Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
American care symbols follow the ASTM D5489 standard and use the same basic shapes as European ones – washtub, triangle, square, iron and circle. The main difference is that the temperature in the washtub is shown with dots rather than degrees, and there are several additional symbols, such as a filled circle for drying without heat. The logic of the bars and the cross is the same.
American care symbols – the ASTM standard
In the USA, care instructions for clothing are mandatory under Federal Trade Commission rules. They can be given in words or with symbols according to ASTM D5489. That is why on garments from American brands you will often see symbols accompanied by English text, such as "Machine wash cold".
Temperature shown with dots
| Dots in the washtub | Approximate temperature | European equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 dot | about 30 °C (cold) | Washtub with 30 |
| 2 dots | about 40 °C (warm) | Washtub with 40 |
| 3 dots | about 50 °C (hot) | Washtub with 50 |
| 4 dots | about 60 °C | Washtub with 60 |
| 5 dots | about 70 °C | Washtub with 70 |
| 6 dots | about 95 °C | Washtub with 95 |
The bars under the washtub mean the same thing: one bar is a permanent press programme, two bars a delicate wash.
Additional symbols in the American system
- Filled (black) circle in the square – tumble dry with no heat, air only.
- Twisted cloth, crossed out – do not wring.
- Iron with crossed-out lines beneath it – no steam.
- Empty circle with no letter – dry clean, without specifying the solvent; sometimes supplemented by text.
- Square with a curved line at the top – line dry (the European system uses a vertical line).
The European ISO 3758 system
In Europe the ISO 3758 symbols are used universally, and the symbols themselves are registered trademarks of the international association GINETEX. Temperature is written as a number, the letters P, F and W in the circle specify the professional cleaning process, and natural drying is described with vertical and horizontal lines. The symbols are not mandatory under EU law, but virtually every garment in the EU carries them.
The Japanese system
Japan uses the JIS L 0001 standard, which since the end of 2016 has been harmonised with ISO 3758. That is why new Japanese labels use practically the same symbols as European ones. On older Japanese garments you may see a washtub with Japanese characters and numbers, as well as symbols that do not exist in the European system. China also uses a national standard that follows ISO 3758.
Comparison table
| Element | Europe (ISO 3758) | USA (ASTM D5489) |
|---|---|---|
| Washing temperature | Number in degrees Celsius | Dots (1–6) |
| Hand wash | Hand in the washtub | Hand in the washtub |
| Bleaching | Empty triangle / with two lines / crossed out | Similar symbols |
| Tumble dry without heat | No separate symbol | Filled circle in the square |
| Ironing | 1–3 dots | 1–3 dots, plus a "no steam" symbol |
| Dry cleaning | Circle with P or F | Circle, often without a letter |
| Professional wet cleaning | Circle with W | Circle with W in newer versions |
| Mandatory? | Voluntary in the EU | Instructions are mandatory (in words or symbols) |
How to read the label on an imported garment
- Find the washtub and see whether it shows a number or dots. The number of dots corresponds to the temperature class.
- Check the bars under the washtub – they mean the same in both systems.
- For the tumble dryer symbol, note whether the circle is empty or filled. A filled circle means drying without heat.
- If there is English text, it takes precedence over the symbol – American brands often give details only in words.
- If in doubt, choose the lower temperature and the gentler programme.
- If the label contains only text and no symbols, follow the text – in the USA this is perfectly acceptable and common.
What this means for manufacturers
If you produce for the European market, use ISO 3758 – that is what buyers and retail chains in the EU expect. If you also export to the USA or Canada, check the requirements of that market when designing the label. Sometimes it is more practical to make a separate version of the care and composition label for each market than to fit two systems onto one tape.
There is another detail: in the USA the label must also carry information that is voluntary in the EU, such as the country of origin and identification of the manufacturer or dealer. That is why labels for the American market are often longer and have more pages. It is wise to clarify these requirements with the importer before the sample.
Printing the symbols
Whatever the system, the symbols must be clear and withstand washing. They are printed with textile inks on satin or taffeta, most often in black. On very small labels the dots in the iron and washtub can merge, so the symbols should not be reduced too much. If you are looking for colour printing options or a specific style, see our printed labels and the whole labels category.
Polkom – labels for the EU and export
Polkom is a manufacturer of labels and garment accessories from Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We prepare care and composition labels with the symbols your market requires, with composition, origin and logo, and send a sample before the series. We deliver throughout the EU. Send an inquiry via our contact page.
