Clothing labels are small, but they can be helpful when you need to keep track of personal items. School uniforms, children’s clothing, daycare apparel, sports uniforms and any clothing that gets shared or misplaced often are all good candidates.
Clothing gets washed a lot.
When you need a label that will stay put throughout the wash and dry cycle time after time, not every adhesive label will do. This is what got me started on looking into machine washable labels when I wanted an easy way to name clothing.
Ordinary Stickers Aren’t Meant for Clothes
You might be surprised to learn that just because something is a sticker doesn’t mean it can be used on clothing. Clothing moves, stretches, folds, and is rubbed against other surfaces all day long. Then it’s tossed into the wash with water, detergent, and spun and dried in a machine.
The moisture combined with the abrasive forces can wreak havoc on a standard label adhesive.
It might hold up fine initially, but over time the edges of the label may begin to curl up or the whole thing might start to detach completely.
That’s why washable durability is so important when selecting clothing labels.
Material made for use in washable applications is designed to withstand these conditions, as opposed to using a general-purpose adhesive and hoping for the best.
Easy-Peeling Clothing Labels
Of course, there are many ways to name clothing. You can sew names directly onto garments. You could also use iron-on labels.
Sewing takes time and thread. If you need to name a large number of items it can become rather tedious to sew on each individual label.
Iron-on labels aren’t always ideal either. You need to have access to an iron, and heat may not work for all materials.
Stick-on clothing labels don’t require thread or heat. Simply remove the label from the sheet, place it where you want it on the garment, and press down.
That ease of use is great for busy parents, schools, daycare centers and others that need to name a lot of clothing quickly.
So What Makes a Label Washable?
In fact, washable should imply that it will survive multiple wash and dry cycles.
If you’re using clothing labels, they’ll probably be going through the wash more than just once. As a result, the adhesive is one of the most critical components of any washable material.
Great K2’s TK01 washable label material features a permanent adhesive with high-tack designed for washable labels. The manufacturer has even tested the label over 40 times through washing and drying without the label falling off.
Compare this to regular sheet vinyl which is designed for computer printers. Normal self-adhesive vinyl isn’t made with washing in mind.
Reusable Labels with Custom Printing
I also like the option to customize a label as needed. Sure, we all need names on our clothing labels, but sometimes we need other information as well.
Depending on your needs, you may want to add names, numbers, logos, symbols, or other items to your clothing labels. Printable materials let you add that custom information without needing to purchase a different sheet of labels for each person.
Printable materials also allow you to print whatever you want on each label. Students shirts can have individual names. Sports uniforms can include player numbers. Daycare outfits can be labeled with children’s names. Nursing homes can label clothes with residents’ names so they don’t get mixed up.
Great K2’s TK01 printable material is compatible with many printing methods, including Eco- Solvent, UV, and HP Latex printers. It can also be cut into unique shapes after printing with a cutting plotter.
Personal Apparel and Beyond
Kids clothes aren’t the only place where clothing labels are useful.
Machine washable labels can be used on:
- School uniforms
- Daycare outfits
- Children’s clothing
- Sports uniforms
- Work uniforms
- Nursing home patient uniforms
- Camp t-shirts
- Shoes
- Book bags
…and much more.
You can also apply these materials to any surface where you need strong adhesion, but also need to withstand washing or heavy exposure to moisture.
When looking for washable clothing labels, you’ll find that the material can be used for both personal use and commercial label production.
Putting Labels on Clothes
Don’t forget about proper application. Even the best label material will fail if it isn’t applied properly.
Make sure the area you are applying the label to is clean and dry. Dirt, oil, residue from fabric softener, and other contaminants can prevent the adhesive from sticking.
It also helps to apply the label to a flat area of the garment. Locations such as a clean clothes tag or other flat area of fabric will help more than say a textured seam or area of fabric that moves around a lot.
Letting the adhesive set before washing the garment for the first time can also help. As always when using label materials, be sure to read and follow the application and care instructions provided by the material supplier.
Stick-On Clothes Labels Are Simple
Machine washable labels can make identifying frequently laundered apparel easy. They’re quick to apply and come off just as easily when no longer needed.
The biggest tip I can offer is to make sure you’re using a material designed for washing. Just because you can print on a sheet of vinyl doesn’t mean it will hold up to being washed.
Great K2 has you covered if you’re looking to create washable stick-on clothing labels. From strong adhesive to printability and washing durability, their TK01 material was made for creating custom apparel labels.
Whether it’s school uniforms, kids clothes, sports jerseys, or any other type of frequently washed apparel, having the right material on hand can make all the difference.
Small? Yes. Convenient? You bet. Completely capable of standing up to normal washing and drying? Absolutely.
