ASTM D3136-00

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Designation:D3136–00
Standard Terminology Relating to
Care Labeling for Apparel, Textile, Home Furnishing, and
Leather Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3136; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope on package covers, or in some temporary form of communi-
cation such as a sticker or hangtag. The terms used should be
1.1 This terminology provides a uniform language for the
consistent with those used on care labels.
disclosure of care instructions on labels that are to be attached
3.4 The word “only” in any term limits that portion of the
to apparel, textile, home furnishing, and leather products.
procedure to the stated instruction.
1.2 In the United States, apparel care labels must be
3.5 A care instruction for a product is applicable to all
attached permanently except when exempted by Federal Trade
components of the product including nonremovable linings,
Commission regulation (see section 2.2).
trim, and other details. Any exceptions should be a part of the
1.3 These definitions and descriptions employ common
labeled instruction. An intentionally removable component,
meanings used not only by textile technologists but by con-
such as a zip-out liner, is expected to be separately labeled
sumers.
whenitmustbecaredfordifferentlyfromthegarmentitself,or
1.4 These instructions may apply to some accessory prod-
when there could be serious doubt about what procedure to use
ucts.
(See Federal Trade Commission Trade Regulation Rule).
2. Referenced Documents
3.6 Laundering temperatures are maximum and vary widely
in national and international practice (SeeTable 2). Consumers
2.1 ASTM Standards:
may obtain water temperatures in their washing machines
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
which are frequently below and sometimes higher than the
2.2 Other Standard:
stated maximum temperature. The actual water temperature
Federal Trade Commission Ammendment to Trade Regula-
obtained when using the washing machine settings of hot,
tion Rule Concerning Care Labeling of Textile Wearing
warm,andcoldvaryinNorthAmericabyregion,season,water
Apparel, and Certain Piece Goods Federal Register, Vol.
heater settings (including solar), and regulations governing
48, No. 99, May 20, 1983
factory-set mixes. In general, North American washing ma-
2.3 AATCC Standard:
chines do not have internal heaters.
AATCC Technical Manual 1985 Standardization of Home
Laundry Test Conditions in AATCC Test Methods
4. Terminology
3. Significance and Use 4.1 Definitions:
3.1 The standardized terminology should be used on the
bleach, n—in care of textiles, a product for brightening and
label in a logical refurbishing sequence, in order to disclose
aiding the removal of soils and stains from textile materials
maximum information in a small label space and to help the
by oxidation that is inclusive of both chlorine and non-
consumer understand recommended practices.
chlorine products
3.2 Preliminary instructions may be necessary for proper
care instructions, n—in textiles, a series of directions that
careofcertainproducts(SeeTable1,PreliminaryInstructions).
describes practices which should refurbish a product without
3.3 The wording on a care label should be brief. Manufac-
adverse effects and warn against any part of the directions
turers are encouraged to place more detailed explanations in or
which one could reasonably be expected to use that may
harm the item.
care label, n—in textiles, a label or other affixed instructions
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of Committee D-13 on Textiles and
that report how a product should be refurbished.
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.62 on Care Labeling.
Current edition approved March 10, 2000. Published July 2000. Originally
DISCUSSION—The Federal Trade Commission, in Rule 16 CFR 423,
published as D 3136 – 72. Last previous edition D 3136 – 99.
requires care instructions on most apparel and certain other textile
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.01.
items. In relation to these products, the FTC definition states: “Care
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, North Capital and H. Streets
NW, Washington, DC 20401. Label means a permanent label or tag, containing regular care infor-
Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, P.O.
mation and instructions, that is attached or affixed in some manner that
Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D3136
A
TABLE 2 Laundering Water Temperatures In Common Use
B C
Term ASTM ISO FTC AATCC Canada
... 95°C (200°F)
... 70°C (160°F)
Very Hot 60°C (140°F) 60°C (140°F)
Hot 50°C (120°F) 66°C (150°F) 49°C (120°F) 70°C (160°F)
Warm 40°C (105°F) 32° to 43°C 41°C (105°F) 50°C (120°F)
(90° to 110°F)
Lukewarm 40°C (105°F)
Cool 30°C (85°F)
Cold 30°C (85°F) 29°C (85°F) 27°C (80°F)
Very Cold 16°C (60°F)
A
The laundering temperatures in Table 2 are maximum.
B
The ISO standard, “ISO 3758 textiles-Care labeling code using symbols,” does not associate the terms hot, warm, and cold with water temperatures for laundering.
The ISO washing symbols provide maximum water temperature options of 95°C, 70°C, 60°C, 50°C, 40°C, and 30°C in Celsius only. The Guide D 5489 requires asa
minimum the laundering water temperatures reported within the washtub symbol either in degree Celsius or by using a dot system. The water temperature may also be
reported in degrees Fehrenheit.
C
The AATCC temperatures are test temperatures for home laundering, whereas the FTC and Canada temperatures are meant to reflect the upper end of temperatures
in actual use, including temperatures used in commercial laundering.
will not become separated from the product and will remain legible
petroleum solvent or perchloroethylene.
during the useful life of the product.”
DISCUSSION—The process may include moisture addition to solvent
care procedure, n—in textiles, one or more refurbishing up to 75% relative humidity, a detergent addition hot tumble drying up
to 70°C (160°F) and restoration by steam or steam air finishing.
methods to which products may be subjected for soil and
stainremovalandaestheticimprovementsuchasappearance
hand washing, n—the most gentle form of home laundering
restoration or hand.
using hand manipulation without the use of a machine or
DISCUSSION—The process employs appropriate equipment, materials
device such as a scrubbing board.
and processes, and may include but need not be limited to the
home laundering, n—a process by which textile products or
following: water or drycleaning solvent, detergent or soap, foam,
partsthereofmaybewashed,bleached,dried,andpressedby
absorption (powder) type compounds, bleach, agitation, drying, press-
any customary method designed for use in a residence, or
ing or ironing.
non-professional use. (See also professional care).
chlorine bleach, n—ableachthatreleasesthehypochloriteion
ironing, n—a method of pressing using a heated hand iron,
in solution, for example, sodium hypochlorite.
sometimes together with moisture or steam, and a gliding
cleaning agent, n—a chemical compound or formulation of
motion.
several compounds which loosens, disperses, dissolves, or
laundering, n—in textile product care, a process intended to
emulsifies soil to facilitate removal by mechanical action.
remove soil or stains by treatment (washing) with an
commercial laundering, n—a process by which textile prod-
aqueous detergent solution (and possibly bleach) and nor-
ucts or specimens may be washed, bleached, rinsed, dried,
mally including subsequent rinsing, extracting, and drying.
and pressed typically at higher temperatures, higher pH, and
non-chlorine bleach, n—a bleach that does not release the
longer times than used for home laundering.
hypochlorite ion in solution, for example, sodium perborate,
consumer care, n—of consumer textile products, cleaning and
sodium percarbonate.
maintenance procedures as customarily undertaken by the
permanentcarelabel, n—asappliedtotextileproducts,acare
ultimate user.
label that remains legible and attached to a textile product
consumertextileproduct, n—atextileitemintendedtosatisfy
throughout its useful life.
human wants and needs.
pressing, n—in the care of textiles,aprocessofsmoothingand
DISCUSSION—Consumer textile products include such products as shapingbyheatandpressure,withorwithoutthepresenceof
apparel, curtains, draperies, piece goods, sheets, slipcovers, table
steam.
linens, towels, trims, yarns, zippers, and findings. The component parts
DISCUSSION—Pressing may be done with a hand iron or with a utility
ofconsumertextileproductsmayincludesuchothermaterialsassuede,
press such as used by commercial laundries and drycleaners.
leather and fur.
detergent, n—in textile product care, a cleaning agent con- professional care, n—for textile products, cleaning and main-
taining one or more surfactants as the active ingredient(s). tenance procedures requiring the services of a person spe-
cially trained or skilled in their use.
DISCUSSION—In popular usage, washing and cleaning agents with a
refurbish, n—as applied to textile products, to brighten or
composition other than soap that clean by much the same mechanism
freshen up and restore to wearability or use by cleaning such
as does soap. The term detergent is used to describe both the basic
surface active agents and finished products. The finished product may as drycleaning, laundering, or steam cleaning.
contain additional ingredients such as builders, antiredeposition agents,
soap, n—a cleaning agent usually consisting of sodium or
corrosion inhibitors, suds control agents, fluorescent whitening agents,
potassium salts of fatty acids.
etc.
solvent relative humidity, n—the humidity of air over a
drycleaning, n—in the care of textiles, the cleaning of con- drycleaning bath and in equilibrium with the solvent and its
sumer textile products with organic solvents such as a small amount of water.
D3136
DISCUSSION—Every drycleaning solvent bath co
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