The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires manufacturers to attach a permanent
label to textile garments that provides directions for their care. According to
the 1972 Care Label Amendment, manufacturers and importers must list at least
one method of safe care for a garment. The rule covers all textile clothing
except footwear, gloves, hats, suede and leather clothing, and household items,
such as linens.
The Care Label Rule stipulates that the Care Label is easily found, will not
separate from the garment, and will remain legible during the garment's useful
life. The label must warn about any part of the recommended care method that
would harm the garment or other garments being laundered or drycleaned with it.
It also must warn when there is no method for cleaning a garment without
damaging it.
Textile garments are required to have a care label attached at the time of
purchase so that you can take care instructions into consideration when you buy
an item. Removing the care label entails some risk, as full information or
warnings regarding proper care will no longer be available to you or your
cleaner.
If a garment's care label says "washable" it may or may not be safely
drycleaned; there is no way of telling from the label. A manufacturer or
importer is only required to list one method of safe care no matter how many
other methods also could be used safely. The manufacturer or importer also is
not required to warn about other care procedures that may not be safe. The
International Fabricare Institute (IFI) supports voluntary "alternative
labeling" by manufacturers to inform consumers of all satisfactory care
methods.
If you request a method of cleaning not listed on the care label, a cleaner may
ask you to sign a consent form. With or without the form, cleaners who accept
garments for cleaning are obligated to clean them in a professional manner, to
the best of their ability.
If you or the cleaner follow the manufacturer's instructions and the garment is
damaged, you should return the garment to the store you purchased it from and
explain what happened. If the store will not resolve the problem, ask the
retailer for the name of the manufacturer or look for the manufacturer's RN
(Registration Number), which usually is found on the garment's fiber content
label. Call the FTC at (202) 326-3170 or check the FTC's Registration Number
search page,
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/TextileRN/wrnquery$.startup , for the
manufacturer's address.
Provide a full description of the garment and state all the information that is
given on the labels and tags. Estimate how many times the garment has been
washed or drycleaned, and provide the full name and address of the store where
it was purchased.
You should also send a copy of your complaint letter to the Federal Trade
commission, c/o Correspondence Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580 or check out the
FTC's web site at www.ftc.gov.
The FTC cannot resolve your individual problem, but the information you and
other consumers supply may reveal a pattern or practice requiring the
Commission's attention. If you have purchased clothing that has no care label
attached, you should contact the FTC, giving the name and address of the store
and manufacturer.
Guide to Care Symbols
http://qualitycleaners.us/pixngifs/symbols.pdf