How to Read Clothing Care Tags

Ever toss something in the laundry, only to have it come out at the end of the cycle…well…not exactly how you expected? It’s happened to all of us: Something- usually a favorite item of clothing- shrinks, bleeds, rips, pills…or get otherwise ruined. While it may seem inevitable and completely out of your control, there are a few steps you can take to ensure your items come out of the washer in the same condition they went in. In fact, there’s a secret code map on every piece of clothing you own can help you wash your clothes perfectly, each and every time. Have you figured it out? It’s all on the tag!

Why Clothing Care Tags Matter

Clothing care tags may seem like small, insignificant pieces of fabric, but they play a crucial role in ensuring the longevity of your clothes. Whether you’ve splurged on a designer shirt or picked up something casual from a local store, reading these tags can save you from ruining your favourite outfits. A simple glance at the symbols can help you wash, dry, and iron clothes the right way, keeping them looking new for longer.

Understanding Fabric Symbols

The bucket symbol on care tags indicates washing instructions, with dots inside showing the maximum water temperature; more dots mean higher temperature.

Drying Symbols: Avoiding Damage
A square with a circle inside shows if a garment can be tumble dried, with dots indicating heat levels; no circle means air dry only.

Ironing Symbols: Keeping Your Clothes Neat
The iron symbol tells you the appropriate ironing temperature, with dots indicating low, medium, or high heat; an “X” means no ironing.

Bleaching Symbols: What’s Safe?
A triangle indicates bleach instructions: an “X” means no bleach, an empty triangle allows non-chlorine bleach, and a filled triangle permits bleach use.

Important Instructions:

Sort it Out!

Clothing care tags start by telling you what load to sort each item into. Should it be washed with whites, tossed in with colors or lumped together with the darks? No need to guess. Just check the tag!

Which Wash Would Work Well?

Wondering which wash cycle to turn the dial to? Fear not! The clothing care tag tells you which cycle and what temperature to select to get a perfect result every time. Conveniently, the tag will also give insight into your garment’s fabric content and warn what cycles, temperatures, and products to AVOID.

To dry or NOT to dry?

What about the best way to dry each item? Don’t worry! It’s right there on the tag, too. Check it to know whether drying the item flat, hanging it up or one of your dryer’s many cycles is recommended.

The tag also tells you about ironing settings to use and dry cleaning suggestions. Amazing, right!?

The Importance of Brand-Specific Tags

Some clothes have multiple care tags due to the fabric blend or special treatments. For instance, a brand may add additional tags for different fabric layers or special finishes like waterproofing or anti-wrinkle treatments. Always read each tag carefully for comprehensive care instructions. For example, a cotton-silk blend might need gentler washing conditions than 100% cotton. Always check the care tag for details specific to the fabric blend to avoid damage.

Common Care Tag Mistakes to Avoid

Common care tag mistakes include misreading washing symbols, ignoring fabric types, and overloading the washing machine. Misinterpreting symbols like water temperature or cycle settings can damage clothes, while neglecting fabric types—such as washing delicate fabrics like silk in hot water—can cause them to lose their shape or texture. Additionally, overloading the washing machine leads to friction that wears out clothes and prevents proper cleaning. Always pay close attention to care instructions to avoid these issues

Laundry Care wash and fold laundry service is available to residential and business clientele in over 50 locations across the country including: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland Laundry Service, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lexington, Louisville, Madison, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, Seattle, Tampa, Tucson, Washington DC –and more. Visit our locations page to locate Laundry Care laundry service near me!

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Lyndsee Onstott

Lyndsee Onstott is the Marketing Manager at Laundry Care, with a deep-rooted history as one of the company’s original care providers. Her journey from hands-on laundry care to strategic marketing gives her unique insights into the service and its customers. Lyndsee's commitment to delivering convenience and quality has helped Laundry Care become a trusted service for busy professionals and families nationwide. Today, she combines her firsthand experience with a passion for customer-focused marketing, ensuring that Laundry Care meets the evolving needs of its clients.