The care label that has become unreadable

Short answer: A worn care label can be replaced by a simple rule of thumb: thirty degrees, no tumble dryer and low heat on the iron. The rule works for almost all soft clothing, even when you can no longer read what the label said.

Why labels become unreadable

The print on a care label is rubbed off by the movement of the machine and by the skin, and after a few years it may be gone. This happens to anything worn and washed often, including a women's bamboo sweatshirt. It is quite normal and no sign that anything is wrong with the item itself.

The safe standard treatment

When the label is gone, you can fall back on a safe standard. Thirty degrees on a gentle cycle, air drying and ironing on the lowest heat inside out harm no fabric. This applies to women's bamboo joggers as well as thinner layers. You may give up a little heat, but you risk no damage.

Washing at thirty degrees

Thirty degrees is enough to wash everyday wear and sweat out of soft clothing, especially with a good detergent. The low temperature protects colours and elastic and causes no shrinking. Choose the gentle cycle so the spin is milder, and do not fill the drum completely, so the clothes can move freely in the water.

Drying without a dryer

The tumble dryer does the most damage in the shortest time, so it is the first thing to skip when you do not know the rules for an item. Hang your clothes up or lay them flat to dry. It takes a little longer, but shape and size are kept, and the elastic stays firm for longer.

How to remember it anyway

Take a photo of the label when the item is new, or note the fibre content on your phone. Then you have the information even when the label has worn off. This is especially useful for items you own several of, such as women's bamboo sweatpants, where it is easy to forget what applied to each.

Finding the details online

If you know the model and brand, you can often find the details online. The product page usually lists the fibre content, and sometimes the care instructions too. It is a handy shortcut if you forgot to take a photo. If the item is no longer sold, a similar model from the same brand can give you a good hint.

What the law says

Fibre content is required by law, while care instructions are voluntary in the EU. That is why almost all clothing has a label with the materials, but not always with care symbols. If the symbols are missing, use the same safe standard as for a worn label: low temperature, no dryer and low heat on the iron.

Frequently asked questions

Can you find the label online?

Often yes, if you know the model and brand. The product page usually lists the fibre content and sometimes the care instructions, so it is worth a search.

Is a label required by law?

Fibre content is required, care instructions are voluntary in the EU. So you may find clothing without care symbols, but rarely clothing with no fibre information.

What if the label itches?

Cut it off close to the seam, but write down the content first. Then you still have the fibre content and care instructions for later washes.