The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) standard (CAN/CGSB-86.1-2003), developed in 2003, provides industry symbols to help consumers clean and launder clothing safely. The revised standard (CAN/CGSB-86.1-2003) reflects the labelling practices being discussed by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and is also harmonized with the American and international standard on care labelling. Five basic symbols identify care treatments for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. The symbols are in black and white, replacing the "traffic-light" colours of green, amber and red of the standard previous to 2003. The temperature of a treatment appears either in degrees Celsius or is defined by a series of dots (a hand iron symbol with one dot means the garment can be safely ironed at a temperature of 110 C). And bars help illustrate the severity of the treatment (one bar below a wash tub means the garment should be machine washed using a mild treatment). Other symbols define techniques for professional cleaning, hand washing, and natural drying dry flat, line dry, drip dry, dry in the shade. Index of basic symbols Washing s Wash in commercial machine in water not exceeding 95 C, at normal setting. Wash in commercial machine in water not exceeding 95 C, at permanent press setting. Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 70 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 60 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 60 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 50 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 50 C,
Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 50 C, at delicate/gentle setting. Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 40 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 40 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 40 C, at delicate/gentle setting. Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 30 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 30 C, Wash in domestic or commercial machine in water not exceeding 30 C, at delicate/gentle setting. Wash gently by hand in water not exceeding 40 C. Wash gently by hand in water not exceeding 30 C. Wash in domestic or commercial machine at any temperature, at normal setting. Do not wash. page 2 / 6
Bleaching s Use any bleach when needed. Use only non-chlorine bleach when needed. Do not bleach. Drying s Tumble dry at high heat (not exceeding 75 C) Tumble dry at medium heat (not exceeding 65 C) Tumble dry at medium heat (not exceeding 65 C) at permanent press setting. Tumble dry at low heat (not exceeding 55 C) Tumble dry at a low heat (not exceeding 55 C) at delicate cycle. Tumble dry any heat. Tumble dry no heat/air dry. Do not tumble dry. page 3 / 6
After extraction of excess water, line dry/hang to dry. Hang up the soaking wet article to "drip" dry. After extraction of excess water, dry the article on a suitable flat surface. Dry in the shade (symbol added to line dry, drip dry, or dry flat). Do not dry. To be used with "Do not wash" symbol. Ironing/Pressing s Iron with or without steam by hand, or press on commercial equipment, at a high temperature (not exceeding 200 C). Recommended temperature for cotton and linen textiles. Iron with or without steam by hand, or press on commercial equipment, at a medium temperature (not exceeding 150 C). Recommended temperature for polyester, rayon, silk, triacetate and wool textiles. Iron with or without steam by hand, or press on commercial equipment, at a low temperature (not exceeding 110 C). Recommended temperature for acetate, acrylic, modacrylic, nylon, polypropylene and spandex textiles. Do not steam. Do not iron or press. page 4 / 6
Professional Textile Care s Descripton Dry-clean, normal cycle. Any solvent except trichloroethylene. Dry-clean, normal cycle. Petroleum solvent only. Do not dry-clean. Use of Dots For Defining Temperature of Water for Washing Definition 95 C Near boil 70 C Extremely hot 60 C Very hot 50 C Hot 40 C Warm 30 C Cool page 5 / 6
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Apparel and Textile Care Supplementary Care Do not wring Wet-clean Do not wet-clean. Contacts For This Topic Canadian General Standards Board (CGSD) Place du Portage III, 6B1 11 Laurier Street Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1G6 Telephone: 819-956-0425 Toll Free: 1-800-665-2472 Website: www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/ page 6 / 6