Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
The washing instructions on a label consist of two parts: the five ISO 3758 symbols and short text instructions that explain what the symbols cannot say. Typical examples are "Wash separately", "Wash inside out" and "Do not wring". The text is written in the language of the market, briefly and in the imperative.
Why symbols are not enough and when text washing instructions are needed
The symbols describe temperature, cycle, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. However, they say nothing about colours, about preparing the garment before washing or about specific risks. Dark jeans that bleed dye, printed products and knitwear that stretches require additional explanation. Without it, the buyer follows the symbols but still gets a poor result – and comes back with a complaint.
The most commonly used text instructions
| Instruction in English | Example in German | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Wash separately | Separat waschen | Intense and dark colours, new denim, red and black |
| Wash with similar colours | Mit ähnlichen Farben waschen | Coloured products with a moderate risk of staining |
| Wash inside out | Auf links waschen | Prints, embroidery, denim, dark colours |
| Close zip before washing | Reißverschluss vor dem Waschen schließen | Products with zips that can catch other garments |
| Do not wring | Nicht auswringen | Wool, silk, knitwear |
| Reshape while damp | In feuchtem Zustand in Form ziehen | Jumpers and knitwear |
| Do not iron on print | Nicht auf dem Druck bügeln | Products with a print or transfer |
| Use a laundry bag | Wäschenetz verwenden | Underwear, bras, delicate items |
| Do not use fabric softener | Keinen Weichspüler verwenden | Sports and technical fabrics, microfleece |
| May shrink by up to …% | Kann einlaufen | Rarely used; it is better for the product to be stabilised |
How to word the instructions
- Briefly – two to five words. The label is small and every line must be easy to read.
- In the imperative – "Wash…", "Do not…". That way the text is unambiguous.
- Without contradicting the symbols – if the symbol says 40 °C, the text cannot say "Wash in cold water".
- Only what is necessary – two or three instructions are enough. Ten instructions get ignored.
- With a consistent translation – use the same wording for all articles and collections.
Layout of the label
A typical care and composition label is organised as follows:
- Logo or brand name, article number.
- Fibre composition in all languages.
- The five care symbols in the standard order.
- The text washing instructions, in all languages.
- Country of origin and manufacturer details.
On multilingual labels, the text instructions take up space, so they are often placed on a separate page. If space is limited, choose the most important instruction – usually "Wash separately" for intense colours.
Instructions by type of product
Denim
New jeans bleed indigo, especially in the first few washes. The usual instructions are "Wash separately" and "Wash inside out". Some brands also add "Colour may transfer to light surfaces".
Knitwear and wool
Here instructions are most valuable: "Do not wring", "Dry flat", "Reshape while damp". The dry flat symbol is useful, but the text reinforces it.
Underwear and swimwear
"Use a laundry bag" and "Rinse after use in chlorinated or salt water" are typical. For swimwear, an instruction not to leave it wet in direct sunlight is also useful.
Sports and technical garments
Fabric softener clogs the pores of breathable fabrics and reduces moisture wicking, so "Do not use fabric softener" is a common instruction. Products with a membrane often also require a special detergent.
Products with prints and appliqués
"Wash inside out" and "Do not iron on print" extend the life of the print. For appliqués with beads or sequins – "Hand wash" or professional cleaning.
Childrenswear
Children's clothes are washed often and at higher temperatures. Instructions such as "Wash before first use" and "Wash separately" for bright colours are useful. It is important that the label itself is soft and does not irritate the skin, so the instructions should be short and the label small.
Instructions to avoid
- General, vague phrases such as "Wash with care" – they do not tell the buyer what exactly to do.
- Excessive restrictions "just in case" – they put the buyer off and do not reflect the real product.
- Instructions that contradict the symbols.
- Marketing text on the care and composition label – that belongs on the hang tag.
Durable print for durable instructions
Instructions are only useful if they remain legible. Printing on satin and taffeta is done with inks designed for textiles so that it withstands repeated washing. For products that are washed often and at high temperatures, it is best to choose a denser material from the textile labels group. See also the whole labels category.
Polkom – care and composition labels with your instructions
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of labels and accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags with over 30 years of experience. We print care and composition labels with composition, symbols, text instructions and logo, check the text before the sample and deliver throughout the EU. Send your details via the contact page to request a quote.
