Washing Washed Instructions Meaning Clothes Garments Clothing Small

Most clothing that is sold in stores has a small "tag" (a small piece of cloth with writing, usually sewn into the neck, waist, or side of a piece of clothing) that "indicates" (shows) the size, manufacturer, and washing instructions. "Following" (doing what something or someone says should be done) these washing instructions can help ensure that the "garment" (piece of clothing) isn't damaged.

Many garments that are made from special fabrics have a tag that says "dry clean only." This means that they shouldn't be washed in a washing machine or by hand. Instead, they should be taken to the "dry cleaner's" where clothing is washed by using special chemicals instead of water.

Other garments say "machine wash," meaning that they can be washed in washing machines, but there are often instructions about the water temperature. Sometimes the labels say "only with like colors," meaning that the garment should be washed only with clothes that have the same color, because otherwise, it might "bleed" (share its color in the water, dying the other garments). Other garments have tags saying "hand wash only," meaning that they should not be put in a washing machine, but instead washed by hand.

Other common washing instructions include "no bleach," meaning that bleach shouldn't be used because it will destroy the fabric. Some washing instructions say "lay flat to dry," which means that they should be laid flat to dry, because hanging them from a clothesline would "stretch them out" (change their shape in a bad way).