You've been washing for years, so you just ignore the washing symbols on the label? Do you have a T-shirt that would fit the dog's time? Or a dull silk blouse covered in small balls of fluff?

Proper care of your garment is very important as it significantly extends the life of your garment and prevents damage. If you are going to spend money on updating your wardrobe, take some time and take care of it properly.

Explanation of garment care signs

Signs on garment and linen tags provide important information on how to care for your garment. These universal symbols were developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and are able to convey information around the world, regardless of the language of communication.

Five basic symbols are used in garment care: for washing, drying, bleaching, ironing and dry cleaning. Having studied the basic forms, it will be quite simple to decipher the rest of the signs. Well one thing to remember : "X" on any character means "Don't do this."

Symbols for washing

A sign with a container with water says how to wash or not wash clothes. Degrees indicate which temperature to use. Or points: one point for cold water, two points for warm and three points for hot water.

The lines under the container show which machine wash cycle to select. One line for a gentle wash, two for a delicate cycle. If there is no line, you can use any loop.

A drawing with a hand immersed in water suggests that hand wash should be used to properly care for clothes.

A crossed-out curled fabric indicates that the garment should not be wrung out. Instead, gently squeeze it or wrap it in a thick towel to absorb the water.

Whitening marks

These characters are not common. But if you see a triangle on the label, it means that the manufacturer recommends a certain type of bleach.

The "X" above the solid colored triangle means "no bleach" at all.

Triangle with two slanted lines allows for bleach that does not contain chlorine or oxygen.

A clear triangle means any type of bleach can be used on the fabric.

Legend for drying

Excessive drying is one of the most harmful things to do when caring for your clothes. International symbols help determine the optimal drying cycle and temperature. Signs also indicate whether to dry your laundry naturally or in the machine.

Three vertical lines in a square indicate that the garment should be hung up to air dry.

A curved line in a square indicates natural drying when unfolded, and a horizontal line indicates drying clothes on a flat surface (to prevent stretching).

Two slanted lines in the corner of the square indicate that the garment should dry in the shade, away from harsh sunlight.

A circle in a square means that the garment care can be machine wrung and dried. The dots indicate the heating level. One point for low temperature, two points for medium temperature and three points for high temperature.

The lines under the square indicate the type of loop used. The absence of lines means you can use any drum drying cycle, one for gentle, two for gentle.

Explanation of symbols for ironing

The symbol in the shape of an iron will help in choosing the temperature, and will also guide you in the application of dry ironing or steam.

The dots on the iron indicate the temperature. One point - low heat, two points - medium and three points - ironing at high temperature.

Signs for dry cleaning

Chemical cleaning marks are circular. There are quite a few of them, including quite specific ones that determine the chemicals used and the type of cleaning cycle. This information is more likely to be needed by dry cleaners.

Unless you are a garment care expert, always rely on the dry cleaning symbol. But if the item is not expensive and you are willing to take a risk, just follow the general rules to determine whether it should be washed, dried or ironed.

A few simple rules to help you take care of your clothes

Hand wash

If the label recommends hand washing, then the best thing you can do is follow these instructions. Things like sweaters, tassels, lace, crochet, and beaded embroidery do not tolerate washing well. However, the care of such garments sometimes allows the use of delicate washing technology in the machine.

Gentle wash

If you are not going to follow the label for hand wash, always use the delicate cycle and wash in cold water. It is wise to use laundry bags. But it is worthwhile to understand that when machine washed, such things can quickly lose their appearance.

Don't throw everything in the dryer

The technology used in drying machines, with all its advantages, has a bad effect on things. Especially high temperature settings. For a more gentle care of your clothes, we recommend hanging them up and letting them dry naturally.

After drying, you need to iron the folds with an iron. Of course, it will take more time, but respect for the clothes will significantly extend its service life.