There Are 41 Laundry Care Symbols | How to Read the Symbols Aligned with International Standards

The small tag inside your clothes. Did you know that the symbols printed there changed significantly in 2016? Based on materials from the Consumer Affairs Agency and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, we sort out how to read today’s laundry care labels.

In December 2016, they were aligned with international standards

Care labels for textile products such as clothing are displayed under the Household Goods Quality Labeling Act. From December 1, 2016 (Heisei 28), the symbols changed from Japan’s own JIS L 0217 to JIS L 0001, which uses the same symbols as the international standard ISO 3758. The number of symbols increased from 22 to 41, making it possible to provide more detailed information. With labels now aligned in Japan and overseas, it has also become easier to understand how to care for clothes bought abroad.

5 Basic Symbols

• Washtub ──How to wash at home
• Triangle ──Whether bleaching is allowed
• Square ──How to dry (tumble drying or natural drying)
• Iron ──Ironing temperature
• Circle ──Type of professional cleaning

Basics of Additional Symbols
・The more dots (・), the higher the temperature that may be used
・An underline (＿) means gentle, and two lines mean even gentler
・An X mark means that the treatment should not be done

The Closest Information for Wearing Clothes Longer

Care labels are the closest information we have for wearing a garment longer. The right care method depends on the material. For animal fibers such as wool and silk, see The Scale of Wool, Cashmere, and Silk and for household clothing expenses, see Clothing Expenses Are 10,063 Yen per Month introduced here.

References: Consumer Affairs Agency; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Japanese Industrial Standards JIS L 0001

—The Value Village Editorial Team