fact, recent surveys show that
consumers want washing instructions on their purchases
CARE LABELLING.
Importance of Care labeling.
In USA, as per FTC trade rule for the permanent care labeling
of textile wearing apparel which was effective from 1972 and
amended 1984.
As per care labeling rule require both manufacturer &
importer of textile goods to provide regular care labels.
These are Textile apparel worn to cover or protect the body.
Exempt apparel: shoes, gloves and hats.
Excluded items : Handkerchiefs, belts, suspenders
and neckties because they do not cover or protect the body.
Non-woven garments made for one-time use because
they do not require ordinary care.
Piece goods sold for making apparel at home.
Care Label attachment
As per rule provide full care instruction or
provide warning.
Care label must be legible throughout the useful
life of the product.
Labels must be fastened so they can be seen
easily seen or found by consumer.
Label - Country of origin, fiber content & RN.
International care labeling
American Care Labeling.
Europe – GINEXTEX.
Japanese Care Labeling.
Canadian Care Labeling.
Australian Care Labeling.
American Care labeling
system.
American care labeling system
developed by ASTM D5489 –
Standard guide for care symbols
for permanent care labels on the
garment..
Five basic symbols will be used to
identify care recommendations on
garments. A series of dots or lines
will serve as modifiers. The basic
symbols are:
Dots added to the symbols will indicate increasing heat or
temperature.
- For example, one dot on the tumble dry symbol means low
temperature for delicate items;
- .. two dots mean medium for permanent press;
- ... three dots identify high temperatures for cottons and linens.
Lines added to a basic care symbol mean "minus" or reduced
action or treatment. No lines under the wash symbol means normal
wash cycle for cottons;
- one line under the wash symbol is for permanent press cycles; and
- two lines are for even gentler treatment or reduced action for
delicate items.
Additional modifiers exist such as an "X" over a symbol. This is a
warning symbol. For example, an "X" over the dry-cleaning symbol
means "do not dry clean."
Japanese Care Labeling
Japanese care labeling system
developed by Five basic symbols will be
used to identify care recommendations
on garments. A series of dots or lines
will serve as modifiers. The basic
symbols are:
Symbol - [Link]
Japanese Care Labeling system
Symbol - [Link]
Washing,
Possibility of chlorine-based bleaching,
Ironing,
Dry-cleaning,
Wringing
Drying.
EUROPEAN -GINETEX
The International Association of Textile
Care Labeling ( GINITEX) formed in
1975.
Washing Bleaching Ironing Dry-cleaning Drying.
Canadian Care Labeling system
The system consists of five basic symbols which are
illustrated in three traffic light colours, with
Green colour indicates no special precautions,
A red colour indicates prohibition and orange
colour suggests that precautions necessary. Words
in English and French may be used, in addition to the
symbols conveying special instructions not covered by
one of the basic symbols. The five symbols must appear
in the following order on the care labels: washing,
bleaching, drying, ironing, and dry-cleaning.
Symbol - [Link]
How to decide the appropriate
Label.
Care instructions must be appropriate so that
garments can be cleaned without damage.
- General instruction & warning.
- Washing.
- Ironing.
- Dry-cleaning.
General Cleaning instruction.
How to maintain textile.
Warning against inappropriate treatment.
The care label also needs to take into account any
special treatment required for the trims.
The correct care instructions
for textile depends on..
The fiber used.
The construction & potential of the fabric.
The color fastness of the fabric.
Any special treatment applied.
The design of the article.
The normal care of the article.
Care instruction for dif fabric.
Cotton/Linen.
Washing - White @ 95C ( Laundering )
- Light- 60c, Dark shade –40C.
Bleaching - Can be done by Hypochlorite, chlorine
base can damage at cellulose fiber.
Drying – Can be tumble dried, Long cycle to remove
water( not advisable for linen as it can creases
more).
Ironing – Hot Ironing 200C with fabric slightly
damp.
Dry cleaning.
Manmade fiber - Viscose & Acetate
Washing- Synthetic wash w/ reduced spin
cycle.
Bleaching- Can be done by Hypochlorite,
chlorine base can damage at cellulose fiber.
Drying – Resilient to tumble drying, shrinkage
is higher compare to other cellulose fiber.
Ironing – Hot Ironing 200C to remove crease.
For acetate – cool iron.
Dry cleaning.
Manmade fiber - Acetate
Washing- For acetate delicate wash cycle or
alternatively hand wash for poor colorfastness &
soaking also not advisable due to poor colorfastness.
Bleaching- Can be done by Hypochlorite, chlorine
base can damage at cellulose fiber.
Drying – Resilient to tumble drying, shrinkage is
higher compare to other cellulose fiber.
Ironing – For acetate – cool iron.
Dry cleaning- Dry cleaning recommended for acetate
due to shrinkage.
Protein Fiber - Silk & Wool
fiber.
Wool – Felting &
Washing- Avoid agitation in washing as it can result
in felting –fibers can matt together.
To launder at 40C wash with much reduced agitation
cylce. Ideally hand washed or dry-cleaned.
Bleaching-.
Drying – Flat dry, away from direct heat & sunlight.
Ironing – Worm Ironing to prevent scorching on
wool. A fine cotton/Linen will help in preventing shine
to fine worsted fabric.
Dry cleaning- Dry cleaning recommended.
Protein Fiber - Silk fiber.
Washing- It should not be soaked To launder
at 40Cwash with much reduced agitation
cylce. Ideally hand washed or dry-cleaned.
Bleaching -.
Drying – Flat dry, away from direct heat &
sunlight.
Ironing – Silk can withstand higher temp but
must be dry heat to avoid water [Link]
be reshaped when damped.
Dry cleaning- Dry cleaning recommended.
Modal & Glycol.
It has improved wet strength & lower absorption rate
than viscose.
Being high modulus can withstand more regourous
washing conditions.
Washing- To launder at 40Cwash.
Bleaching
Drying – Can withstand .
Ironing – It can be dry heat at warm or hot setting
(as high wet modulus water marks can be) .
Dry cleaning- Dry cleaning recommended.
Polyester.
Less moisture absorption rares
Washing- To launder at 50c wash.
Bleaching- Highly resistant to bleaching
agent.
Drying – Medium temp, Tumble dry & should
be kept in hanger till it gets cool.
Ironing – Worm Ironing.
Dry cleaning- Can be(rarely dryclend due to
easy domestic laundering)
Synetic - Polyamides ( Nylon)
Washing- At 50c reduced spin cycle wash.
Bleaching- Highly resistant to bleaching
agent.
Drying – Medium temp, Tumble dry & should
be kept in hanger till it gets cool.
Ironing – No Ironing or cool ironing.
Dry cleaning- Can be (rarely dry-cleaned due
to easy domestic laundering)
