ISO 3758:2023 PDF

Overview

ISO 3758:2023 - Textiles - Care labelling code using symbols - defines an international system of graphic textile care symbols for marking textile articles. The standard specifies symbols and rules to communicate the most severe domestic and professional treatments that will not cause irreversible damage. The 2023 (fourth) edition updates symbols and guidance to reflect current cleaning practices and technical developments.

This standard applies to most textile articles (yarns, piece goods and made‑up textile items) but expressly excludes:

• non‑removable covers of upholstered furniture and mattresses, and
• carpets and rugs that require professional carpet cleaning.

Domestic treatments covered include washing, bleaching, drying and ironing; professional treatments include dry cleaning and professional wet cleaning (excluding industrial laundering and professional carpet cleaning).

Key Topics and Requirements

• Symbol set and definitions: Five main symbol families - washing (washtub), bleaching (triangle), drying (square), ironing (iron), and professional textile care (circle) - plus additional descriptors and modifiers.
• Selection of symbols: Guidance to indicate the most severe safe treatment for an article so users can avoid irreversible damage.
• Washing, bleaching, drying & ironing rules: Symbol variations cover tumble drying vs natural drying, chlorine vs oxygen bleaching, ironing with/without steam, and hand‑washing variants (new ambient hand‑wash symbol added).
• Professional care: Symbols for professional dry cleaning and wet cleaning, including updated solvent indications (new solvents included in this edition).
• Application and use: How symbols are placed in sequence (washing → bleaching → drying → ironing → professional care) and how to combine symbols with optional wording.
• Supporting annexes:
  • Annex A - characteristics and test methods for correct symbol selection;
  • Annex B - regional and national labelling requirements;
  • Annex C - examples of additional wording;
  • Annex D - adaptation of registered graphical symbols for practical use.

Applications and Who Uses It

ISO 3758 is used by:

• Textile manufacturers and designers to specify safe care instructions on labels.
• Label and packaging suppliers for consistent, regulatory‑compliant marking.
• Retailers and brands to provide consumer care information and reduce returns/damage.
• Professional launderers and dry cleaners, who can use domestic symbols as supplementary guidance.
• Standards bodies and regulators for harmonized labelling requirements.

Practical benefits include improved consumer understanding, reduced garment damage, and support for international trade through a common, language‑independent care labelling system.

Related Standards

• ISO 30023 - symbols for industrial laundering (not covered by ISO 3758).
• ISO 7000 - registered graphical symbols database (see Annex D for adaptations).
• GINETEX care labelling system - ISO 3758 is based on the international GINETEX symbols and aligns graphical representations where applicable.

Keywords: ISO 3758, care labelling, textile care symbols, washing symbols, bleaching symbols, drying symbols, ironing symbols, professional textile care, GINETEX, ISO 30023.