ASTM D5253-96
(Terminology)Standard Terminology of Writing Care Instructions and General Refurbishing Procedures for Textile Floor Coverings and Textile Upholstered Furniture
Standard Terminology of Writing Care Instructions and General Refurbishing Procedures for Textile Floor Coverings and Textile Upholstered Furniture
SCOPE
1.1 This terminology provides a uniform language for the writing of care instructions to be supplied with carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture, excluding leather. These items cannot be refurbished by the laundering and drycleaning methods used for apparel and other domestic textile products.
1.2 This document includes tables of care terms and general refurbishing procedures for textile floor coverings and textile upholstered furniture. The exact care instructions and sequence of procedures are to be determined by the manufacturer.
1.3 The recommended terminology covers common meanings used by both textile technologists and consumers.
1.4 Terminology for the following two groups of products is covered:
1.4.1 Carpets and rugs.
1.4.2 Upholstered furniture.
1.5 This terminology is not applicable to unattached fabrics, such as slipcovers, used for covering furniture.
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Designation:D5253–96
Standard Terminology of
Writing Care Instructions and General Refurbishing
Procedures for Textile Floor Coverings and Textile
Upholstered Furniture
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5253; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope maximum disclosure of essential information in small label
space and to assist understanding of recommended care prac-
1.1 This terminology provides a uniform language for the
tices by the consumer.
writing of care instructions to be supplied with carpets, rugs,
3.2 When permanently attached care labels are not feasible,
and upholstered furniture, excluding leather. These items
the care procedure may be presented in any convenient fashion
cannot be refurbished by the laundering and drycleaning
such as hang tags, on package surfaces, or in a booklet. Brevity
methods used for apparel and other domestic textile products.
not being critical, such instructions can be more detailed and
1.2 This document includes tables of care terms and general
more useful to the consumer. They should still follow a logical
refurbishing procedures for textile floor coverings and textile
sequence and the terms should be consistent with those
upholstered furniture.The exact care instructions and sequence
recommended for labels.
of procedures are to be determined by the manufacturer.
3.3 The use of either a permanent or a nonattached care
1.3 The recommended terminology covers common mean-
instruction should not preclude the use of the alternative as an
ings used by both textile technologists and consumers.
additional source of information to the consumer.
1.4 Terminology for the following two groups of products is
3.4 Mostofthetermsinthisstandardarepeculiartospecific
covered:
products. When conventional laundering or drycleaning prac-
1.4.1 Carpets and rugs.
tices are to be followed, the terms and routines detailed in
1.4.2 Upholstered furniture.
Terminology D 3136 are to be used.
1.5 This terminology is not applicable to unattached fabrics,
3.5 The use of a negative term that pertains to only one
such as slipcovers, used for covering furniture.
particular care method implies that all other customary care
2. Referenced Documents
procedures involved may be used.
3.6 The term “only” in a term limits the procedure to the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
stated instruction.
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
D 3136 Terminology for Permanent Care Labels for Con-
4. Terminology
sumer Textile and Leather Products Other Than Carpets
and Upholstery absorbent compound, n—in textile cleaning, sponge-like
2.2 Other Document: particles which, when saturated with water or dry solvent
Federal Trade CommissionAmendment to Trade Regulation and detergent and brushed into the textile, remove soil from
Rule Concerning Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Ap- the textile. See powder cleaner
parel, and Certain Piece Goods Federal Register, Vol 48,
DISCUSSION—Naturally absorbent granules such as fullers earth and
No. 99, May 20, 1983
wood flour or synthetic granules are commonly used.
3. Significance and Use
absorbentpad, n—for cleaning textile floor coverings,adamp
textile material (fabric, felt, sponge, or mop) used to agitate
3.1 When permanently attached labels are to be used, use
and wipe the pile and, in the process, absorb soil.
the standardized terminology in a logical sequence to facilitate
bath mat, n—an absorbent textile floor covering normally
used in the bathroom as a pad on which to step when getting
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-13 on
out of the tub or shower.
Textiles and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.62 on Care Labeling.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1995 and January 10, 1996. Published June DISCUSSION—Bath mats are normally made from woven terry fabric
1996. Originally published as D 5253 – 92. Last previous edition D 5253 – 95
similar to that used in towels and are cleaned by laundering.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.01.
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, North Capital and H Streets, bath rug, n—a scatter rug used in the bathroom.
NW, Washington, DC 20401.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D5253
bleach, n—in care of textiles, a product for brightening and both surfaces. D 4850
aiding the removal of soils and stains from textile materials coated upholstery fabric, n—See coated fabric.
by oxidation that is inclusive of both chlorine and non- consumer care, n—of consumer textile products, cleaning and
chlorine products. maintenance procedures as customarily undertaken by the
bonnet, n—in cleaning pile floor coverings, an absorbent pad ultimate user. D 3136
which can be mounted under a rotary shampoo machine. cylindrical wet-scrub extraction, n—a carpet cleaning
brush, n—a hand-held cleaning tool consisting of a base into method in which (1) a cleaning agent is sprayed onto the
which bristles are inserted. carpet, and (2) soil and cleaning agents are removed by a
machine which feeds water into two counter-rotating
DISCUSSION—Bristles may vary in material, length, density of cover-
brushes.
age, stiffness, and type to suit various types of textiles.
detergent, n—in textile product care, any cleaning agent.
brush, vt—in refurbishing textiles, to use a brush to remove
D 3136
surface particulate soils, (2) work a cleaning solution or spot
DISCUSSION—In popular usage this term includes washing and
cleaning agent into carpet pile or upholstery fabric, or (3)
cleaning agents with a composition other than soap. Detergents clean
restore the appearance of pile fabrics.
by much the same mechanism as does soap. The term detergent is used
care instructions, n—in textiles, a series of directions that
to describe both the basic surface active agents and finished products.
describe the practices which should refurbish a product
For use in carpet and upholstery cleaning, the finished product may
without adverse effects and that warn against any part of the contain additional ingredients such as builders and fluorescent whiten-
ing agents.
directions which one could reasonably be expected to use
that may harm the item. D 3136
dry cleaning, n—in carpet cleaning, a deprecated term. See
care label, n—in textiles, a label or other affixed instructions
the preferred term, dry extraction cleaning.
that report how a product should be refurbished. D 3136
dry extraction cleaning, n—a method in which an absorbent
compound is dispersed over the surface of a textile product
DISCUSSION—The Federal Trade Commission, in Rule 16 CFR 423,
requires care instructions on most apparel and certain other textile
by hand or machine, thoroughly brushed through the pile,
terms.Inrelationtotheseproducts,theFTCdefinitionstates Care label
allowed to dry, and removed by suction.
means a permanent label or tag, containing regular care information
DISCUSSION—Sponge-like particles absorb the soil from the yarns.
and instructions, that is attached or affixed in such a manner that it will
The soil-laden particles are removed by suction from the carpet. (Syn.
not become separated from the product and will remain legible during
powder cleaning.)
the useful life of the product.
dryfoamextractioncleaning, n—aprocessbywhichahighly
care procedure, n—in textiles, one or more refurbishing
aerated, low moisture content shampoo is brushed through
methods to which products may be subjected for soil and
the textile floor covering pile or applied to the surface of
stain removal and aesthetic improvement such as appearance
upholstery.
restoration or hand. D 3136
DISCUSSION—The foam holds the soil in suspension and is simulta-
DISCUSSION—The process employs appropriate equipment, materials,
neously removed by a cylindrical brush machine incorporating a
and processes, and may include, but need not be limited to, the
built-in suction recovery system or hand-held wet sponges.
following: water or dry cleaning solvent, detergent, foam, absorption-
(powder) type compounds, bleach, agitation, and drying.
dry solvent, n—any organic solvent used to dissolve another
carpet, n—all textile floor coverings not designated as rugs. material. See solvent.
(Compare rug.) D 418 extraction cleaning, n—a general term for a number of
refurbishing methods in which the cleaning agent is deliv-
DISCUSSION—Carpet generally is installed wall to wall and frequently
ered onto the textile product, agitated, and simultaneously
extendsthroughseveralrooms;carpetsousedcannotcarryapermanent
removed by suction.
care label as it would be unavailable on the back and would be
extraction cleaning, dry foam, n—See dry foam extraction
unsightly on the face.
cleaning.
carpet shampoo, n—See shampoo.
extraction cleaning, hot water, n—See hot water extraction
carpet sweeper, n—a manually powered machine which has
cleaning.
rotarybrushesandwhichisusedforlightsurfacecleaningof
extraction cleaning, rotary, n—See rotary extraction clean-
carpets and rugs. (Compare vacuum cleaner.)
ing.
chemical wash, n—in rug cleaning, a specialized professional
extraction cleaning, steam, n—a deprecated term since no
process used on oriental rugs.
steam is used. See the preferred term, hot water extraction
cleaning agent, n—a chemical compound or formulation of
cleaning.
several compounds which loosens, disperses, dissolves or
foam, n—in cleaning textiles, a frothy mass of fine bubbles
emulsifies, or causes a chemical change in the soil to
generated by whipping or agitating a shampoo.
facilitate removal by mechanical action. D 3136
coated fabric, n—a flexible material composed of a textile
fabric and an adherent polymeric material applied to one or
D5253
DISCUSSION—Arotary brush shampooing machine normally produces
routine maintenance, n—in textile cleaning, superficial daily
a foam as the brushes rotate over the carpet pile. Cleaning agents which
or weekly cleaning to remove particulate soil and dust.
dispense a foam from aerosol cans can be purchased.
rug, n—a textile floor covering of limited area which is
completeinitselfandisintendedforuseasapartialcovering
foam cleaning, n—a process in which a prepared foam is
of a floor or another floor covering. D 418
applied to a textile product, scrubbed in, allowed to dry, and
“S”—a letter code. See upholstery cleaning instructions.
the encapsulated soil is removed by suction.
scatter rug, n—a small rug which is designed to be flexible
hotwaterextractioncleaning, n—aprocessinwhichaheated
and is usually cleaned by laundering. (Syn. throw rug.)
solution of detergent is sprayed into the textile material and
shampoo, n—a solution of detergent in water formulated for
immediately removed by a wet suction nozzle behind the
specialized cleaning tasks.
spray-head.
slipcover, n—a removable, fitted, protective textile cover,
in-plant cleaning, n—for textile floor coverings, a cleaning
other than a cushion cover, often decorative and specifically
processperformedinafacilityawayfromthelocationwhere
made for upholstered furniture. D 4852
the product is used.
laundering, v—a process used to refurbish a textile product or
DISCUSSION—Slipcovers are usually a lighter weight fabric than
partsthereofby(1)cleaningitinwatercontainingacleaning
upholstery fabrics and are normally cleaned by laundering or dry
agent and possibly bleach, (2) drying it, and (3) if required,
cleaning, not dry extraction cleaning. D 123
ironing or pressing it. D 3136
soap, n—a cleaning agent usually consisting of sodium or
DISCUSSION—Some rugs, particularly small bath and scatter rugs,
potassium salts of fatty acids. D 3136
may be laundered using such procedures but ironed or pressed only if
solvent, n—any liquid used to dissolve another material.
required.
DISCUSSION—Wateristhemostcommonlyusedsolvent,andintextile
on-location cleaning, n—for textile floorcoverings and uphol-
cleaning its use is commonly referred to as “cleaning on the wet side.”
stered furniture,acleaningprocessperformedinthelocation
So-called “dry” cleaning solvents may be any of various combustible
where a product is used. hydrocarbons or noncombustible chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as
perchloroethylene, which are primarily used to dissolve oily, greasy,
pilate, v—a deprecated term. See the preferred term, pile
and waxy soils.
lifting.
pile lifting, n—the process of raising the pile on a textile.
sour, v—in refurbishing textiles, to neutralize the alkalinity of
a material after cleaning by using a weak acid such as acetic
DISCUSSION—Carpet pile is raised to an erect position to loosen
acid or an acid-forming salt.
embedded soil so that it can be more readily removed. Pile may be
lifted by a vacuum cleaner having rotating brushes, by a manually
spot and stain removal, n—a cleaning procedure for localized
manipulated toothed tool, or by a powered pile lifter.
areasusingcleaningagentsandmechanicalactionspecificto
the removal of the foreign substances present. (Syn. spot
pile lofting, n—See the preferred term, pile lifting.
cleaning.) D 3136, D4850
powder cleaner, n—a cleaning agent in which an absorbent
spotclean, vt—toremovelocalizedspotsandstainsbytreating
compound is the principal ingredient. See absorbent com-
themwithcleaningagentsandmechanicalactionsspecificto
pound.
the fiber, fabric, and product type and the foreign material
powder cleaning, n—See the preferred term, dry extraction
present.
cleaning.
spot cleaning, n—See spot and stain removal.
prespot, n—See pretreat.
steam cleaning, n—a deprecated term since no steam is used.
pretreat, vt—preapplication of cleaning agent to spots, stains,
Use the preferred term, hot water extraction cleaning.
and areas of high soil concentration to maximize activation
steam extraction cleaning, n—a deprecated term since no
time and therefore facilitate soil removal during overall
steam is used. Use the preferred term hot water extraction
cleaning.
cleaning.
professional care, n—for consumer textile products, overall
stripper, n—in textiles, a product, usually a reducing agent,
cleaning and maintenance procedures requiring the services
that changes the coloring material, dye, or soil stain to
of a person specially trained or skilled in their use and
reduced color (see also bleach).
usually earning a livelihood by providing such services.
D 3136
DISCUSSION—Stripper is sometimes referred to as a “reducing
rotary extraction cleaning, n—a cleaning procedure which
bleach,” as opposed to the conventional oxidizing bleach.
uses a rotati
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