Care of textiles and labelling: international textile care symbols (washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional cleaning) and mandatory labelling requirements (fibre content, nightwear flammability, furniture fire safety), and how correct care extends a product's life.

What this key area is asking

A textile product is only as good as the care it receives, and the label is how the maker tells the consumer how to look after it - and gives the information the law requires. SQA Higher expects you to know the international care symbols, the mandatory labelling requirements, and how correct care extends a product's life (a sustainability point). Marks come from reading the symbols correctly and explaining why a label's information matters.

The international care symbols

• Washtub (washing). Shows the maximum temperature or a hand for hand wash; a bar under it means a gentle cycle; a cross means do not wash.
• Triangle (bleaching). Plain triangle = bleach may be used; crossed = do not bleach.
• Square (drying). A circle inside the square = tumble dry (dots for heat); lines indicate line drying or drying flat; a cross means do not tumble dry.
• Iron. Dots show the temperature (one dot cool, three dots hot); a cross means do not iron.
• Circle (professional cleaning). A letter inside shows the dry-cleaning solvent/method; a cross means do not dry clean.

Mandatory labelling requirements

Some label information is required by law for consumer safety and information:

• Fibre content. The label must state the percentage of each fibre (for example "80% cotton, 20% polyester"), so consumers know what the item is made of and how to care for it.
• Nightwear flammability. Nightwear, especially children's, must carry a label about its flammability, either confirming it meets a low-flammability standard or warning to keep away from fire.
• Furniture fire safety. Upholstered furniture must carry fire-safety labels showing it meets fire-resistance regulations.

Other common (and often required or expected) information includes size, country of origin, brand and price.

How correct care extends product life

Following the care symbols prevents damage: washing wool too hot makes it shrink and felt, hot washing can make colours run or shrink cotton, and tumble drying delicate fabrics can ruin them. Correct care keeps an item the right size, shape and colour, so it lasts longer, looks better and does not need replacing as soon. This saves the consumer money and, because the item is used for longer, reduces waste - a direct link to sustainability.

Examples in context

Example 1. Children's pyjamas label. Children's pyjamas carry a flammability label stating whether they meet the low-flammability standard or warning to keep away from fire, plus fibre content and care symbols. The safety label is a legal requirement for childrenswear, showing how labelling protects the consumer, not just informs them.

Example 2. A sofa's fire-safety label. An upholstered sofa carries a fire-safety label confirming the foam and covers meet fire-resistance regulations. This mandatory furniture label exists because soft furnishings are a serious fire risk in the home, illustrating labelling driven by safety law.

Try this

Q1. State what the washtub symbol and the iron symbol tell the consumer. [2 marks]

• Cue. The washtub gives washing instructions (the maximum temperature, or a hand for hand wash, or a cross for do not wash); the iron gives the ironing temperature (dots: more dots means hotter, a cross means do not iron).

Q2. Explain why fibre content must appear on a textile label. [2 marks]

• Cue. It is a legal requirement; it tells the consumer what the item is made of (the percentage of each fibre), which they need to judge quality and comfort and to care for the item correctly (for example knowing it contains wool that must not be hot washed).