LCNi’s Definitive Guide to Care Labelling

17 August 2021



There are well over one hundred care label symbols in use and in circulation throughout the world, from a wide variety of national standards, and any of these could turn up in an item, either retailed locally or brought in by a tourist, write Roger Cawood and Richard Neale


For this pull-out we have selected a range of key symbols from the agreed International Standard for Textile Care Labelling, ISO 3758, to which all of the major nations (that make textile items and/or have retailers that sell textile goods) have signed up. Of course, agreeing to the international standard does not mean that they have all abandoned their national standards, although many have now harmonized these. Others still perpetuate two systems and allow exports worldwide with a bewildering array of signs and symbols, to the puzzlement of many, not least the cleaning fraternity in the country of destination. The advice given in this LCNi pull-out is intended to be our definitive guide for professional cleaners, for application worldwide. It refers to some of the most important and agreed international standard symbols which are widely used, with particular reference to those with hidden meanings which can greatly assist the cleaner. We hope you will find this useful.



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