It has happened to us all. It gets to the end of the day when you are tired, and you just shove all of your workwear uniforms into the washing machine on a quick-wash cycle. Whilst this may seem like the most time-efficient way to do your laundry, it could be bad news for your uniforms. Not looking out for washing symbols on the labels of your clothing could lead to your garments being ruined in the wash.

 

To help avoid damaging your uniforms when doing the laundry, it is important to look out for wash care label. Here are five basic wash care symbols that you should know of.

machine washing

 

1. Machine washing

 

A symbol that features a three-sided figure with a flat bottom, flared sides, a wavy line about a third of the way down, and a number in the middle signifies a machine washing instruction. The number represents the maximum temperature, in Celsius. For example, 30 means that the garment should be washed with cold water that is at or below 30°C or 86°F, which is the cold setting on most machines. An “X” through the symbol means that the uniform clothing should not be washed, while a hand inside of the symbol means that it should be hand washed at a temperature between 30° C and 40° C. There are several variations on this symbol. The number inside can also read 40 or 50 for warmer water, or 60 for hot. In the place of a number, some labels also use dots, with one dot for cold, two for warm, and three for hot water.

bleaching

 

2. Bleaching

 

A triangle on care labels is the symbol for bleach. If the triangle is empty, any bleaching agent can be used. If there are stripes inside of the triangle, then non-chlorine bleach should be used, and if there is an “X” through it, do not use bleach on the clothing at all. You should take note that not all work uniforms in Singapore are made the same, some fabrics can take on bleach while some cannot, and by carelessly using bleach can damage your clothes permanently.

drying

3. Drying 

Squares on care labels indicate how a uniform should be dried. If the box includes a circle with two dots inside, then the item should be tumble dried at a “normal temperature,” or around 80° C. On the other hand, if the circle within the box only has one dot, then lower the temperature to 60° C. If there is an “X” across the box, then do not tumble dry at all.

 

Line drying is recommended for workwear if there are lines inside the box instead of circles and dots. There are several variations of this symbol: one vertical line for line drying, two vertical lines for drip line drying, and sometimes three for drip drying. You can also look for squares with one horizontal line that signifies flat drying, and two lines indicating that an item should be drip flat dried. Diagonal lines (one or two) in the top left corner of the line, flat, or drip-drying symbols means that it should be done in the shade.

ironing

4. Ironing

The ironing symbol will look familiar to anyone who has played Monopoly. When shown alone, the symbol means that it is okay to use an iron on the clothing or uniform. As with previously mentioned symbols, dots inside signify temperature settings, and if there is an “X,” do not use it! There may also be an “X” over a pair of vertical lines beneath the iron, which means that steam should not be used.

professional care

5. Professional care

 

If professional care is recommended, labels will show circles, often with letters inside. The letter “P” means you should have your corporate uniform professionally dry cleaned, and that the cleaners can use that solvent or hydrocarbons for the job. The letter “F” means that only hydrocarbons should be used, and the letter “W” means that professional wet-cleaning is the way to go. If there are one or two horizontal lines under the circle, it means that the cleaners should treat the items as being more sensitive and should make the necessary adjustments to the “mechanical action, addition of moisture, and/or drying temperature.”

 

These symbols are there for clothes care

 

Now that you understand your care symbols, you will have a better chance of not shrinking, damaging, misshaping, fading or pilling your uniform and clothes. Always remember that these symbols are there for clothing care, do not ignore them or you may end up regretting it.

However, if you happened to have learned your lesson the hard way and are in need of new corporate wear uniforms, check out more on our website and let our experts help you today!