Decoding the Care Labels on Your Clothes

In the collar or along the side of every garment hides a small label that we rarely look at. Yet it holds the manufacturer's recommendations, and following them can extend the life of your clothes by several years.

The symbols use simple shapes: a wash tub for washing, a triangle for bleaching, a square for drying, an iron for ironing and a circle for professional cleaning. A crossed-out symbol means the operation is not recommended.

What to remember

• An empty circle indicates professional cleaning is recommended
• A cross over the wash tub means do not wash at home
• Dots or numbers give the temperature not to be exceeded
• A missing or faded label calls for extra caution

Some fabrics are particularly delicate: silk, fine wool, velvet, structured garments like blazers or coats. A poorly chosen home wash can make them shrink, lose their shape or dull their colors.

If in doubt, bring the garment to us. We examine the fabric, seams, buttons and trims before choosing the right method. And if a stain worries you, bring it in quickly: the sooner it is treated, the better its chances of coming out.