| While there may be lots of rules and technicalities | | | | 4. Clothing labels that are designated with washing |
| associated with clothing product labels, it is important | | | | instructions have to include five different aspects. The |
| that consumers have the information they need to | | | | first aspect is whether the garment requires machine |
| properly take care of their wardrobes. | | | | or hand washing. If the machine washing is allowed, the |
| When you buy a piece of clothing, you also need to | | | | manufacturer also has to print on the product label |
| know how to care for the cleaning of the garment. | | | | what temperature setting should be used. The second |
| Otherwise you might ruin it and your purchase would | | | | feature of washing that must be included is bleaching |
| be wasted. To make sure consumers are | | | | instructions. Basically, the clothing label has to specify |
| well-informed, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | | | | either that the garment should never be bleached or in |
| has created a set of labeling requirements for clothing | | | | other cases that only non-chlorine bleach is safe. If all |
| manufacturers supplying their goods to United States | | | | bleaches are safe for the clothing, bleach doesn't have |
| for any garments meant to protect or cover your | | | | to be mentioned. Thirdly, manufacturers have to include |
| body. | | | | whether the clothes can be machine dried (and at |
| Here's a bit more than you ever wanted to know | | | | what setting, if hot is not safe) or if they must dry by |
| about garment labeling rules: | | | | more natural processes. The fourth element printed on |
| 1. Manufacturers must put labels on their clothing | | | | product labels is if ironing will be necessary and safe |
| indicating the fiber content, the country of origin, and | | | | for the garment and how hot the iron should be. Lastly, |
| the manufacturer brand as well as guidelines for | | | | washing instructions are required to include any |
| proper cleaning methods. | | | | warnings to keep the consumer from inadvertently |
| 2. Product labels are required to be placed in an | | | | ruining the garment. The most common warnings |
| easy-to-find spot and should be visible for the length of | | | | consist of things like "do not iron" or "wash with like |
| the garment life. This means the clothing labels can be | | | | colors." All five aspects are often accompanied by |
| attached as tags, printed on the garment, or | | | | standard washing symbols. |
| permanent adhesive labels may be used as long as | | | | 5. If clothing should be dry cleaned, then the fabric |
| they are proven to stay put. | | | | labels should add in any warnings that require a |
| 3. When it comes to cleaning instructions, clothing | | | | variation from traditional dry cleaning procedures. |
| makers can specify that the garment should either be | | | | There are some things that don't need to be labeled. |
| washed or dry cleaned, or both. They must be able to | | | | Those include accessories like belts, neckties, |
| prove, however, that the care instructions are valid and | | | | handkerchiefs, and suspenders. Neither shoes and |
| have a "reasonable basis." That reasonable basis or | | | | hats, nor gloves need to be labeled presumably |
| evidence can come from actual washing or dry | | | | because tags or adhesive marks would get in the way |
| cleaning test results or sometimes it can come simply | | | | and be a nuisance during use. |
| from long-term industry experience. | | | | |