In the US, the FTC's Care Labeling Rule, 16 CFR Part 423, requires most textile wearing apparel to carry a care label that tells the buyer how to give the garment its regular care. The label must be permanently attached, easy to find at the point of sale and remain legible for the useful life of the garment. A single line such as "Machine wash cold" usually leaves out parts of the regular care that the Rule expects the label to cover.

What a washing instruction covers

If the garment can be washed, the label should say whether to machine wash or hand wash, and give a water temperature if hot water would harm the garment. The FTC's business guide explains that if no temperature is stated, consumers may assume that any temperature, including hot, is safe. It also covers bleach: if all bleaches would harm the hoodie, the label should say "Do not bleach"; if only chlorine bleach would harm it, "Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed".

Drying and ironing

The label should state a drying method, such as tumble dry or line dry, and a drying temperature setting if the highest setting would harm the garment. Ironing should be covered if it is regularly needed to keep the garment looking right, or if the hottest iron setting would harm it; a warning such as "Do not iron" belongs on the label when ironing would cause damage, for example to a print.

Warnings

The Rule expects warnings when a consumer could reasonably follow the instructions and still damage the hoodie, or when a procedure a consumer would expect to use is harmful. Common examples for decorated fleece are "Wash inside out" or "Do not iron print", but only where they are actually needed.

A reasonable basis

Manufacturers and importers must have a reasonable basis for the instructions, such as reliable evidence or test results on the actual garment, including trims, prints and threads. Washing samples with a named procedure such as ISO 6330 at the label settings is a practical way to build that evidence.

Symbols

The FTC allows care symbols from the ASTM system in place of words, as its guide describes. ISO 3758 symbols are used in many other markets and do not match the ASTM system in every detail, so check before using one label everywhere.

Keep the evidence for each care label with the style file, and review it when fabric, print or trims change.