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French laundry label quiz: understand care instructions

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Ten questions on French clothing care labels: lavage à la main, ne pas sécher en machine, repassage doux, nettoyage à sec. Know exactly what each one asks.

In short

French care labels use the infinitive for instructions: Laver à 30 °C (wash at 30), Ne pas sécher en machine (do not tumble dry), Repasser à basse température (iron on low) and Nettoyage à sec (dry clean).

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A wool sweater rests beside a basin and a drying rack.
Careful lavage à la main protects a wool sweater. Illustration: Atelier
  1. Question 1No account needed
    Lavage à la main uniquement means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Hand wash only.. Uniquement means only: no machine washing.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Ne pas sécher en machine means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Do not tumble dry.. Sécher en machine is tumble drying; ne pas forbids it.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Laver à l'envers means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Wash inside out.. À l'envers: inside out.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Laver séparément means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Wash separately.. Usually because the colour may run.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Repasser à basse température

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Iron on a low setting.. Basse means low: use the coolest iron setting.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Ne pas utiliser d'eau de Javel

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Do not use bleach.. L'eau de Javel is bleach.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Nettoyage à sec

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Dry clean.. Le nettoyage à sec is done at le pressing.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Sécher à plat

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Dry flat.. Lay it flat to keep its shape, typical for wool.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    Peut rétrécir

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    May shrink.. Rétrécir is to shrink: wash it cool.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Programme délicat on the machine is…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the gentle cycle. Délicat is the gentle or delicates programme.

What do French laundry labels say?

Laundry verbs
FrenchEnglish
laverto wash
sécherto dry
repasserto iron
essorerto spin
étendre le lingeto hang out the washing
déteindreto run (colour)

Labels and instructions in French use the infinitive (laver, ne pas sécher) rather than the imperative. You'll see the same pattern on medicine packets and recipes: Agiter avant emploi (shake before use), Conserver au frais (keep cool).

Au lavomatic
  1. Toi

    Excusez-moi, cette machine est libre ?

    Excuse me, is this machine free?

  2. Client

    Oui. Attention, elle lave à soixante degrés par défaut.

    Yes. Careful, it washes at sixty degrees by default.

  3. Toi

    Ah, mon pull est en laine, il doit être lavé à froid.

    Ah, my jumper is wool, it has to be washed cold.

  4. Client

    Alors choisissez le programme laine, à droite.

    Then choose the wool programme, on the right.

Mon pull a rétréci : je l'ai lavé à soixante degrés !

My jumper shrank: I washed it at sixty degrees!

Keep going