HINTS & TIPS Care Labels and Your Clothes

Under the Federal Trade Commission's Care Labeling Rule, manufacturers must tag their clothing with at least one safe cleaning method. Garments sold without a care label - or with inaccurate cleaning instructions - may violate the Rule. Beginning July 1, 1997, manufactures had the option to begin using certain care symbols in place of words on labels.

When Is a Label Required?

Care labels are required on most textile clothing. They are not required on clothing made primarily of suede or leather, footwear, items for the head and hands - such as hats and gloves - or on household items like sheets and towels. However, many manufactures of these items provide care information voluntarily.

The care label must be attached firmly to a garment, be easy to find, and readable for the useful life of the garment. If the pieces are sold separately - or if they require different care - each must have it's own label. Otherwise, only one label is necessary.

What Should the Label Say?

In addition to giving one safe cleaning method, care labels must list any necessary warnings about that cleaning method. For example, the label must say whether any step of the care method - washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, or dry cleaning - could harm the garment, or other items cleaned with it.

Does "Washable" Also Mean My Garment Can Be Dry Cleaned?

Not necessarily. Only one method of safe care has to be listed - regardless of how many other safe methods could be used. The label does not have to warn about unsafe cleaning methods. For example, clothing labeled "washable" may not dry clean well.

What About Trim?

Care instructions apply to all permanently attached parts of the garment, such as buttons, lining, or decorative trim. Labels that say "Dry Clean Only, Exclusive of Decorative Trim" do not meet legal standards because they don't explain that the trim must be removed before the garment is cleaned, or give a separate care method for the trim.

Read Before You Buy

Care labels must be attached when you buy clothing. The recommended care could influence your purchasing decision. For example, you may want to avoid labels that read "Spot clean only" or "Do Not wash Do Not Dry Clean".  All labels are now required to give you a cleaning method but some still do not so watch out for vague instructions.   

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