Since ancient times, housewives, wanting to keep clothes clean and tidy, resorted to washing. Various substances were used as detergents - from plain ash to elderberry or plant roots. As a washing machine, special rollers, oak barrels and hot stones were used. After such washing, the clothes quickly wore out. Today, technological progress makes it possible to choose the conditions for processing clothes from any type of fabric. The designation of the icons for washing on clothes helps to navigate the modes of care for things.
Where is the information
All information about the product is on special labels sewn, depending on the type of clothing, in different places:
- On knitwear, the label is located on the side seam.
- Under the collar of t-shirts and shirts you can find information on the conditions for caring for these delicate things.
- A tag is attached to the waist of trousers and skirts with a decoding of laundry icons on clothes.
- Not deprived of special designations and underwear. For shorts, tags are sewn into the side seam, and for bras, the necessary information must be sought on the back in the area of the left shoulder strap.
- Outerwear contains all the designations for washing in the left side seam.
It is noteworthy that all the labels are usually made of soft fabric, which does not cause discomfort when wearing clothes. The designations of the icons are applied with a special paint that does not fade during the first wash.
Washing modes: manual and machine
Today, many things are washed using an automatic machine. But there are also delicate fabrics that can only be hand washed. This is indicated by the designation of the icons for washing clothes. Hand wash is marked on the label, like a hand immersed in a basin of water. Such a thing needs delicate manual processing at a water temperature of not more than 40 ° C. Such clothes should not be wrung out and twisted. Also, a symbolic unit enclosed in a circle indicates the prohibition of machine wash.
The machine wash on the label symbolizes the image of a basin of water. Such designations can be supplemented by the numbers 30, 40, 60 and 95, which mean the temperature of the water. A double-bottom basin indicates gentle washing, and a crossed-out bowl symbolizes the prohibition of water treatment.
The drawing of a water tank with dots in the center also matters. Depending on the number of dots, the decoding of the designation of the icons on the clothes for washing is as follows: one point symbolizes the washing of woolen fabrics, two - multi-colored cotton, nylon and polyester items, and three points indicate the washing of dense materials that are not resistant to boiling.
Washing clothes from natural fabrics
Natural fabrics are less whimsical to care than synthetic. However, they also require proper care:
- Cotton clothes can be washed at any water temperature. Both machine and manual processing are possible. When washing, it is best to use universal detergents.
- Silk fabric requires more delicate handling. It is recommended to wash silk items using special means for silk or wool, at a water temperature of not more than 30 ° C. The advantage is a manual wash mode.
- Woolen products, as a rule, are washed manually or in the “Wash the wool” machine mode. Use special means for woolen things. Drying sweaters and pullovers is best when flattened on towels away from open flames and direct sunlight.
Designation of icons for washing on clothes. Features of washing things from synthetic fabric
The specifics of the processing of synthetic materials are indicated by the icons on the labels of clothes for washing. This designation is tanks with the number 40 and two points in the center.
- Fabrics such as modal, rayon or rayon are treated with low temperature water. The advantage is hand wash. It should be remembered that the shrinkage of things after washing can reach 4-7%.
- Clothing made of elastane, lycra, polyamide, polyester, dacron and tactile is machine washable at a temperature of 40 ° C. Such things are not recommended to be ironed, because they are afraid of hot temperatures.
Prohibitory designation of laundry badges on clothing label
This is a separate category of notation. The decoding of the icons on the labels of clothes for washing involves the so-called prohibitory characters.
- The crossed basin with water indicates the prohibition of any washing. This thing can only be dry cleaned.
- Together with the “Do not wash” sign, the “Do not dry” icon is also used - a crossed-out square.
- The crossed out circle inside the square indicates the prohibition of drying and spinning in the machine.
- The crossed out roller means that it is impossible to twist. Such things are best to freely spread on a flat surface and allow water to drain.
- The crossed out iron symbolizes the prohibition of ironing. These are, as a rule, woolen and synthetic products. To keep the clothes neat, they must be folded carefully after completely drying, avoiding the formation of wrinkles and wrinkles.
- Bleaching agents are indicated by a triangle. A crossed out figure means that whitening is impossible. Colored and synthetic products should not be exposed to this process.
- The crossed out circle symbolizes the impossibility of dry cleaning.
Explanatory signs for dry cleaning and bleaching
Some items are not washable. In this case, the only solution is dry cleaning. This method of care is indicated by the image of a circle on a label.
However, even with dry cleaning, it is recommended to follow the signs of the subtleties of the process.
- A crossed out circle means a ban on the use of any chemical agents. It is advisable to process such clothes using the dry or aqua brushing method.
- The letter A in the circle means the possibility of using any chemicals.
- The capital letter P inside the circle symbolizes the use of liquids consisting of hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride, monofluorotrichloromethane. At the same time, the underlined circle means a gentle cleaning regime with similar means.
- The letter F denotes the use of white spirit and freon in the chemical treatment process. The underlined circle means sparing mode.
- A triangle symbolizes the use of bleach.
- Cl inside the triangle means the use of products containing chlorine.
- A triangle with several lines on the left side symbolizes the possibility of using bleaching fluids that do not contain chlorine.
Drying and spin modes
The washing process is not possible without subsequent spinning and drying. The meaning of the icons on the clothes for washing involves the image of the symbols of the final processes of caring for things.
The integrity of the fabric and the shape of the product largely depend on the spin mode. Too much squeezing can harm a delicate thing, cause it to shrink, or, conversely, stretch it several sizes more. Obviously, for each type of fabric you need to select the appropriate spin mode. On the label, this process is depicted as a circle inscribed in a square. Paying attention to the tag, you can understand what the icons on the clothes for washing mean.
- The circle inside the square allows automatic operation up to the most intense one.
- If the figure is crossed out - spin on the machine is unacceptable. Squeezing such a thing should only be done by hand without much physical strength.
- In the case of two parallel lines under the square, the delicate spin mode at low speeds is appropriate.
- The twisted crossed out thing symbolizes the prohibition of all twisting. Such a thing should dry naturally.
As for drying, you can dry clothes in two ways - in an automatic machine or on an ordinary clothesline. The drying method is indicated by the drawing of a square on the label.
- Just a figure means the possibility of any drying - both automatic and natural.
- The crossed out square means the prohibition of machine drying.
- A figure with a horizontal section inside symbolizes the drying of things exclusively in a horizontal position. These are, as a rule, knitted and woolen things that should dry on a flat surface.
- Three vertical lines inside the square mean that the product must be dried by hanging vertically to gradually drain the water.
- A square with two oblique lines in the upper corner means avoiding direct sunlight when drying the product. This mode is appropriate for clothing that quickly burns out - white shirts, tulle, linen.
General washing instructions
There are general rules for caring for clothes made of various fabrics. If there is no special designation on the label, do not bleach the thing. If necessary, use bleach, it is recommended to try the product on small areas of clothing, invisible to the eye. So you can find out the effect of a substance on a product.
- It is best to wash clothes in mild detergents - powders, mousses, gels.
- It is not recommended to exceed a dosage of powder. Otherwise, problems with the process may occur (for example, excess foam may come out of the machine during washing).
- Before washing, it is recommended to sort the white and colored clothes.
- Colored and printed fabrics do not soak. In addition, a new colored item needs to be washed separately from all others, as it can fade.
- Dark clothing should be handled separately from the rest. During the washing process, it is recommended to use special powders or liquids for dark things.
- Underwear and delicate tulle curtains need to be washed in a special bag.
What clothes do not need to be washed?
Today, many housewives manage to wash almost everything, including sports shoes. But there is clothing that can only be dry cleaned. These are leather and leather products, as well as fur items. Such clothes should be cleaned with the help of special means or consult a specialist for help. So you can extend the ministry of things for a long time.