I`ve been wondering why in one part of the world or even within the EU a certain fabric has to be washed in cold water whereas in another region it might be safely boiled.
For example Aldi in its home market frequently sells white workwear for doctors and nurses which of course has to be kept immaculate so those clothes are labeled for a 95 °C wash.
Those polo shirts and pants are made of cotton, polyester and or spandex(!), the latter two not exactly known to be generally boil proof.
Aldi and Lidl sometimes sell pillows that can be boiled to kill dust mites which are stuffed with polyester and small pieces of foam rubber which by the way is made of polyurethane just like spandex is.
Swedish based H&M usually suggests a 40 °C or 60 °C normal wash for their clothes whereas the Spanish based fashion retailer Zara always tries to urge me to use a 30 °C or 40° permanent press cycle and no dryer.
All bed linens and towels found at Ikea can be safely washed at 60 °C even if the items are black or of a similar dark color.
Of course there are quality differences like if the fibers have been pre-shrunk and what type of dye has been used, but I think the majority of care tags are based on cultural expectations in their home markets.
That is expectations of cleanliness versus fabric life.
In Spain it seems most important to keep clothes look like new for as long as possible even if it`s fast fashion which is often dumped after just a couple of wearings. A dryer is not a must in this climate.
The Swedes and Germans expect at least 60 °C hot water for sheets, towels and underwear of course with a certain trade in of fabric lifetime.
Americans expect at least a low heat tumble dry to be allowed by the care tag because clothes lines or laundry racks are rare. From personal experience (clothes from Macy`s, Gap and so on) I can tell you guys also seem to accept or at least put up with some shrinkage that comes with a dryer.
What do you think about care tags? Follow them meticulously or use common sense instead?
For example Aldi in its home market frequently sells white workwear for doctors and nurses which of course has to be kept immaculate so those clothes are labeled for a 95 °C wash.
Those polo shirts and pants are made of cotton, polyester and or spandex(!), the latter two not exactly known to be generally boil proof.
Aldi and Lidl sometimes sell pillows that can be boiled to kill dust mites which are stuffed with polyester and small pieces of foam rubber which by the way is made of polyurethane just like spandex is.
Swedish based H&M usually suggests a 40 °C or 60 °C normal wash for their clothes whereas the Spanish based fashion retailer Zara always tries to urge me to use a 30 °C or 40° permanent press cycle and no dryer.
All bed linens and towels found at Ikea can be safely washed at 60 °C even if the items are black or of a similar dark color.
Of course there are quality differences like if the fibers have been pre-shrunk and what type of dye has been used, but I think the majority of care tags are based on cultural expectations in their home markets.
That is expectations of cleanliness versus fabric life.
In Spain it seems most important to keep clothes look like new for as long as possible even if it`s fast fashion which is often dumped after just a couple of wearings. A dryer is not a must in this climate.
The Swedes and Germans expect at least 60 °C hot water for sheets, towels and underwear of course with a certain trade in of fabric lifetime.
Americans expect at least a low heat tumble dry to be allowed by the care tag because clothes lines or laundry racks are rare. From personal experience (clothes from Macy`s, Gap and so on) I can tell you guys also seem to accept or at least put up with some shrinkage that comes with a dryer.
What do you think about care tags? Follow them meticulously or use common sense instead?
