Care labels are found on most clothes and household items. Care labels may contain written instructions or symbols devised by the International Care Labelling System. They can be on a woven or printed label that is sewn into a garment which shows the manufacturer’s name, the size, fibre content and care information.
Why care labels are important: • To help you make an informed decision when buying clothing. • They provide useful information that can save you time and money. • Your clothes last longer if you know how to care for them properly. • A garment that can only be dry cleaned could end up being very costly. • If you have an allergic reaction to certain fibres (e.g. wool) you can avoid these.
Care label law: • Clothing and other textile products for sale in the EU must be labelled with the fibre content, e.g. ‘100% cotton’ or ‘50% wool, 50% acrylic’.
• Manufacturers do not have to put the country of origin or any wash symbols on the care label, but most do anyway.
Care labelling instructions
Many of the care label instructions are in symbols. The International Care Labelling System has five basic symbols:
Further Investigation
To find out more about the standards of product labelling of clothes and household products, go to www.citizensinformation.ie, scroll down the home page and click on ‘Consumer Affairs’.
28.6
• A washtub showing the washing temperature to be used
• An iron with dots to indicate the temperature to be used
• A triangle which indicates if chlorine bleach can be used
• A circle for dry cleaning instructions for the dry cleaner