Additional Words to Use with Apparel/Textile Care Symbols

Additional Words to Use with Apparel/Textile Care Symbols

Additional words may be needed to clarify specific care procedures. This table of additional words to use with care symbols includes the remaining terms listed in the Federal Trade Commission Care Labeling Glossary of Standard Terms and additional terms in common usage. These terms are illustrative only and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all terms that might be appropriate or necessary. In general, whatever additional words are needed to state a care procedure that will result in the adequate refurbishment of the item should be used.

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Prelim.	Bleach	Dry
Iron	Dryclean	Additional

This Guide is also available as a PDF File (104K). (Use the PDF file to print a hard copy of this page.)

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION STANDARD TERMS

TERMS IN COMMON USAGE

Preliminary Laundry Instructions

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do not have commercially laundered
small load
separately
with like colors
wash inside out
warm rinse
cold rinse
rinse thoroughly
no spin or do not spin
no wring or do not wring *
no wring or twist *
damp wipe only
machine

close zippers
do not pretreat
do not soak
remove buttons
remove lining
remove shoulder pad
remove trim
wash dark colors separately
wash once before wearing
wash separately
wash with like colors
do not use fabric softener
remove promptly
rinse twice
use oversize washing

Bleaching Instructions

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All terms represented by symbols.

Drying Instructions

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no heat *
remove promptly
line dry in the shade *
line dry away from heat
block to dry
smooth by hand

tumble dry, air *
do not tumble dry *
reshape and dry flat
block flat to dry

Ironing & Pressing

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iron wrong side only
no steam or do not steam *
steam only
iron damp
use press only

do not iron decal
iron reverse side only
iron right side only
warm iron if needed
use press cloth

Drycleaning, All Methods

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professionally dryclean
short cycle *
minimum extraction
reduced or low moisture *
tumble warm
tumble cool
cabinet dry warm
cabinet dry cool
steam only
no steam or do not steam
use fluorocarbon solvent

use clear solvent
use distilled solvent rinse
low heat *
no steam finishing

Additional Words

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Send to a professional leather cleaner.
Do not wash or dryclean by fabric methods.
fur clean

* Care instruction may be reported in words or a symbol.

This table is referenced from ASTM D5489-96c, Table 1, Additional Words To Use With Care Symbols.
We urge you to purchase the latest Annual Book of ASTM Standards that contains the complete symbol set from the American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.

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