Material Information

Washing Tips and Care Instructions

Have you ever wondered what those funny washing symbols on the care label of your clothing mean?

The symbols like triangles, circles, and more provide you with an overview of the correct textile care. To help you understand what these symbols mean, we provide explanations on this page.

The washing symbols are usually found on a label inside the product, typically in the lower side area, and arranged in the following prescribed order: Washing, Bleaching, Drying, Ironing, and Dry Cleaning.

Why are care symbols so important?

To make your clothing last as long as possible, you should take care of them properly. This involves paying attention to the specific needs of different fabrics and prints. Special caution is needed, especially for delicate and sensitive materials.

Only by following the manufacturer's instructions longevity of your clothing can be ensured.

Meaning of Laundry Symbols

Washing

This symbol indicates whether domestic washing is possible or not and applies to both hand and machine washing. The numbers in the wash tub correspond to the maximum wash temperatures in degrees Celsius that must not be exceeded.

  • 95°C Boil Wash
  • For laundry made of materials like cotton or linen, white, colorfast, dyed, or printed. Fill the drum completely. Select the appropriate wash program.

  • 60°C Colored Laundry
  • For non-colorfast colored laundry like cotton, modal, polyester, and blended fabrics. Select the appropriate wash program.

  • 40°C Colored Laundry
  • For dark-colored items made of materials like cotton, polyester, blends, etc. Select the appropriate wash program.

  • Hand Wash
  • Water temperature max. 40°C depending on the item. Dissolve mild or wool detergent in plenty of water. Gently place the textiles in the solution and move them carefully. Do not rub, wring, or stretch. Rinse the textiles thoroughly, press them gently, and shape them. Treat colored and delicate items quickly and avoid letting them stay wet.

Gentle Washing

A bar below the wash tub requires gentle treatment with reduced load and low spin speed. Double bars indicate very gentle treatment with reduced mechanical action (e.g., wool wash).

  • 60°C Easy Care
  • For "easy-care" items. Reduce the load (fill the drum at most half full). Select the appropriate wash program. Do not spin or only spin briefly due to risk of creasing.

  • 40°C Easy Care
  • For "easy-care" items made of materials like modal, viscose, or synthetic fibers (polyacrylic, polyester, and polyamide). Reduce the load (fill the drum at most half full). Select the appropriate wash program. Do not spin or only spin briefly due to risk of creasing.

Ironing

The dots indicate the temperature ranges of irons (temperature setting of regular, steam, travel irons, and ironing machines). Certain raw materials are also associated with these setting ranges in use.

  • Hot Iron
  • Maximum iron soleplate temperature of 200°C. Equivalent to the ironing temperature setting "Cotton/Linen." Treat with steam and dampen if necessary. Iron with a press cloth or on the reverse side for shiny or sensitive fabrics. Steam iron can be used.

  • Medium Hot Iron
  • Maximum iron soleplate temperature of 150°C. Equivalent to the ironing temperature setting "Wool/Silk/Polyester/Viscose." Iron with a damp press cloth. Steam iron can be used. Avoid strong pressure. Do not distort.

  • Do Not Iron Hot
  • Maximum iron soleplate temperature of 110°C. Equivalent to the ironing temperature setting "Polyacrylic/Polyamide (Nylon)/Acetate." Iron with a dry press cloth if necessary or on the reverse side. Do not iron with steam. Do not distort.

  • Do Not Iron
  • Expect irreversible changes.

Drying

The square is the symbol for the drying process. Two types of drying are distinguished.
  • Tumble Drying: The circle in the square indicates tumble drying. The dots inside the depicted drying drum indicate the drying process. Certain items (e.g., cotton weaves due to shrinking, wool due to felting, silk and polyacrylic items due to heat damage, and curtains due to the risk of creasing) should preferably not be tumble dried.
  • Natural Drying: Symbols with horizontal or vertical lines in the square indicate natural drying. A diagonal line indicates that the item must not be exposed to direct sunlight.

  • Normal Drying
  • Tumble dry with normal load and temperature (80°C) without restrictions.

  • Gentle Drying
  • Be cautious when tumble drying. Choose a gentle treatment with reduced load, temperature (60°C), and drying duration.

  • Very Gentle Drying
  • Be very cautious when tumble drying. Choose a very gentle treatment with reduced load, temperature (60°C), and drying duration.

Bleaching

  • The triangle provides an indication of whether the item can be bleached or not. Bleaching is a process carried out in an aqueous medium before, during, or after washing to improve dirt and stain removal and/or increase whiteness.
  • Bleaching agents used include active chlorine (e.g., Javelle water) or chlorine-free active oxygen-releasing products (contained in full/universal detergents).

  • All Types of Bleach
  • Chlorine or oxygen bleach is allowed.

  • Do Not Bleach
  • Bleaching is not possible. Use only bleach-free detergents (e.g., color detergents). Also, be cautious with stain removers. Test in an inconspicuous area if unsure.

Professional Textile Care

The symbol indicates whether professional textile care is possible or not. Organic solvents as well as specific aqueous methods are considered for professional textile care. Therefore, care labeling distinguishes between dry cleaning (formerly known as chemical cleaning) and wet cleaning.
  • Dry Cleaning: The letters in the circle are primarily intended for professional textile cleaners. They mainly indicate the suitable solvent. The bar below the circle indicates that mechanical stress, moisture addition, bath, and/or drying temperature must be reduced during cleaning.
  • Wet Cleaning: The symbol for wet cleaning is used for items that can be treated with wet cleaning methods involving water. The requirements for machine equipment, auxiliary materials used, and finishing methods cannot be achieved with household washing machines.

  • Treatment in Cleaning Machine with the following solvents: Perchloroethylene, hydrocarbons
  • Normal cleaning process without restrictions. Commercial stain removers based on solvents can be used with restrictions. It's recommended to perform a test in an inconspicuous area first.

  • Treatment in Cleaning Machine with the following solvents: Hydrocarbons
  • Cleaning process without restrictions. Commercial stain removers based on solvents must not be used.

  • Gentle Treatment in Cleaning Machine with the following solvents: Hydrocarbons
  • Cleaning process with limitations on moisture addition and/or mechanical stress and/or temperature. Commercial stain removers based on solvents must not be used.

  • Do Not Dry Clean
  • No dry cleaning possible. Do not treat with solvents. Do not use solvent-based stain removers.

Proper Washing Techniques


Loading the Washing Machine Correctly

Once you've checked the care and washing symbols, you can load the washing machine. Ensure that the machine isn't overloaded, as this could strain both the textiles and the machine itself. Additionally, this could prevent the detergent from dissolving properly


Also, take the following precautions before washing:
  • Close all fasteners, buttons, zippers, etc.
  • Empty pockets.
  • Turn garments inside out.
  • Sort by colors (separate dark, white, and colored laundry).
  • Use a laundry bag for delicate items if necessary.

Eco-Friendly Laundry


Simple tips for eco-friendly washing:

  1. Adjust the amount of detergent based on dirt and water hardness.
  2. Wash at lower temperatures depending on the degree of dirtiness.
  3. Avoid pre-washing.
  4. Reduce or eliminate fabric softener.
  5. Let laundry air dry in sunlight.
  6. Choose environmentally friendly detergent.
  7. Wash less frequently when possible.
  8. Use alternatives to laundry powder/liquid.

How to Care for Different Materials

Cotton

Characteristics

  • Fine & soft fibers = skin-friendly
  • Durable
  • Soft and fine touch
  • Good moisture absorption
  • Good printability
Washing
Drying
Cotton always shrinks a little after the first 2 or 3 washes. If you want to be on the safe side, continue to use the good old rotary dryer for your favorite shirts.
Bleaching
Ironing
Wet Ironing
Professional Textile care

Caution!
If there are prints on the textiles, please wash at a maximum of 40°C. Otherwise, the print could fade. Additionally, printed textiles must never be dry cleaned.

Wool: Animal Fiber

Characteristics

  • Absorbs moisture
  • High strength
  • Almost wrinkle-free
  • Thermal insulation
  • Partially water repellent after silicone treatment
Washing
Felt-free finished wool textiles are washable in the wool wash cycle. Sensitive delicate woolen textiles by hand or by professional textile care
Drying
Woven wool textiles hanging, Machine dry lying. Textiles with the "Total Easy Care" logo can be dried in the dried in the tumble dryer.
Bleaching
Ironing
Professional Textile Care

Caution!
If there are prints on the textiles, please wash at a maximum of 40°C. Otherwise, the print could fade. Additionally, printed textiles must never be dry cleaned.

Viscose: Natural Chemical Fiber

Characteristics

  • Good moisture absorption
  • Fine and soft fibers = skin-friendly
  • Well printable, vibrant colors
  • Viscose doesn't fade after washing, high color brilliance
  • Silky shine
Washing
Bleaching
Drying
Ironing
Professional Textile Care

Caution!
If there are prints on the textiles, please wash at a maximum of 40°C. Otherwise, the print could fade. Additionally, printed textiles must never be dry cleaned.

Modal: Natural Chemical Fiber

Characteristics

  • Good moisture absorption
  • Fine and soft fibers = skin-friendly
  • Well printable, vibrant colors
  • Higher strength and more tear-resistant than viscose
  • Silky shine
Washing
Bleaching
Drying
Ironing
Professional Textile Care

Caution!
If there are prints on the textiles, please wash at a maximum of 40°C. Otherwise, the print could fade. Additionally, printed textiles must never be dry cleaned.

Polyester: Synthetic Chemical Fiber

Characteristics

  • Good moisture transport
  • Fine and soft fibers = skin-friendly
  • High tear and abrasion resistance
  • High elasticity and low wrinkling
  • High lightfastness
Washing
Bleaching
Drying
Ironing
Professional Textile Care

Caution!
If there are prints on the textiles, please wash at a maximum of 40°C. Otherwise, the print could fade. Additionally, printed textiles must never be dry cleaned.

Polyamide: Synthetic Chemical Fiber

Characteristics

  • Fine and soft fibers = skin-friendly
  • Textured polyamides provide warmth
  • High tear and abrasion resistance
  • High elasticity and low wrinkling
  • Sensitive to heat
Washing
Bleaching
Drying
Ironing
Professional Textile Care

Caution!
If there are prints on the textiles, please wash at a maximum of 40°C. Otherwise, the print could fade. Additionally, printed textiles must never be dry cleaned.

Summary

  • If there are prints on the textiles, please wash at a maximum of 40°C. Otherwise, the print could fade.
  • Always pay attention to the care instructions on the label. Alternatively, you can check the product description directly in our online shop.
  • Never wash dark or colored textiles together with light ones.
  • Use full detergent only for light textiles. The bleach in full detergents gradually fades black and colored textiles.
  • Color detergent is suitable for colored textiles.
  • Use wool detergent for wool and silk items.
  • Never store leather items near heat sources, such as direct sunlight or heaters. Heat removes moisture from leather, causing it to become brittle, rough, or cracked. Specialty leather care products are available in stores, where you can seek advice.