Caring for your clothing
When looking for guidelines on how to care for your clothing, there’s no better reference than the garment’s own care label. Each garment is different and will require a different care process so our advice is to read and follow each instruction carefully to ensure you look after your garments as best you can. In addition to this, we have collated some further tips on how to keep your clothing in the best condition for longer:
Washing the garment before wear not only reduces any risk of pilling or bobbling but will also remove any excess fibres and avoid transfer onto other items.
Closing all zippers and other fastenings, including Velcro straps and buttons helps keep the shape of the garments as well as reducing the risk of any snags in the machine.
Always turn garments inside out before washing, this will help keep the outside of the garment in the best condition, reducing any texture changes or fading.
30-40 degrees is the ideal temperature for most garments to not only help them last longer, but also to save energy and a gentle or synthetic cycle is recommended in most cases.
Unless stated, fabric conditioner is best avoided, including in multi-product capsules. Although it adds softness to garments, it can also raise the fibres resulting in pilling and fading of colours.
Using a non-bio detergent is highly recommended as bio-options may contain chemicals which may cause fading. This is also the case for stain removers and other additional detergents in some garments.
To avoid colour transfer and fading, it is best to wash items of similar colours together.
For best results and, as most school wear items have is composed of fabrics that have easy care technology, there is no need to iron or place them on sources as direct heat such as radiators. This can cause fading and shrinking. Best practice is to shake the item gently and place on a suitable hanger to dry.
Only use a tumble dryer if the care label states this is suitable. Drying when not advised can cause clothes to shrink, fade and increase changes in appearance and texture.
Pilling or bobbling refers to the appearance of fuzzy bobbles on the surface of the garment. There are fabrics more prone to this than others, but they can appear on anything.
These can appear over time due to general wear and friction, however their appearance may be increased if the correct care instructions are not followed.
To prevent this from happening, or increasing any that appear, always follow the guidance set by the manufacturer.
Care Symbols & Meaning
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Cotton Wash (No Bar): A Tub with no bar indicates that standard wash cycles should be selected at the appropriate maximum temperature.
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Synthetics Wash (Single Bar): Tubs with a single bar indicate that a synthetic cycle should be selected at the appropriate maximum temperature.
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Wool & Delicate Wash (Double Bar): Tubs with a double bar indicate a wool or delicate cycle should be selected at the maximum temperature. These are most common in wool and other knitwear.
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Hand Wash Only: Wash by hand only avoiding all machines.
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May be tumble dried.
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May be tumble dried with low heat setting.
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May be tumble dried with high heat setting.
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DO NOT tumble dry.
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A cross through any symbol means “DO NOT”.
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Hot Iron: Iron at maximum temperature up to 200 degrees.
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Warm Iron: Iron maximum temperature 150 degrees.
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Cool Iron: Iron on cool temperature max 110 degrees.
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Do Not Iron
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Iron with no steam.
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Must be professionally dry cleaned. The letters contained within the circle and/or a bar beneath the circle will indicate the solvent and the process to be used by the dry cleaner.
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Must be professionally dry cleaned. The letters contained within the circle and/or a bar beneath the circle will indicate the solvent and the process to be used by the dry cleaner.
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Professional wet clean only.
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DO NOT dry clean.
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Any bleach allowed.
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Only oxygen bleach / non-chlorine bleach allowed.
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DO NOT bleach.