Look For The Label

Permanent Care Labeling

In 1972, the Federal Trade Commission passed the Care Labeling Rule. It requires manufacturers to attach a
permanent label with information on how to care for textile products--wearing apparel and fabric sold by the yard.
The Care Labeling Rule was revised in 1984 to insure that label information is complete and consistent.
The labels must contain specific care information regarding:

washing, drying, ironing, bleaching, and dry cleaning

The labels also must stay readable for the life of the garment, stay attached to the garment, and be easy to
locate.
Fabric sold by the yard must be labeled with the same information as ready-to-wear garments. Care information
must be on the end of the fabric bolt.
The glossary in this publication has often-used words and directions that appear on care labels.
When reading care instructions, keep the following in mind:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Only the washing or dry-cleaning process listed in the instruction has been checked for safe use.
If no temperature is mentioned, it is safe to use any temperature or setting--hot, warm, or cold.
If no ironing instructions are given, it should not be necessary to iron the product.
If bleach is not mentioned, any type of bleach may be used when needed.
If no warnings are given, you do not need to make adjustments to the care processes listed in the
instructions.

It is the consumer's responsibility to look for, read, and follow the care instructions provided. Garments should
last longer and look better when care instructions are followed carefully.
If you follow the manufacturer's care instructions and they damage the garment, return the garment to the store
and explain what happened. Most manufacturers like to deal with consumers through their retailers. If the store
does not accept your complaint, ask for the manufacturer's address, and write to them. Also notify the Federal
Trade Commission about the problem. While the FTC cannot help resolve your problem directly, the information
you provide may reveal practices requiring action by the Commission.

Products Identification Act

The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act requires textile product labels also to name fiber content,
manufacturer, and country of origin. The Act covers all fibers, yarns, fabrics, and household textile articles,
including wearing apparel, draperies, floor coverings, furnishings, bedding, and other items customarily used in a
household.
Generic names and percentages of all fibers in the product in the amounts of 5 percent or more must be listed in
order of predominance by weight. Fiber of less than 5 percent is listed as "other fiber" or "other fibers."
The name of the manufacturer or the registered identification number must be listed.
Country of origin is the country where the textile product was processed or manufactured. For example, if a
garment is completely made in the United States (of fabric made in the United States), it is labeled Made in
U.S.A.; if a garment is made in the United States with fabric made in a foreign country, it is labeled "Made in
U.S.A. of imported fabric." If a garment is made in a foreign country with a foreign fabric, it is labeled "Made in
(name of country)."
As a general rule, labels should be attached at center of the neck midway between the shoulder seams.
Garments without necks and all other textile products should have the label attached so it is easy to see.

Glossary
Washing, machine method

Machine Wash

Soil is removed from products or specimens through the use of water, detergent or
soap, agitation, and a machine designed for this purpose. When no temperature is
given, water up to 150 F (60 C) can be used regularly.

Warm

Initial water temperature 90 F to 110 F (32 C to 43 C).

Cold

Initial water temperature setting same as cold water tap up to 85 F (29 C).

Do Not Have
Commercially
Laundered

Do not employ a laundry that uses special formulations, sour rinses, extremely high
temperatures or that otherwise is employed for commercial, industrial, or institutional
use. Employ laundering methods designed for residential use or use in a self-service
establishment.

Small Load

Smaller-than-normal wash load.

Delicate Cycle or
Gentle Cycle

Slow agitation and reduce time.

Durable Press Cycle or

Cool-down rinse or cold rinse before reduced spinning.
Permanent Press Cycle
Separately

Alone.

With Like Colors

With colors of similar hue and intensity.

Wash Inside Out

Turn products inside-out to protect face of fabric.

Warm Rinse

Initial water temperature setting 90 F to 110 F (32 C to 43 C).

Cold Rinse

Initial water temperature setting same as cold water tap up to 85 F (29 C).

Rinse Thoroughly

Rinse several times to remove detergent, soap, and bleach.

No Spin or Do Not Spin Remove material at start of final spin cycle.

No Wring or Do Not
Wring

Do not use roller wringer or wring by hand.

Washing, hand method

Hand Wash

Soil is manually removed from products or specimens through the use of water, detergent or
soap, and gentle squeezing action. When no temperature is given, hot water up to 150 F (68
C) can be regularly used.

Warm

Initial water temperature 90 F to 110 F (32 C to 43 C).

Cold

Initial water temperature same as cold water tap up to 85 F (29 C).

Separately
With Like
Colors

Alone.
With colors of similar hue and intensity.

No Wring or
Handle to avoid wrinkles and distortion.
Twist
Rinse
Rinse several times to remove detergent, soap, and bleach.
Thoroughly

Damp Wipe
Surface clean with damp cloth or sponge.
Only

Drying, all methods

Use machine dryer. When no temperature setting is given, machine drying at a
hot setting may be used regularly.

Tumble Dry
Medium

Set dryer at medium heat.

Low

Set dryer at low heat.

Durable Press or
Permanent Press

Set dryer at permanent press setting.

No Heat

Set dryer to operate without heat.

Remove Promptly

When items are dry, remove immediately to prevent wrinkling.

Drip Dry

Hang dripping wet with or without hand shaping and smoothing.

Line Dry

Hang damp from line or bar- in or out-of-doors.

Line Dry in Shade

Dry away from sun.

Line Dry away from Heat Dry away from heat.

Dry Flat
Block To Dry
Smooth by Hand

Lay out horizontally for drying.

Reshape to original dimensions while drying.
By hand, while wet, remove wrinkles, straighten seams and facings.

Ironing and Pressing

Iron
Warm Iron

Ironing is needed. When no temperature is given, iron at the highest temperature

setting may be used regularly.
Medium temperature setting.

Cool Iron
Do Not Iron

Lowest temperature setting.

Items not to be smoothed or finished with an iron.

Iron Wrong Side Only Articles turned inside out for ironing or pressing.
No Steam or Do Not
Steam in any form not to be used.
Steam
Steam Only

Steaming without contact pressure.

Steam Press or Steam

Use iron at steam setting.
Iron
Iron Damp
Use Press Cloth

Article to be ironed should feel moist.

Use a dry or damp cloth between iron and fabric.

Bleaching
Bleach When Needed
No Bleach or Do Not Bleach

All bleaches may be used when necessary.

No bleaches may be used.

Only Nonchlorine Bleach When Only the bleach specified may be used when necessary. Chlorine bleach
Needed
may not be used.

Washing or Dry Cleaning

Wash or Dry-clean, Can be machine washed in hot water, can be machine dried at a high setting, can be
Any Normal
ironed at a hot setting, can be bleached with all commercially available bleaches, and can
Method
be dry cleaned with all commercially available solvents.

Dry Cleaning, all procedures

Dry-clean

Soil is removed from products or specimens in a machine that uses any common
organic solvent (for example, petroleum perchlorethylene, fluorocarbon) located in

any commercial establishment. The process may include moisture addition to solvent
up to 75 percent relative humidity, hot tumble drying up to 160 F (71 C), and
restoration by steam press or steam-air finishing.
Professionally Dryclean
Petroleum,
Fluorocarbon or
Perchlorethylene
Short Cycle

Use the dry cleaning process but modified to ensure optimum results by a drycleaning attendant or a dry-cleaning machine that permits such modification or both.
Such modifications or special warnings must be included in the care instruction.

Employ solvent(s) specified to dry-clean the item.

Reduced or minimum cleaning time, depending on solvent used.

Minimum Extraction Least possible extraction time.

Reduced Moisture or
Decreased relative humidity.
Low Moisture
No Tumble or Do Not
Do not tumble dry.
Tumble
Tumble Warm

Tumble dry up to 120 F (49 C).

Tumble Cool

Tumble dry at room temperature.

Cabinet Dry Warm

Cabinet dry up to 120 F (49 C).

Cabinet Dry Cool

Cabinet dry at room temperature.

Steam Only
No Steam or Do Not
Steam

Employ no contact pressure when steaming.

Do not use steam in pressing, finishing, steam cabinets, or wands.

Leather and Suede Cleaning

Leather Clean Have cleaned only by a professional cleaner who uses special leather or suede care methods.

References
What's New About Care Labels?, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Washington, DC
20580
Federal Register, Vol. 50, No. 74 April 17, 1986

By Beth Duncan, Extension Clothing Specialist

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age,
disability, or veteran status.
Information Sheet 1241
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in
furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director
Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved.
This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to
the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

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