Temperature
Treat the number as a maximum.
Do not raise the temperature because the textile looks heavily soiled. Select a process that stays within the limit shown on the label.
Care guide
First rule
The care labelhas the final word.
Fibre content describes what a textile contains. The sewn-in label specifies the permitted processes for that particular item. Use this guide to read the label and prepare without guessing.
Start with the pre-wash checkThe label supplied with the product takes priority over online advice, household habits, and assumptions based only on fibre content.
Do not guess
Read the complete set of symbols.
One minute before washing
Four checks before the drum turns.
If the label is missing or unreadable, pause and identify the exact product before choosing a process.
Find the label
Read the symbols for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and professional care together. A number in the wash symbol is a maximum, not a target.
Check the appliance limit
Compare the dry item with the washing-machine capacity and instructions. A bulky or heavy textile needs enough room to move without overloading the appliance.
Sort deliberately
Separate items when colour transfer, lint, weight, or different care limits could cause a problem. Follow any product-specific instruction to wash separately.
Dose the product as directed
Use a detergent permitted by the care label and follow its dose instructions. More detergent does not automatically mean a cleaner result.
A fresh spill
Lift excess first; avoid spreading it.
Spot care
Pause before you scrub.
A treatment that is suitable for one textile may damage another finish or dye. Start with the label and the instructions for the cleaning product you intend to use.
- Remove loose or excess material without pushing it further into the textile.
- If the label permits home treatment, blot gently from the outside of the area inward rather than spreading the spill.
- Test any treatment on a hidden area and stop if colour or texture changes.
- Do not mix cleaning products, and use professional care when the label requires it.
Wash and dry
Let the symbols choose the process.
Two textiles with the same fibre can have different construction, dye, finish, and care limits. Apply the complete instruction for the specific item.
Mechanical action
Lines beneath the tub matter.
They indicate a milder process. Choose the corresponding cycle and leave enough room for the textile to move.
Drying
Read the square before the next step.
Do not assume tumble drying is allowed. Dots indicate heat limits when it is permitted; other symbols specify natural drying methods.
After washing
Dry according to the square symbol.
Wet textiles can be heavier and easier to stretch. Support the item during handling and use only the drying method allowed by its label.
- Reshape gently without twisting or wringing unless the product instruction explicitly permits it.
- Use a clean, colourfast surface and allow air to circulate when flat drying is specified.
- Keep within any tumble-drying heat limit shown by dots in the symbol.
- Store only when fully dry, in a clean and ventilated place.
Only when the label directs it
Support the textile while it dries.
Reference material
Where these general rules come from.
These sources explain standardized care symbols and general laundry preparation. They do not replace the label on your item.
GINETEX · Care symbols
Meaning of textile-care symbols and the principle that they show the maximum permitted treatment.
Open sourceAmerican Cleaning Institute · Laundry basics
General preparation covering sorting, care labels, stains, detergent, and cycle selection.
Open sourceThe label is missing or unclear?
Contact support before washing. Include the product name, variant, and order reference so the correct instruction can be identified.