Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Iron-on labels are textile labels with a heat-seal adhesive on the back that are attached to the garment with an iron or a heat press. The label is placed adhesive side down on the fabric, covered with paper or a thin cloth and pressed with a hot iron without steam for a set time. They hold best on smooth cotton and blended fabrics; they are not suitable for materials that cannot take high temperatures.
How iron-on labels work
The heat-seal adhesive is a layer that is solid at room temperature. When heated it melts and penetrates between the fibres of the fabric. After cooling, the adhesive hardens again and bonds the label to the fabric mechanically. That is why three things are decisive: sufficient temperature, sufficient pressure and sufficient time. If any of them is missing, the adhesive only "sticks" on the surface and the label peels off in the first wash.
What you need
- an iron without steam or a heat press;
- a hard, flat surface – a table with a few layers of fabric, not a soft ironing board;
- baking paper or a thin cotton cloth for protection;
- the garment itself – clean, without fabric softener, ironed.
Iron-on labels: application step by step
- Prepare the fabric. New garments often have a finish that prevents the adhesive from bonding. Wash them at least once without fabric softener and iron the area where the label will go.
- Heat the iron. Turn off the steam. The temperature should be the one recommended by the label manufacturer – most often the cotton setting. Do not exceed the fabric's maximum temperature.
- Position the label with the adhesive side to the fabric, smooth and without creases.
- Cover with baking paper or a thin cloth.
- Press the iron firmly and without moving for the recommended time. Do not move the iron back and forth – this shifts the label. If the label is larger than the soleplate, press it in sections.
- Turn the garment over and press for a few more seconds from the reverse – the heat reaches the adhesive from the other side as well.
- Let it cool completely without touching it. Check the corners – if one lifts, repeat the pressing.
- Wait at least 24 hours before the first wash.
Iron or heat press
| Iron | Heat press | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Uneven, approximate | Precisely controlled |
| Pressure | Depends on the person | Even, adjustable |
| Time | Counted by hand | Timer |
| Suitable for | Single items, home use | Production runs in a factory |
For series production a heat press is essential – only it guarantees the same result on every piece.
Which fabrics they hold on
- Very well: cotton, linen, polyester and blends, denim, heavy jersey.
- With care: thin jersey (the adhesive may show through on the front), stretch fabrics with elastane (the label may crack when stretched).
- Not suitable: coated nylon, water-repellent and membrane fabrics, leather, faux leather, silk, wool, terry towelling and long-pile plush.
Always test first on a piece of the same fabric or in a hidden place.
How to make them last in the wash
- Wash the garment inside out.
- Avoid very high temperatures and aggressive detergents.
- Do not tumble dry, or use a low setting – high heat softens the adhesive.
- Do not iron directly over the label.
- If a corner starts to lift, press it again with an iron through paper.
Combining ironing and stitching
Many brands and parents use the best of both methods: the label is ironed on so it is positioned precisely and smoothly, and then secured with a few stitches along the edges. This way, even if the adhesive weakens after many washes, the label stays in place. Woven labels with heat-seal backing are convenient for this – you will find them in the woven labels section.
Iron-on labels versus printing on the fabric
Not to be confused: an iron-on label is a textile tape with adhesive. Tagless printing (a neck transfer) is an image transferred directly onto the fabric with a press, without a tape. The second option is described in the printed labels section. The choice depends on the product – a textile label is more versatile, while a transfer completely removes the feel of a label.
Common mistakes
- Ironing with steam – moisture prevents the adhesive from bonding.
- A soft ironing board – not enough pressure.
- Moving the iron instead of pressing without movement.
- Washing immediately after application.
- Applying to fabric treated with softener or a finish.
- Too high a temperature for synthetic fabric – leaves a shiny mark.
Application in series production
In the factory, iron-on labels are applied with a heat press as a separate operation or at the end of production. For a consistent result, specify the exact position, temperature, pressure and time in the style's tech pack and check them with trial pieces from each new fabric batch. Fabrics from different suppliers behave differently even with the same composition – the finish and density affect the adhesive. Good practice is to wash a control piece from each batch and check how the corners hold. Train operators not to move the garment before the adhesive has cooled, because the label will shift or wrinkle.
How to remove an iron-on label
Warm the label with an iron through paper until the adhesive softens, then slowly peel it off from one corner. Adhesive residue can often be removed by warming it again and blotting with paper. A mark may remain on dark and synthetic fabrics, so think about the position in advance.
Heat-seal labels from Polkom
Polkom manufactures custom textile labels with your logo – for sewing on and, where the product allows, with heat-seal backing for ironing on. We will help you assess whether ironing on is suitable for your fabric, make a sample for testing and deliver across the EU. Send an inquiry via our contact page.
