It’s been a while.

Recently I have been in charge of global operations, and I’ve been asked about care labels more and more often.

The pictograms on care labels are almost universal worldwide, but I had to work a bit to find the Chinese and English translations for the written instructions. So today, I would like to share a compiled English-Chinese comparison table for care labels.

Washing

Symbol	Washing	Washing	Washing symbols
	Machine wash at 40°C, normal agitation	Machine wash / Warm	Machine wash at 40°C, normal agitation
	Machine wash at 40°C, mild agitation	Machine wash / Warm / Permanent press	Machine wash at 40°C, mild agitation
	Machine wash at 40°C, gentle agitation	Machine wash / Warm / Gentle or delicate	Wash and spin with low intensity at 40°C
	Machine wash at 30°C, normal agitation	Machine wash / Cold	Machine wash at 30°C, normal agitation
	Machine wash at 30°C, mild agitation	Machine wash / Cold / Permanent press	Machine wash at 30°C, mild agitation
	Machine wash at 30°C, gentle agitation	Machine wash / Cold / Gentle or delicate	Wash and spin with low intensity at 30°C
	Hand wash with gentle agitation at 40°C d)	Hand wash / Cold	Hand wash only; do not use a washing machine
	Do not machine wash	Do not wash	Do not wash in water

Bleaching

Symbol	Bleaching	Bleaching	Bleaching symbols
	Can be bleached with oxygen bleach, but cannot be bleached with chlorine bleach.	Only non-chlorine bleach	Only chlorine bleach may be used
	Can be bleached with chlorine and oxygen bleach.	All bleach types ok	Any bleach may be used
	Can only be bleached with chlorine and oxygen bleach.	Chlorine bleach	Only any bleach may be used
	Do not bleach.	Do not bleach	Do not use chlorine bleach

Tumble drying

Symbol	Tumble drying	Tumble drying	Tumble dry symbols
	- Tumble drying is allowed after washing. High-temperature drying: maximum exhaust temperature up to 80°C	Tumble dry / Normal / Midium heat	Can be tumble dried on a normal cycle
	Tumble drying is allowed after washing.  Low-temperature drying: maximum exhaust temperature up to 60°C	Tumble dry / Normal / Low heat	Tumble dry at a low temperature setting
	Tumble drying after washing is not allowed.	Do not tumble dry	Do not place in a tumble dryer for processing

Natural drying

Symbol	Natural drying	Natural drying	Drying symbols
	Line dry	Hang damp garment from line or bar, in or outdoors	Hang to dry
	Line dry in the shade	Usually added to line or drip dry / Dry away from direct sunlight	Hang to dry in the shade
	Drip dry	Don't spin dry; hang drip dry	Hang to drip dry
	Drip dry in the shade	Don't spin dry; hang drip dry in shade	Hang to drip dry in the shade
	Flat dry	Lay out horizontally for drying	Flat dry
	Flat dry in the shade	Lay out horizontally for drying / Dry away from direct sunlight	Flat dry in the shade
	Drip dry flat	Don't spin dry; dry horizontally	Flat drip dry
	Drip dry flat in the shade	Don't spin dry; dry horizontally in shade	Flat drip dry in the shade

Ironing

Symbol	Ironing	Ironing	Ironing symbols
	Ironing is allowed up to a soleplate temperature of 200°C.	Iron / High	Ironing temperature must not exceed 200°C
	Ironing is allowed up to a soleplate temperature of 150°C.	Iron / Midium	Ironing temperature must not exceed 150°C
	Ironing is allowed without steam up to a soleplate temperature of 110°C.	Iron / Low	Ironing temperature must not exceed 110°C
	Do not iron.	Do not iron	Do not iron

Dry cleaning

Symbol	Dry cleaning	Dry cleaning	Dry cleaning symbols
	- Dry cleaning with perchloroethylene and the solvent specified under symbol F is allowed.  Normal process	Dry clean / Any solvent except trichloroethylene	Professional dry cleaning using perchloroethylene and all solvents represented by symbol F. Normal dry cleaning.
	Dry cleaning with perchloroethylene and the solvent specified under symbol F is allowed.  Gentle process	All gentle cleaning types ok	Professional dry cleaning using perchloroethylene and all solvents represented by symbol F. Gentle dry cleaning.
	Dry cleaning with petroleum solvent (distillation temperature 150°C to 210°C, flash point 38°C or higher) is allowed.  Normal process	Dry clean / Petroleum solvent only	Professional dry cleaning using hydrocarbon solvent. Normal dry cleaning.
	Dry cleaning with petroleum solvent (distillation temperature 150°C to 210°C, flash point 38°C or higher) is allowed.  Gentle process	Dry clean / Petroleum solvent only / Very gentle	Professional dry cleaning using hydrocarbon solvent. Gentle dry cleaning.
	Do not dry clean.	Do not dryclean	Do not dry clean

Wet cleaning

Symbol	Wet cleaning	Wet cleaning	Wet cleaning symbols
	- Wet cleaning is allowed.  Normal process	Wet cleaning / Normal process	Professional wet cleaning, normal wet cleaning
	Wet cleaning is allowed.  Gentle process	Wet cleaning / Mild process	Professional wet cleaning, mild wet cleaning
	Wet cleaning is allowed.  Very gentle process	Very mild wet clean	Professional wet cleaning, very mild wet cleaning
	Wet cleaning is not allowed.	Do not wet cleaning	Do not wet clean