Pesuohjeen

Pesuohjeen refers to the washing instructions provided for textiles and garments, typically found on care labels sewn into clothing or on packaging. The purpose of pesuohjeet is to guide consumers in cleaning fabrics in a way that preserves their appearance, fit, color, and durability, while reducing safety risks. They are usually presented as a combination of short written directions and standardized pictograms.

In practice, pesuohjeet cover several core elements. The washing method (whether the item can be machine washed, hand washed, or should not be washed at all) and the maximum washing temperature are commonly listed. Other aspects include whether bleaching is allowed, the recommended drying method (such as tumble drying at a certain heat or air drying), ironing guidelines, and whether the garment requires dry cleaning. The instructions are often conveyed through internationally used care symbols, which are standardized by organizations like ISO 3758 and GINETEX, in addition to any language-specific text that may appear on the label.

Where pesuohjeet appear and how they are read varies. They are most often found on a care label inside the garment, but may also appear on product packaging or in online product pages. When reading a label, consumers are advised to follow the symbols and any accompanying text, separating items by fabric type when washing multiple garments. Ignoring pesuohjeet can lead to shrinkage, color fading, fabric damage, or safety hazards.

Historically, care labeling evolved to standardize washing guidance across countries, enabling consistent care practices for textiles and improving consumer understanding. Modern labels combine multilingual text with pictograms to accommodate diverse users while relying on universal symbols for core instructions.