ASTM D3136 : 04(2008)e1

Standard Terminology Relating to Care Labeling for Apparel, Textile, Home Furnishing, and Leather Products

Standard Details

1.1 This standard is a compilation of all terminology developed by Subcommittee D13.62 on Labeling and related to refurbishing and labeling for apparel, textile, home furnishing, and leather products other than upholstered furniture and floor coverings.

1.2 This terminology provides a uniform language for the disclosure of care instructions on labels that are to be attached to apparel, textile, home furnishing, and leather products.

1.3 In the United States, apparel care labels must be attached permanently except when exempted by Federal Trade Commission regulation (see section 2.2).

1.4 These definitions and descriptions employ common meanings used not only by textile technologists but also by consumers.

1.5 These instructions may apply to some accessory products.

1.6 The standardized terminology should be used on the label in a logical refurbishing sequence (wash, bleach, dry, iron, dryclean, wetclean), in order to disclose maximum information in a small label space and to help the consumer understand recommended practices.

1.7 Preliminary instructions may be necessary for proper care of certain products (see Table 1, Preliminary Instructions).

1.8 The wording on a care label should be brief. Manufacturers are encouraged to place more detailed explanations in or on package covers, or in some temporary form of communication such as a sticker or hangtag. The terms used should be consistent with those used on care labels.

1.9 The word “only” in any care label term limits that portion of the procedure to the stated instruction.

1.10 A care instruction for a product is applicable to all components of the product including nonremovable linings, trim, and other details. Any exceptions should be a part of the labeled instruction. An intentionally removable component, such as a zip-out liner, is expected to be separately labeled when it must be cared for differently from the garment itself, or when there could be serious doubt about what procedure to use (see Federal Trade Commission Trade Regulation Rule).

1.11 Laundering temperatures are maximum and vary widely in national and international practice (see Table 2). Consumers may obtain water temperatures in their washing machines which are frequently below and sometimes higher than the stated maximum temperature. The actual water temperature obtained when using the washing machine settings of hot, warm, and cold vary in North America by region, season, water heater settings (including solar), and regulations governing factory-set mixes. In general, North American washing machines do not have internal heaters.

1.12 This terminology is unique to the care of textile and leather products. Meanings of the same terms outside the industry can be found in other compilations or dictionaries of general usage.

1.13 In addition to being a specialized dictionary, Terminology D 3136 is also useful for managing the subcommittee's terminology.

1.14 Terms listed are under the jurisdiction of SC D13.62.

1.15 For definitions of other textile terms, see Terminology D 123.

TABLE 1 Label Terms and Detailed Instructions


Label Term	Detailed Instructions
Preliminary Instructions

Remove ... before	Component may not be cleaned or may be cared for differently or separately than the product itself; assumes component can be removed.
Close fasteners	Self explanatory. Action protects zippers and hook and loop tapes from damage or protects the garment from damage by the zipper and hook and loop tape.
Inside-out	Turn garment inside-out before cleaning to protect the face of fabric.
With like colors	Clean with colors of similar hue and shade depth.
Separately	Clean product by itself.
Before use	Clean before first use.

Home Laundering

Machine wash	Use any home-type or coin-operated washing machine following the manufacturer's instructions as appropriate for the product.
Hot	Set water temperature control on washer to use hot water directly from the hot water supply, maximum temperature 50°C (120°F) (See 1.11).
Warm	Set water temperature control on washer to use warm water, maximum 40°C (105°F) (See 1.11).
Cold	Set water temperature control on washer to use cold water directly from cold water supply, maximum temperature 30°C (85°F) (See 1.11).
Small load	Use smaller than normal load of products based on manufacturer's instructions.
Delicate or gentle cycle	Set machine to give slow agitation, slow spin, and reduced time.
Durable-press cycle or Permanent-press cycle	Use a cool-down rinse or cold rinse before reduced spinning.
Bleach when needed	Any household laundry bleach may be used when necessary.
Only non-chlorine bleach when needed	Use non-chlorine bleach only when necessary. Chlorine bleach may not be used.
Do not bleach	No bleaches may be used.
Warm rinse	Set water temperature control on washer to use warm rinse water, maximum temperature 40°C (105°F) (See 1.11).
Cold rinse	Set water temperature control on washer to use cold rinse water directly from cold water supply, maximum temperature 30°C (85°F) (See 1.11).
Rinse twice	Rinse at least two times to remove detergent, soap, and bleach.
Do not add fabric softener	No fabric softener may be used.
Do not spin	Remove material prior to start of final spin cycle.
Do not wring	Do not use roller wringer. Do not wring by hand.
Hand wash	Manually remove soil from products or specimen by gently squeezing them in a water solution of detergent or soap.
Dry promptly	Remove promptly after washing is complete and dry.
Do not allow to sit wet after washing	Color transfer may occur if items sit wet after washing.
Do not wash	Self-explanatory. Item may not be washed.
Damp wipe only	Surface clean with damp cloth or sponge.
Do not commercially launder	Do not employ a laundry which uses special formulations, sour rinses, extremely large loads or extremely high temperatures or which otherwise is employed for commercial, industrial or institutional use. Employ laundering methods designed for residential use or use in a self-service establishment.

Drying, All Methods

Tumble dry	Use machine dryer.
Hot—high	Set dryer at high temperature.
—medium	Set dryer at medium temperature.
—low	Set dryer at low temperature.
Durable-press or permanent press	Set dryer at durable (permanent) press setting.
No heat or air fluff only	Set dryer to operate without heat.
Remove promptly	When items are dry, remove immediately to prevent wrinkling.
Drip dry	Hang dripping wet without twisting, wringing, or spinning, and without hand shaping and smoothing.
Line dry	Hang damp after twisting, wringing, spinning or squeezing by hand.
Dry flat	Lay out horizontally for drying.
Dry in shade	Dry away from the sun.
Block to dry	By hand while wet, reshape to original dimensions.
Smooth by hand	By hand while wet, remove wrinkles, straighten seams and facings.
Reshape and dry flat	By hand while wet, reshape to original dimensions.

Ironing and Pressing

Iron, high	Use high temperature setting.
Iron, medium	Use medium temperature setting.
Iron on lowest setting	Use lowest temperature setting.
Do not iron	Item not to be smoothed or finished with an iron.
Iron reverse side only	Turn article inside out for ironing or pressing.
Do not steam	Do not use steam in any form.
Steam only	Use steam without contact pressure.
Steam iron	Use iron containing water at steam setting.
Press	Commercial utility press may be used.
Iron damp	Moisten articles before ironing.
Use press cloth	Place either a dry or a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric.
Do not iron decoration	Avoid ironing decoration applied to textile product.

Drycleaning, All Methods

Professionally dryclean	Use the drycleaning process but modified to aid in optimizing results either by a drycleaning attendant or through the use of a drycleaning machine which permits such modifications or both. Such modifications or special warnings must be included in the care instruction.
Petroleum, Fluorocarbon or Perchloroethylene	Employ solvent(s) specified to dryclean the item.
Short cycle	Use reduced or minimum cleaning time, the exact time to depend upon solvent used.
Minimum extraction	Use least possible extraction time.
Reduced moisture	Use decreased solvent relative humidity (S.R.H.). The decreased S.R.H. should be measured in the final stages of the drycleaning wash procedure.
No tumble or do not tumble	Do not tumble dry.
Tumble warm	Tumble dry up to 65°C (150°F), as measured at the outlet stack.
Tumble cool	Tumble dry with room temperature air.
Cabinet dry warm	Cabinet dry up to 50°C (120°F).
Cabinet dry cool	Cabinet dry with room temperature air.
Steam only	Employ no contact pressure when steaming.
No steam	Do not use steam in pressing, finishing, steam cabinets or wands.
Do not dryclean	Self-explanatory.

Leather Cleaning

Suede leather clean	Use special leather care methods designed for sueded leathers having a raised surface.
Fur clean	Clean in a drum type machine using dry particle cleaning compounds. Follow with fur ironing or fur glazing as needed.
Professional leather clean only	Have cleaned only by a professional cleaner who uses special leather or suede care methods.

TABLE 2 Laundering Water Temperatures In Common Use^A

Term	ASTM ISO^B	FTC	AATCC^C^,^D	Canada
Near boil	95°C (200°F)			95°C
Extremely hot	70°C (160°F)			70°C
Very Hot	60°C (140°F)		60°C (140°F)	60°C
Hot	50°C (120°F)	66°C (150°F)	49°C (120°F)	50°C
Warm	40°C (105°F)	32° to 43°C (90° to 110°F)	41°C (105°F)	40°C
Cool	30°C (85°F)			30°C
Cold	30°C (85°F)	29°C (85°F)	27°C (80°F)
Very Cold			16°C (60°F)

^A The laundering temperatures in Table 2 are maximum.

^B The ISO standard, “ISO 3758 Textiles—Care Labeling Code Using Symbols,” does not associate the terms hot, warm, and cold with water temperatures for laundering. The ISO washing symbols provide maximum water temperature options of 95°C, 70°C, 60°C, 50°C, 40°C, and 30°C in Celsius only. Guide D 5489 requires as a minimum the laundering water temperatures reported within the washtub symbol in degree Celsius and a dot system symbol. The water temperature may also be reported in degrees Fehrenheit.

^C The AATCC temperatures are test temperatures for home laundering, whereas the FTC and Canada temperatures are meant to reflect the upper end of temperatures in actual use, including temperatures used in commercial laundering.

^D The AATCC temperatures in Celsius have a range of ± 3 degrees Celsius and the water temperatures in Fahrenheit havea range of ± 5 degrees Fahrenheit.