Q: I
just drycleaned a multi-color comforter that faded badly and my customer is
very upset. It did not have a care label, so I assumed it would be all right to
dryclean. What is the law about this care label stuff?
A: The Federal
Trade Commission's Care Labeling Rule requires that manufacturers and importers
of textile wearing apparel possess, prior to sale, a reasonable basis for care
instructions. This "reasonable basis" includes:
- tests
- current technical literature
- past experience
- industry expertise
Most wearing apparel only is covered
under this rule. There are some exceptions to the rule which include footwear,
gloves, hats, neckties, belts, leather and suede apparel, and in your case
household articles. Also, items sold to institutional buyers for commercial use
are exempt from care label requirements.
Some other items need not have a
permanently affixed care label, but care instructions must be provided at the
point of sale either by a hang tag or some type of temporary label. These
include reversible garments with no pockets, hosiery, anklets, tights, leg
warmers and other similar items. Any article that can be washed or drycleaned
by the strongest possible method without harm need not have a care instruction.
Piece goods for home-sewn apparel only
needs the care information provided on the end of the bolt or roll or stamped
on the fabric's selvedge.
There you have the basics of
the Care Label Rule. When in doubt, always test when possible and discuss the
results with the consumer prior to proceeding with any alternative cleaning
procedure. You can only appear like an expert by talking about possible
problems prior to any damage from cleaning; this is almost never the case if
you wait until the damage has already occurred to address it with your
customer.
Suggested Reading
DLI Silver, Gold, and Premier members may
access more information on this topic in the following bulletins, and many others,
available in DLI's Encyclopedia of Drycleaning Online:
Industry Focus: Care Label Rule
Industry Focus: Care Label Symbols
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