View source for Talk:Laundry symbol

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==Additional material needed==
Some questions for this stub:
* who devised them?
* when did they first come into use?
* how did they become ubiquitous?
* in fact, how ubiquitous are they? Which countries use them, whcih don't?
* are therevariations among manufacturers of clothing? -- [[User:Tarquin|Tarquin]] 18:23 Jan 12, 2003 (UTC)

:additional questions:
:*when are certain symbols omitted and what that means.
:*what is assumed when certain symbols such as one for hand washing are used but another symbol for a different category is not such as the symbols for drying are not preset. [[User:Gaerek|Gaerek]] ([[User talk:Gaerek|talk]]) 03:12, 15 January 2014 (UTC)

== Local copy? ==

So I came to this page absolutely certain that I would find the intel I needed, and '''WP did not have the information I was looking for'''. I can't remember when the last time that happened was. Anyway, I do believe the images and text on the "Canadian info" link should be open source. It's hosted by the Cdn gov't after all. Could be a good place to start, and it's also well-organised. This article could use an org scheme similar to what that page uses, as a starting point at least. <span style="color:#005CB9;">—</span> [[Special:Contributions/Cognatus|<span style="color:green;">chirographa</span>]] [[User talk:Cognatus|<span style="color:#FF9933;">diverbia</span>]] [[User:Cognatus|<span style="color:#8020D0;">cognatō</span>]] 16:36, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Would it make sense for Wikipedia to include these symbols right here?

I think it would be beneficial to include these symbols here.  I have been trying to locate a copy of the Canadian Laundry Care Symbols in colour, but have not had any luck as of yet.  The only symbols I can find are related to the new system with dots indicating temperatures.  If it is not feasibly to have the symbols located here, then links would be the next logical choice. [[User:Steve Pachal|Steve Pachal]] 18:52, 20 December 2005 (UTC)

:Yeah, this article badly needs some illustration. Compare with the [[:de:Textilpflegesymbol|German version]], for example! (Surely there cannot be insuperable copyright issues in displaying such ubiquitous symbols in an article about them?) --[[User:Jonik|Jonik]] 13:41, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

:Yes, this article absolutely should have examples of the symbols. It's kind of pointless without it. [[User:Kwertii|Kwertii]] ([[User talk:Kwertii|talk]]) 19:12, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

== Dø nøt wåsh by ælk ==

I don't really speak Swedish, but as far as I get the meaning from the linked site in Swedish, their symbols look and mean exactly the same as the official GINETEX ones ... which makes sense since the European country Sweden isn't mentioned as an exception to adhering to the GINETEX standard. (After all, they're not the British "englishing" on principle. ;) So if nobody objects, I'm going to remove that link quite soon. Cheers, [[User:Edwing|Edwing]] 19:10, 24 April 2007 (UTC)
:No objections here - Sweden is a [http://www.sartex.ch/ginetex_web/ginetex/members/default.htm member of GINETEX] [[User:64.59.144.85|64.59.144.85]] 16:33, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

== harmful link ==

If I try to follow the link to the Japanese explanation of the symbols (http://www.apparelkey.com) I receive a warning message from my firefox browser that this website could harm my computer ("reported attack site") - the same with google search ("This site may harm your computer.").
Therefore I would suggest to remove that link.
regards, [[User:Freygeist|Freygeist]] ([[User talk:Freygeist|talk]]) 11:11, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Same with Safari, I have removed the link (Eraserhead1 not logged in) [[Special:Contributions/118.155.240.89|118.155.240.89]] ([[User talk:118.155.240.89|talk]]) 02:02, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

== What about American cold/warm/hot temperatures? ==

The 30 degree Celsius etc symbols are easily understood in most of the world, but in the U.S., typically no absolutes are given for washing. There is only "cold", "warm" and "hot", and these settings are indicated on washing machines without any indications of what the actual temperatures are. So even if a person converts 30 C to Fahrenheit, the will still not know how the symbol corresponds with the choices on their washing machine. I tried looking for a conversion between cold/warm/hot and actual temperatures on Wikipedia but couldn't find it. Any pointers? Thanks. --[[User:CodeGeneratR|CodeGeneratR]] ([[User talk:CodeGeneratR|talk]]) 18:16, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Aren't the US wash symbols a tub with 1, 2, or 3 dots - meaning cold, warm, and hot wash, respectively? They are not shown in the article. [[Special:Contributions/75.36.222.28|75.36.222.28]] ([[User talk:75.36.222.28|talk]]) 08:48, 7 January 2012 (UTC)

:There aren't any suitable images at [[commons:Category:Laundry symbols]], so someone will need to make them first. -- [[User:WOSlinker|WOSlinker]] ([[User talk:WOSlinker|talk]]) 12:37, 7 January 2012 (UTC)

:::I know 1) this discussion is nearly a decade old as I write this, and 2) I'm terribly confused by all these symbols, but I may have found a remedy to this issue you were discussing. I have an internationally-distributed skein of yarn from Lion Brand. Its care labels actually use GINETEX symbols. It has both F° & C°! So no math necessary. It has 104 F° inside the symbol, and 40C° below it, which is the same thing. I'm not sure, if a product isn't meant for the international market, what Americans can do other than ask their virtual assistants to convert it for them. [[User:Kelelain|Kelelain]] ([[User talk:Kelelain|talk]]) 17:17, 18 November 2020 (UTC)

::I know the standard "hot" temp is 140° F. Warm is probably ~ 105°, and Cold: 65°, or so?  Or just whatever the tap temp happens to be, which will vary by the season. [[User:Firejuggler86|Firejuggler86]] ([[User talk:Firejuggler86|talk]]) 01:43, 2 May 2021 (UTC)

== This article is not global in coverage - link to possible starting point for fuller article. ==

This article only discusses European care labelling. There is no global standard for care labelling; different well-established systems exist in Australia, Japan and North America for example.

[http://www.intertek.com/uploadedFiles/Intertek/Divisions/Consumer_Goods/Media/PDFs/Services/Low%20Res%20CompleteCareLabelling.pdf This PDF] appears to be an informational leaflet detailing the different garment care labelling systems used in various parts of the world, produced as commercial promotional literature. While this is not great as a [[WP:reliable source|reliable source]], it might be useful as a starting point for anyone trying to improve this article. --[[User:MegaSloth|MegaSloth]] ([[User talk:MegaSloth|talk]]) 21:19, 9 April 2012 (UTC)

== Unicode? ==

I thought these symbols were in [[Unicode]], but can't find them. Am I right? If so, can it be mentioned briefly here? [[Special:Contributions/82.113.133.21|82.113.133.21]] ([[User talk:82.113.133.21|talk]]) 09:56, 8 October 2012 (UTC)

:An old thread (2003), but the only discussion I could find; suggests these symbols aren't in Unicode? [http://unicode.org/mail-arch/unicode-ml/y2003-m06/0274.html Wash Symbols and Iconography] --[[User:MegaSloth|MegaSloth]] ([[User talk:MegaSloth|talk]]) 10:41, 8 October 2012 (UTC)

::There is an [https://github.com/Crissov/unicode-proposals/issues/410 active proposal] to incorporate them into Unicode and some characters, such as Ⓐ, are the same as existing Unicode characters, but the full set is not yet incorporated (and may not end up being incorporated). [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 01:10, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

== Edits 30th Jan 2014 ==

Just in case anybody wants to know, I reverted an edit by an IP that was just wrong regarding washing symbols. The previous version was correct so I just went back.  The refs in that para support the current version, not the one I corrected.  [[User:Roxy the dog|Roxy the dog]] ([[User talk:Roxy the dog|resonate]]) 22:24, 30 January 2014 (UTC)

== Triangle with two oblique lines and "CL" ==

I came here with a garment featuring among its symbols a triangle with two oblique lines and "CL", features not represented in a single triangle in the article. Anyone know if this is (or was, I noted that the CL triangle is "obsolete") commonly used and what its meaning is? In boolean logic, this is a case, I believe, where parentheses would be helpful, if not necessary, to express the desired message. And in case it appears that I'm just using a talk page as a Q&A, I'd like to say that I am almost as concerned that Wikipedia might be lacking some specific bit of information as I am concerned about properly washing my hat.[[User:Mattman00000|Mattman00000]] ([[User talk:Mattman00000|talk]]) 18:31, 27 April 2016 (UTC)


:I will be honest with you, I don't exactly understand what you mean by, "two oblique lines," but that has something to do with bleach and chlorine. If you mean it has two more lines inside of it, like a striped triangle, then that means use non-chlorine bleach only. I understand I'm telling you this >4 years after this was asked, but I just now took an interest in this topic. I'm finding there are still symbols missing from the main article. [[User:Kelelain|Kelelain]] ([[User talk:Kelelain|talk]]) 17:25, 18 November 2020 (UTC)

::The triangle means bleach. As Kelelain noted, the CL is chlorine. I don't know what "two oblique lines means either, but if it's an X that means do not do this thing. [[User:Firejuggler86|Firejuggler86]] ([[User talk:Firejuggler86|talk]]) 01:46, 2 May 2021 (UTC)

== Edit dispute over P in circle symbol ==

It looks like on both this page and on [[Dry cleaning]] there's been a slow back-and-forth between stating that the P in circle symbol indicates "dry clean, [[Tetrachloroethylene|PCE]] only" and "dry clean, anything except PCE". This appears to have started with [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laundry_symbol&diff=750221551&oldid=724294542 this revision] without a citation, and was perpetuated by well-intentioned efforts on each side to revert what may have looked like deliberate misinformation. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130528201142/http://www.sartex.ch/en/textilkennzeichnung/pflegekennzeichnung/pflegesymbole/textilpflege/ The source] cited by the [[Dry cleaning]] page clearly states that the meaning is "dry clean, PCE only", and an [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304110526/http://www.ginetex.net/files/pdf/gin_pfle_kar_ch_gb_web_rz.pdf archived version] of one of this page's sources (from GINETEX itself) appears to confirm this. However, [http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca02009.html three] [http://www.textileaffairs.com/c-common.htm more] [http://www.textileaffairs.com/docs/common-050608.pdf sources] from this page state a third (but possibly functionally equilavent to the first?) meaning of "dry clean, anything except [[Trichloroethylene|TCE]]". My guess is that the original editor (understandably) confused PCE and TCE due to the similarity of their acronyms and full chemical names, leading to the erroneous second meaning.

Since the GINETEX standard appears to be the primary topic of discussion for both pages, I've updated both to the "dry clean, PCE only" meaning given by that source. [[User:The last username left was taken|The last username left was taken]] ([[User talk:The last username left was taken|talk]]) 06:17, 13 March 2019 (UTC)

The circle with the P means "Dry Clean in any solvent except trichlorethylene." The "P" stands for perchlorethylene ('''perc'''), AFAIK, because historically those two solvents were generally the only two that were used (and trichlorethylene fell out of widespread use a LONG time ago, and for many years perc was the standard solvent...now it is starting to fall out of favour, in certain regions anyway, due to environmental concerns. But any. Yes, the P stands for perc, but no, it does NOT mean dry clean in no other solvent but perc: it means only do not use trichlorethylene. [[User:Firejuggler86|Firejuggler86]] ([[User talk:Firejuggler86|talk]]) 01:38, 2 May 2021 (UTC)

== Laundry symbols and GINETEX (moved from Roxy's Talk page) == 
{{closed rfc top
| status = 
| result = It looks like there is consensus to use the all caps version of this abbreviated term, GINETEX, consistent with the article at [[GINETEX]]. {{nac}} ([[User talk:Buidhe|t]] &#183; [[Special:Contributions/Buidhe|c]]) '''[[User:buidhe|<span style="color: black">buidhe</span>]]''' 09:03, 10 May 2021 (UTC)
}}

Dispute over whether the "Groupement International d'Etiquetage pour l'Entretien des Textiles" should be referred to as GINETEX or Ginetex. [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 13:22, 29 April 2021 (UTC)

(After [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laundry_symbol&oldid=1019990454 revert] by {{u|Roxy the dog}}) Per [[MOS:CAPS]], GINETEX should be all caps since it's an acronym. It was my error to write it Ginetex in the first place, so I corrected. [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 15:47, 26 April 2021 (UTC)
:Not a proper Acronym. The Groupement International d'Etiquetage pour l'Entretien des '''TEX'''tiles uses the first '''three''' letters of the last word. Thanks for discussing though, but I believe you are wrong. We really should discuss this at the article talk page, where others will see. I will move this discussion there. -[[User:Roxy the dog|'''Roxy''' <small>the grumpy dog</small>.]] [[User talk:Roxy the dog|'''wooF''']] 16:17, 26 April 2021 (UTC)
::So, per [[WP:BRD]] I have begun the discussion and will revert for the second time the initial Bold change. -[[User:Roxy the dog|'''Roxy''' <small>the grumpy dog</small>.]] [[User talk:Roxy the dog|'''wooF''']] 16:20, 26 April 2021 (UTC)
:::Fair enough, although given the past attention to the page I don't expect a robust discussion. [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 17:18, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

Per [[MOS:CAPSACRS]] acronyms are all caps. [[MOS:ACRO]] notes that acronyms are "usually" from the initial letters of words in a phrase, which acknowledges that that is not always the case. There's nothing "proper" or improper about formations, such as GINETEX, using three letters from a word in its expanded name. The specification for British English on this page might bend towards the use of Ginetex over GINETEX due to how British English often handles acronyms that are pronounced, but that goes against what MOS:CAPSACRS explicitly states. [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 17:25, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

In the interest of moving this forward (and furthering the Discussion part of [[WP:BRD]]), I've tried to bring it the attention of MOS editors. {{u|Roxy the dog}}, it would be helpful if you clarify your position with reference to the [[MOS]] rules that you're basing it on. I'll additionally note that your reverts left inconsistent use of Ginetex vs. GINETEX within this and the [[GINETEX]] articles. My preference would be to see this resolved and a single form be used in all instances ([[Laundry symbol]], [[GINETEX]], and [[Dry cleaning]]). [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 13:15, 30 April 2021 (UTC)

*'''Use whichever the organisation itself uses''' - while done with good intentions, back and forth litigation of the fine details of various MOS guidelines in these kinds of cases is unnecessary...MOS are only ''guidelines'' after after all, an l and are only meant to describe general best-practices; they don't apply in all cases, and they don't need to be strictly followed when it makes better sense to do something different. [[User:Firejuggler86|Firejuggler86]] ([[User talk:Firejuggler86|talk]]) 01:57, 2 May 2021 (UTC)

* I lean towards '''GINETEX''', which is the form used at https://www.ginetex.net/ . It is also the form used by the article [[GINETEX]]. Are there reliable sources that use "Ginetex"? If not, we should stick with "GINETEX". —[[User:Mx. Granger|Mx. Granger]]&nbsp;([[User talk:Mx. Granger|talk]] '''·''' [[Special:Contributions/Mx. Granger|contribs]]) 16:46, 3 May 2021 (UTC)
::Some sources do use Ginetex, but they tend to be British English ones that often use only an initial capital letter on an acronym that's pronounced as a word (Nasa, Nato, Unesco, etc.), which is a convention [[MOS:CAPSACRS]] says shouldn't be used on Wikipedia. [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 11:40, 4 May 2021 (UTC)

:I was just going by the MOS and my own interpretation of it, and the fact that GINETEX looks so awful on the page repeated in the  middle of so many sentences. If consensus is against me, then ... ok. -[[User:Roxy the dog|'''Roxy''' <small>the ex GINETEX dog</small>.]] [[User talk:Roxy the dog|'''wooF''']] 17:22, 3 May 2021 (UTC)

Based on the comments above, and barring any further comments to the contrary, I'll go ahead and standardize the acronym in this article and in [[GINETEX]] as GINETEX early next week. [[Dry cleaning]] already only uses GINETEX and I don't believe it appears on any other page at the moment. [[User:Tcr25|Carter]] ([[User talk:Tcr25|talk]]) 01:09, 9 May 2021 (UTC)
{{closed rfc bottom}}

== Questionable redirect to this page ==
{{Archive top green|result=[[WP:RFD|RfD]] discussion moved to [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2021 November 16#Laundry mark]]. |status=moved}}
{{main|Talk:Laundry mark#This redirect should be deleted}}

The [[WP:R|redirect]] to this page from <span class="plainlinks">[http://enwp.org/Laundry_mark?redirect=no Laundry mark]</span> should be deleted. Please see, comment, and participate in the discussion at '''[[Talk:Laundry mark#This redirect should be deleted|Talk:Laundry mark]]'''. Thanks!{{smiley}} — <span style="font: bold 125% Garamond;">[[User:SpikeToronto|<span style="color:#DC143C">Spike</span>]][[User talk:SpikeToronto|<span style="color:#000000">Toronto</span>]]</span> 17:13, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

{{Archive bottom}}

== "Laundry mark" listed at [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion|Redirects for discussion]] ==
[[File:Information.svg|30px]]
A discussion is taking place to address the redirect [[:Laundry mark]]. The discussion will occur at [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2021 November 16#Laundry mark]] until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. <!-- from Template:RFDNote --> — <span style="font: bold 125% Garamond;">[[User:SpikeToronto|<span style="color:#DC143C">Spike</span>]][[User talk:SpikeToronto|<span style="color:#000000">Toronto</span>]]</span> 11:39, 16 November 2021 (UTC)