Wash Care Ribbons
Print that survives the washing machine, not just the warehouse
Garment care labels face a test no other barcode label does: repeated immersion in hot water with detergent, mechanical agitation, tumble drying, ironing and sometimes dry cleaning — over the life of the garment, not the life of a shipment. CW-60 is formulated specifically for that.
A wash care ribbon prints care, size and composition labels on textile tapes. We supply CW-60 for nylon satin, polyester satin, taffeta and woven fabric labels, so the print stays readable through the garment's washing. Do not use it on paper or rigid synthetic labels, where wax, wax-resin or resin suit better.
Why ordinary ribbons fail on garment labels
A standard resin ribbon can be highly chemical-resistant and still fail a wash test, because washing combines heat, water, surfactants and mechanical abrasion at once. Detergent is specifically designed to lift substances off fabric, which is exactly the wrong property for a print you want to keep.
The substrate compounds it. Nylon satin and taffeta are woven and flexible; they stretch and flex in the drum in ways a rigid label never does, so the ink has to flex with them rather than crack.
What CW-60 is built for
CW-60 prints on nylon satin, polyester satin, taffeta and woven fabric labels, and is formulated to survive 60 or more wash cycles including bleach and detergent exposure, high-temperature tumble drying, and dry cleaning.
Typical uses are care instruction labels, composition and fibre-content labels, size tags, brand labels and industrial workwear identification.
Sizing for garment tag printers
Garment label printing usually runs narrow. Common widths are 33mm, 40mm and 45mm rather than the 110mm standard elsewhere, because care labels are narrow woven tapes rather than sheet labels.
We slit to order from 25mm upward, so the ribbon matches the tape width rather than forcing you to buy wider stock and waste the overhang. For clusters like Tiruppur, Ludhiana and Surat this is usually the deciding factor — most suppliers stock standard widths and expect the buyer to adapt.
Testing before you commit
Wash performance is the one claim in this category that a buyer can and should verify independently. Ask for a sample, print your actual label on your actual printer, and run it through your own wash cycle.
We supply free samples for exactly this reason. A ribbon that passes a supplier's lab test and fails your laundry is worse than no ribbon, because you find out after the garments have shipped.
How to run your own wash test
Print about 20 labels on your own tape and printer.
Attach them to a test garment or swatch and run your normal wash and dry programme.
Check legibility and scan the barcode after 5, 20 and 60 washes.
Keep one unwashed label aside as a reference so fading is easy to judge.
Ordering wash care ribbon
Send your printer model, tape width, core size and winding. No minimum order on standard sizes, and we send a free sample so you can run your own wash test before ordering volume.
Wash Care Ribbons: grades at a glance
| Grade | Prints on | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| CW-60 Wash Care Ribbon | Nylon satin ribbon labels, Polyester satin labels, Taffeta labels, Woven fabric labels | Garment wash-care labels; Composition and size tags; Industrial workwear labels; Laundry-proof barcodes |
Which label material prints with wash care ribbons
| Label material | Grade |
|---|---|
| Nylon satin ribbon labels | CW-60 |
| Polyester satin labels | CW-60 |
| Taffeta labels | CW-60 |
| Woven fabric labels | CW-60 |
| Paper or rigid synthetic labels | Not wash care — use wax, wax-resin or resin |
Not sure? The ribbon selector narrows it in two questions, or see wax vs wax-resin vs resin.
Sizes, cores and winding
| Widths | 25mm – 160mm, custom |
|---|---|
| Lengths | 50m – 600m |
| Cores | ½ inch and 1 inch (punching available) |
| Winding | Inside and outside wound |
| Most ordered size | 33–45mm tape widths |
| Minimum order | No minimum order on standard sizes |
Last reviewed: 30 September 2026
1 grade in this range
Frequently asked questions
What is a wash care ribbon?+
A ribbon formulated for textile labels, so the print survives repeated washing, tumble drying, ironing and dry cleaning. CW-60 is rated for 60+ wash cycles on nylon satin and taffeta.
What width do garment care labels need?+
Usually 33mm, 40mm or 45mm rather than the 110mm common elsewhere, because care labels are narrow woven tapes. We slit from 25mm upward so the ribbon matches your tape width.
Can I test a wash care ribbon before ordering?+
Yes, and you should. We supply free samples so you can print your own label on your own printer and run your own wash cycle before committing to volume.
Which label tapes print with a wash care ribbon?+
CW-60 prints on nylon satin, polyester satin, taffeta and woven fabric labels.
Can I use a standard resin ribbon for care labels?+
Not reliably: washing combines heat, water, detergent and flexing, and a standard resin ribbon is made for chemical resistance on rigid synthetics rather than woven tape.
How many washes does CW-60 survive?+
CW-60 is rated for 60+ wash cycles including bleach and detergent, high-temperature drying and dry cleaning; test on your own tape and wash program to confirm.
Is CW-60 dry-clean safe?+
Yes, CW-60 is listed as dry-clean safe and compatible with high-temperature drying.
Is there a minimum order?+
No minimum order on standard sizes.