Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre
10 Dai Wang Street, Taipo Industrial Estate, NT, Hong Kong

Tel : (852) 2666 1888

Fax : (852) 2663 1239 Email : tmd@hkstc.com
Issued: 06/02/tmd

Guidelines of Care Labelling
CanadaU.S.

EuropeAll symbols are indicated in
For U.S. apparel, the care label is composed of The European care labelling consists of at“traffic light” colours – green, care instruction, appropriate temperature settings least four and sometimes five symbols.
amber and red.
and warnings, according to the Federal Tradecommission’s care Labelling Rule that has beenin effect since 1972. In general, the Care label islisted in the following sequence:•Green(No special precautions)•Amber(Precautions necessary)•Red(Prohibition)

1. Machine wash/ Hand wash/ Dry clean
2. Wash temperature (hot/ warm/ cold)
3. Washing machine program (delicate/ permanent press/normal cycle)
4. Bleaching instruction (do not bleach/ non-chlorine bleach/chlorine bleach)
5. Drying method (tumble dry/ line dry/ flat dry/drip dry)
6. Ironing (do not iron/ cool iron/ warm iron/ hot iron)7. Warning wordings (wash separately, no wring etc.)

Moreover, the informative wordings of the carelabel, manufacturers and importers must provide
labels that:
••

•

•

Are fastened so they can be seen or easily found by
consumers at the point of sale.
If not seen or easily found at the point of sale. It will
be supplemented by care information that also appearson the outside of the package or on a hang tag fastened
to the product.
Remain fastened and legible during the useful life of theproduct.
Say what regular care is needed for the ordinary use ofthe product.

JapanLabelling Method:
1.

Symbols should be arranged from left to rightaccording to the following sequence:2.

For coloured products which are not usually
bleached, the symbol for possibility of chlorine
bleached may be omitted.

3.

For products which are not usually ironed, thesymbols for ironing may be omitted. (Except
cannot be ironed)4.

For products which can be washed with water, thesymbols for dry-cleaning may be omitted.
(Exceptcannot be dry-cleaned)5.

The symbols should be either in black or dark
blue whereas the prohibition symbols are in red
and on a white ground.

Attached Remarks:

1.
1.
2.

3.

2.

3.

The word ‘’ indicates that neutral detergent
should be used.
The symbol ‘’ indicates that clothes
ironed should be covered with another cloth.
The sentence ‘’ indicates that a net
should be used.

Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre
10 Dai Wang Street, Taipo Industrial Estate, NT, Hong Kong

CanadaWashing

U.S.
Washing (By hand or machine)

Machine wash Normal cycle

Do not Wash

Hand Wash in cool water

Tel : (852) 2666 1888

Machine wash Permanent press cycle

Machine wash in cool water ata gentle setting –reduced agitation

Machine wash Delicate/Gentle cycle

Machine wash in lukewarm
water at a gentle
setting – reduced gitation

Hand wash

Machine wash in warm waterat a gentle setting –reduced agitation

Maximum water temperature(in celsius or in dots or in both)
950 C
•••
•••

700 C
•••
••

600 C
500 C
400 C
300 C
••
•••
••
•
••
Very hotHotWarmCold2000 F) (1600 F) (1400 F) (1200 F) (1050 F) (85 0F)

Machine wash in warm waterat a normal setting
Do not wash
Machine wash in hot water at
a normal setting

Fax : (852) 2663 1239 Email : tmd@hkstc.com

EuropeWashing (by hand or machine)[maximum temp. 950 C§ mechanical action normal§ rinsing normal§ spinning normal§ maximum temp. 950 C§ mechanical action reduced§ rinsing at gradually decreasing temp. (cool down)§ spinning reduced§ maximum temp. 700 C§ mechanical action normal§ rinsing normal§ spinning normal[maximum temp. 600 C§ mechanical action normal§ rinsing normal§ spinning normal§ maximum temp. 600 C§ mechanical action reduced§ rinsing at gradually decreasing temp. (cool down)§ spinning reduced[maximum temp. 500 C§ mechanical action reduced§ rinsing at gradually decreasing temp. (cool down)§ spinning reduced[maximum temp. 400 C§ mechanical action normal§ rinsing normal§ spinning normal[maximum temp. 400 C§ mechanical action reduced§ rinsing at gradually decreasing temp. (cool down)§ spinning reduced[maximum temp. 400 C§ mechanical action much reduced§ rinsing normal§ spinning normal§ do not wring by hand
§ maximum temp. 300 C§ mechanical action much reduced§ rinsing normal§ spinning reduced[hand wash only§ do not machine wash
§ maximum temp. 400 C§ handle with care
§ do not wash
§ be cautious when treating in wet stage([ Note : The symbols most popularly used in the U.K.)

JapanWashing (with water)

Machine washable- Max. temp. 950 C

Machine washable- Max. temp. 600 C

Machine washable- Max. temp. 400 C

Machine washable with slow water current or
gently by hand- Max. temp. 400 C

Machine washable with slow water current or
gently by hand- Max. temp. 300 C

Gently hand wash only- Max. temp. 300 C

Cannot be washed with water

Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre
10 Dai Wang Street, Taipo Industrial Estate, NT, Hong Kong

CanadaChlorine Bleaching
Do not use chlorine
bleachUse chlorine bleachwith care
DryingTel : (852) 2666 1888

U.S.
Bleaching
Any bleach when needed
Only non-chlorine bleach when needed

Tumble dry at low
temperature

Tumble Dry:
Tumble Dry Normal cycle
Tumble dry Permanent press cycle

Tumble dry at medium
to high temperature

Tumble dry Delicate/Gentle cycle

Hang to dry

Do not tumble dry

Drip dryEuropeChlorine-Based Bleaching
Chlorine bleach may be used

Hand dry:Line dry/ hang to dry
Drip dryDry flat
Do not dry (use with do not wash)
Dry in shade (add to hand dry)Possibility of Chlorine Bleaching
Can be chlorine bleachedCannot be chlorine bleached
Dry Cleaning
Dry Cleaning*The circle as shown below may contain thefollowing letters
Can be dry-cleaned. Use solvent ofperchloroethylene or petroleum-basedA – representing all solvents
matter.
P – representing tetrachloroethylene,monofluorotrichloromethane or theCan be dry-cleaned. Use petroleum solvents listed for the symbol F
based solvent.
F – representing trifluorotrichloroethane or
white spirit
Can be dry-cleaned.
Suitable for dry cleaning

Tumble dry temperature:

Any Heat Hight Medium Low No Heat
Air

Japan

Do not use chlorine bleach

Do not bleach
DryingDry flat

Fax : (852) 2663 1239 Email : tmd@hkstc.com

Suitable for dry cleaning withspecial treatment and advice should
be sought from a professional drycleaner.
Do not dry clean

Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre
10 Dai Wang Street, Taipo Industrial Estate, NT, Hong KongCanadaIroning

Tel : (852) 2666 1888

U.S.
Ironing

Do not iron

Fax : (852) 2663 1239 Email : tmd@hkstc.com

EuropeIroning

Dry or steam iron

Ironing

Cool iron (maximum 1100 C)

Iron at low setting

Low 1100 C (2300 F)

Iron at medium
settingMedium 1500 C (3000F)
0Warm iron (maximum 1500 C)

Ironed at high temp. (1800 C2100 C Max.)
Ironed at medium temp. (1400 C1600 C Max.)Hot iron (maximum 2000 C)

0

Low 200 C (390 F)
Do Not iron

Iron at high setting

Japan

Ironed at low temp. (800 C-1200 CMax.)Dry ironNo steam (may be used with low,medium or high setting.)
Do not iron

Cannot be ironed

Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre
10 Dai Wang Street, Taipo Industrial Estate, NT, Hong Kong

CanadaDry cleaning

Tel : (852) 2666 1888

U.S.
Dry cleaning
Any solvent

Fax : (852) 2663 1239 Email : tmd@hkstc.com

EuropeTumble Drying After Wash

JapanDrying

Tumble drying possible
Hung and drip-dried

Do not dry clean
Any solvent Except Trichloroethylene

Tumble drying possible (at lowertemperature setting)Petroleum solvent only

Do not tumb le dry

Dry clean – withcaution

Hung and drip-dried in the shade

Dry clean

Short cycle (may be used with A, P or Fsolvent)Laid down to dry

Reduce moisture (may be used with A,P or F solvent)Laid down to dry in the shade

Low heat (may be used with A, P or Fsolvent)
No Steam finish (may be used with A,Por F solvent
Do not dry clean
Additional Instruction
Wringing
Do not wringWringing\Wrung gently
Cannot be wrung