• Blogs
  • Laundry
  • How to Read and Follow Garment Care Labels Properly?

How to Read and Follow Garment Care Labels Properly?

  • Riya Yadav
Facebook Instagram Linkedin
How to Read and Follow Garment Care Labels Properly?
How to Read and Follow Garment Care Labels Properly?

Table of Contents

If you have ever faded your favorite dress, damaged your embellished dress, and wondered how it happened,? Then you are not alone who did not followed the instructions mentioned on the wash care labels. These tiny labels sewed on the back of any garment not just to irritate on your back but to maintain that garment for a long time. These wash care labels carry crucial information about garment like washing instructions, drying instructions, ironing instructions, and sometimes it also tells how to store that garment. Understanding these clothing care labels is not so easy.

In this blog, we have come up with an ultimate guide that will tell “how to read and follow garment care labels properly?”. Checkout the blog now. 

Read More: Decoding Guide To Washing Your Clothes Right

Why Are Garment Care Labels Important?

Garment care labels are your clothing’s instruction manual. They tell you:

  • How to wash the garment (machine wash, hand wash, dry clean)

  • At what temperature to wash or iron

  • Whether you can bleach or tumble dry

  • How to properly dry the garment

Ignoring these instructions can lead to common laundry disasters like shrinking, stretching, color bleeding, or even tearing.

Read More: Top 10 Most Expensive Shoes

Get spotless clothes at your doorstep! 

Send Them To Tumbledry

Benefits of Reading Clothing Care Labels:

  • Prolongs the life of your clothes

  • Prevents accidental damage

  • Maintains color and shape

  • Helps you decide which clothes need special treatment (e.g., dry cleaning)

Read More: Top 10 Luxury Bag Brands In World

Decoding Laundry Symbols: A Quick Guide

Most clothing care labels use standardized symbols governed by international textile care organizations like GINETEX. Let’s decode them step-by-step:

1. Washing Symbols

These symbols tell you how to wash the garment.

Symbol

Meaning

Tub with water

Machine washable

Tub with hand

Hand wash only

Tub with line under

Gentle or delicate cycle

Tub with “30”, “40”, etc.

Max wash temperature (in °C)

Crossed tub

Do not wash

Pro Tip: If the tag says “cold wash” or shows 30°C, avoid warm or hot water, as it can cause shrinkage or damage delicate fabrics.

Get Shiny and spotless saree at home

Send Them To Tumbledry

2. Bleaching Symbols

Symbol

Meaning

Triangle

Can use any bleach

Triangle with two lines

Only non-chlorine bleach

Triangle with X

Do not bleach

Caution: Bleach can ruin colored clothes. Always check the bleach symbol before using.

Flat 20% off on 1st order- 

schedule free pick up

Schedule Free Pick Up

3. Drying Symbols

Symbol

Meaning

Square with circle

Tumble dry allowed

Square with line inside

Line dry

Square with three vertical lines

Drip dry

Square with one horizontal line

Dry flat

Crossed circle

Do not tumble dry

Drying Tip: Tumble drying is convenient but harsh. For longer fabric life, air drying is preferable.

4. Ironing Symbols

Symbol

Meaning

Iron with dots

Dots indicate heat level: 1=low, 2=medium, 3=high

Iron with X

Do not iron

Iron with steam

Steam iron safe

Iron with steam and X

Do not steam

Fabric Care Tip: Use a pressing cloth for delicate fabrics while ironing to avoid shine or burns.

5. Dry Cleaning Symbols

Symbol

Meaning

Circle

Dry clean only

Circle with letter (P/F)

Indicates solvent type

Circle with line under

Gentle dry cleaning

Circle with X

Do not dry clean

When to Dry Clean: Garments made from silk, wool, rayon, or embellished fabrics usually require professional cleaning.

Common Mistakes People Make With Garment Labels

Understanding the symbols is just half the battle. Here are mistakes to avoid:

1. Assuming All Clothes Can Go in the Washer

Some clothes labeled “hand wash only” or “dry clean only” can be ruined in a standard wash cycle. Always check before tossing them in the machine.

2. Ignoring Temperature Instructions

Washing or ironing at higher-than-recommended temperatures can shrink or burn fabrics.

3. Using the Wrong Detergent

Delicates and baby clothes often require mild detergents. Wool and silk have specific detergents that protect their fibers.

4. Skipping the Label Altogether

Busy people often cut off tags or ignore them, which leads to poor fabric care and damage over time.

Tips to Follow Garment Care Labels Properly

1. Keep a Symbol Chart Handy

Print or save a guide with common laundry symbols meaning for easy reference during laundry.

2. Sort Clothes Based on Instructions

Group clothes that need cold wash, warm wash, delicate cycle, or hand washing. This ensures each item gets the treatment it needs.

3. Use Mesh Bags for Delicates

These help protect bras, lace items, and lightweight garments in machine wash even when labeled gentle.

4. Adjust Your Machine Settings Accordingly

Don’t just run the default setting. Customize wash cycle, temperature, and spin speed based on garment needs.

5. When in Doubt, Air Dry

Even if tumble drying is allowed, air drying can extend the life of your clothes, especially for delicate fabrics.

6. Never Cut Care Labels

They might feel itchy, but cutting them off makes it hard to remember how to wash the item correctly.

Fabric-Specific Care Tips

Different fabrics require different levels of care. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Fabric

Special Instructions

Cotton

Machine washable, high temp, iron on high

Wool

Hand wash or dry clean, flat dry, low heat iron

Silk

Dry clean or gentle hand wash, low heat, no bleach

Denim

Inside-out wash, cold water, avoid frequent washing

Polyester

Machine washable, wrinkle-resistant, avoid high heat

Linen

Cold wash, line dry, iron on medium to high

Understanding fabric-specific care alongside fabric care symbols will help maintain clothing shape, texture, and color.

How to Store Clothes After Washing

Proper care doesn’t end after washing. Post-laundry habits also affect garment life.

  • Fold Instead of Hanging heavy garments to prevent stretching.

  • Use Wooden Hangers for suits and blazers to maintain shoulder shape.

  • Avoid Damp Storage, as it can lead to mold or mildew.

Don’t Overload Drawers or Wardrobes, which causes wrinkles and wear.

When to Seek Professional Help

Sometimes, after trying so hard we are unable to clean our clothes perfectly while on the other hand, some do not have that much of time to invest in laundry. For both the situations, it is better to consult a professional dry cleaner like Tumbledry which are very popular for their expert laundry and dry cleaning services. Here are some more reasons when you need to seek a professional dry cleaner. 

  • The garment is labeled “dry clean only”

  • It contains multiple fabric types (e.g., beaded silk + lace)

  • There’s an accidental stain you can’t treat at home

  • The item has sentimental or high monetary value

Pro Tip: Always inform the cleaner about specific stains or concerns to ensure the best results.

Conlusion

Reading and following garment care labels might feel like a chore, but it’s the secret to a longer-lasting, better-looking wardrobe. With just a little attention to the symbols and instructions on the tag, you can save money, preserve your favorite outfits, and reduce your environmental impact by avoiding premature clothing disposal.

So next time you do your laundry, pause for a second, read that label. Your clothes will thank you.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not necessarily purport to reflect the values or views of Tumbledry.

Subscribe to us:

Sign up to get more such information & get the best deals on professional cleaning

Useful Links

Contact Us

Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube

schedule Free Pick Up

Our 7 Step Process For Spotless Shining Shoes!

Seven Step Process 2

Try it once to feel the difference

Schedule Pickup

  • Inspection

    Shoe material analyzed to decide the cleaning methodology.

  • Dismantling

    The laces, sole, and other removable parts are separated to be cleaned individually.

  • Deep Cleaning & Stain Removal

    Any spots or stains are removed with German organic chemicals.

  • Deodorize (Anti-bacterial Treatment)

    All the bacteria, viruses and bad odor is eliminated.

  • Drying

    Shoes are Air Dried, Blow Dried, or Sun Dried depending on the skin type.

  • Shoe Nourishment

    Shoe skin is nourished & enriched with our unique natural oil based polish

  • Assembly

    Once polish is dried, our experts reassemble all shoe parts and pack them for delivery.

Try it once to feel the difference

Schedule Pickup
Back

Carpet Cleaning

Carpet Dry Cleaning Service by Tumbledry

An intense, deep-cleaning of carpets to restore their original glory

We specialize in dry cleaning of Persian rugs, silk & Turkish carpets, and all other premium, imported rugs of nylon, wool, cotton, polyester and olefin.

  • 100% carpet fabric color & luster preserved
  • Eco-friendly, pet and child-safe detergents
  • Anti germ treatment & deodorization
  • Mold damage reversal
  • Complimentary border pasting
Schedule Free Pickup
Back

WOOLENS DRY CLEANING​

shutterstock 1658641876

Our Woolmark approved Lagoon system is the world’s most advanced and eco-friendly technology for dry cleaning woolen garments – sweaters, coats, furs, shawls, pashmina, and jackets.

Your woolen garments will be delivered stain free, and will retain their original texture, smoothness, fluffiness, shape & size. Our advanced systems and processes ensure zero shrinkage.

For expensive and delicate woolens like furs & pashmina, we use special eco-friendly chemicals from Germany which are of neutral ph, and form a protective covering around wool fiber to maintain its shine & lustre after dry cleaning.

Schedule Free Pickup
Back

CURTAIN CLEANING​

curtain dry cleaning and laundry service

Premium curtain dry cleaning service service with facility to remove the curtains from rods and install them back after dry cleaning.

  • Processing as per curtain fabric type (silk, velvet, blackout etc)
  • Zero shrinkage guaranteed with our Italian technology
  • 99% stain removal promise
  • 100% shine & lustre maintained with our German organic chemicals
  • Crisp, wrinkle free steam iron
  • Complimentary curtain ring replacement
Schedule Free Pickup
Back

Leather Dry Cleaning

Leather Dry Cleaning at Tumbledry

Professional leather dry cleaning for jackets, bags, purses, clutches, wallets, belts, shoes, boots and stilettos.

Protect your leather items from dirt, dust, oil stains, perspiration, dehydration, mold & mildew.

Our expert leather care technicians inspect each item with utmost care to assess the color, shade, and type of leather, and accordingly decide the most appropriate treatment.

Complimentary conditioning and polishing to ensure smooth & shining finish

Schedule Free Pickup
Back

Shoes/Bag Cleaning & Restoration

shutterstock 400663813 e1634736771725

Experts in dry cleaning of Sports, Canvass, Leather, Suede, Nubuck Shoes, Sneakers, Boots, Sandals and Canvass, Jute, Leather & Suede Bags

    • Gentle chemicals and conditioners to maintain the color & fabric.
    • Mink & Lanolin Oil Nourishment
    • Spotless cleaning of laces, straps, insoles, and inner lining
    • Disinfection with our German deodorizers

Following Restoration Services are also available:

    • Sole pasting
    • Inner sole replacement
    • Damaged collar replacement
    • Inner lining replacement
    • Heel replacement
    • Sole replacement
    • Re coloring
    • Laces replacement
Schedule Free Pickup
Back

Haute CouturE Dry CleaniNG

Men Dry Cleaning 4 min

Want to restore the glory of your haute couture? Look no further than Tumbledry!

We have a separate team of processing experts who handle your most expensive silk, bridal & designer wear for dry cleaning. Each Haute Couture article is given a customized treatment in our state of the art dry cleaning facility.

Our team has more than a decade experience of dry cleaning most delicate and expensive silk sarees, including: Banarasi silk, Kanjivaram/Kanchipuram silk, Baluchari silk, Bomkai silk, Tussar silk, Chanderi silk, Dharmavaram silk, Banglori silk, Mysore silk, and Patola silk.

Be it Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani, Masaba Gupta, or Sabyasachi Mukherjee – we have got tons of experience dry cleaning fashion articles from most popular designer houses. We understand the nuances of the make and design, as well as the fabric structure used by these designer houses – and this enables us to give the perfect treatment to these haute couture articles

Schedule Free Pickup