62 Ever wondered what the little symbols on care labels mean? Here’s a helpful guide on all you need to know about taking care of your Kustom Kit garments which can lead to a longer life for your clothes. So how can you make your clothes last longer without being ruined in the laundry? We’ve created a guide to help you identify the care symbols and understand what they mean including some conscious tips on how you can preserve the look of your garment for even longer whilst reducing the impact on the environment. WASHING SYMBOL washing symbol wash at or below 30o 30 wash at or below 40o 40 wash at or below 50o 50 wash at or below 60o 60 wash at or below 30o synthetic cycle 30 wash at or below 40o synthetic cycle 40 wash at or below 50o synthetic cycle 50 wash at or below 60o synthetic cycle 60 do not wash The washing symbol is generally illustrated as a tub filled with water. If the garment is machine washable, it simply tells you the recommended washing temperature and the correct washing cycle. When you see one line drawn underneath the tub, it means that your garment should be washed on a synthetic cycle which offers a medium agitation wash along with a low-speed spin cycle that’s best for your synthetic fibres. It’s essential to wash at the correct temperature as this will protect the fabric and keep your clothes looking newer for longer along with the following tips: • Close all zips, undo buttons, and flatten out collars and cuffs. • Check pockets and linings or loose or sharp objects. • Don’t overload the washing machine. • Turn your garments inside out to avoid abrasion from other garments. • Check garments regularly for marks or stains and remove as soon as possible (see stain removal section for some helpful advice). Conscious tip: Even though the labels illustrate the safe washing temperature for your garment, you can wash at a lower temperature to put less stress on the material of your garment as well as helping the environment. Most modern detergents perform just as well on a lower temperature. BLEACH SYMBOL bleach allowed do not bleach use non-chlorine bleach Before attempting to improve your whites, please consult the care label because some garments might not be able to handle bleach agents. The bleach symbol is illustrated by a triangle. If you see an empty triangle then bleach is allowed, when necessary. Diagonal lines refer to the use of non-chlorine bleach and the crossed out triangle indicates that you shouldn’t use bleach at all. Conscious tip: Chlorine based bleach is great at removing stains, but it’s also heavy on the environment. There are friendlier alternatives that can be used to whiten and brighten clothes. Natural solutions such as baking soda, white vinegar, or even lemons can help remove stains. Always test a removal method on a hidden patch of your garment. DRYING SYMBOL The above symbols will help you establish the correct drying method. Essentially, the more dots the higher the permitted temperature. The crossed out drying symbol simply means avoid tumble drying and their damaging effects on certain materials. When tumble drying is not advised see the following recommendations: • When line drying shirts or jackets, always hang from the tail. • Reshape whilst damp, by gathering the hem in one hand, holding the shoulders in the other and pulling back into shape. • When line drying knitted garments, always fold over the line and position pegs at the underarm. • When line drying trousers or skirts, always hang from the waist. • Do not leave clothes exposed to the sun after they have dried. • Avoid drying garments on radiators or in intense heat as this could distort the shape. • Drying garments by hanging on coat hangers minimises creasing and speeds up the drying time. Conscious tip: Tumble dryers require a lot of energy, cause stress on the fibres and can distort the shape of your garment. Air drying is much more sustainable and will prolong your wardrobe. drying symbol tumble dry on low heat tumble dry on high heat tumble dry on medium heat do not tumble dry IRON SYMBOL iron symbol iron up to 110o low temp iron up to 150o warm temp iron up to 200o high temp do not iron Irreparable damage can easily happen if the recommended heat setting is not adhered to, especially for delicate fabrics. The ironing symbol is illustrated as an iron with dots which indicates the temperature setting. Again the more dots the higher the temperature. • Do not iron directly onto a printed garment, always iron on the reverse. • When ironing dark garments avoid ‘iron shine’ by either pressing on the inside of the fabric or through a damp cloth. Conscious tip: As ironing can cause stress to your garments, a good alternative is to simply hang your clothes in the bathroom while you’re having a hot shower as the steam should smooth out the wrinkles. Hanging your garments to air dry will also minimise and reduce creases and wrinkles. DRY CLEAN SYMBOLS A circle indicates if your garment is suitable for dry cleaning, while the letters instruct on the required solvent to use. Conscious tip: Dry cleaning is a highly chemical intense process. A simple alternative is to hand wash delicate fabrics using mild soap and lukewarm water. dry clean only any solvent any solvent except trichlorothylene petroleum solvent only do not dry clean Shrinkage: The major contributing factors to shrinkage are heat and excessive agitation. Therefore, do not wash at too high temperatures. Always wash on the most appropriate cycle and follow the care instructions. Pilling & Bobbling: Abrasion and lack of regular washing cause fibre balls to appear on the surface of the fabric. Remove carefully by brushing or picking off. Fading in the Sunlight: Sunlight can be very harmful to fabrics and the effects are irreversible. Reduce exposure to direct sunlight wherever possible. Colour Staining: Always wash similar colours together. Never leave damp garments together for any length of time COMMON WASH PROBLEMS GARMENT CARE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU4NTg2