Washing symbol
Symbol，象徵，標誌。衣服標籤上的洗滌圖標你一定不會陌生，但你知道其中含義嗎？近日英國媒體的一項調查顯示，僅有不到七分之一的人能看懂常見的washing symbols，洗滌標誌，其中熨燙是人們最熟悉的圖標。數據顯示，雖然有近八成英國人認為查看衣服上的洗滌標籤很重要，但很少有人在購買新衣時會查看標籤。從性別來看，男性是看不懂washing symbols，洗滌標誌最大的受害者。超過四分之三的男性總是使用洗衣機上的同一程序。不過，這真是消費者的錯嗎？商家應該反省才對。
Fewer than one in seven people can correctly identify common washing symbols while a third of Britons admit they never check instruction labels.
不到七分之一的人能正確識別常見的洗滌標誌，而三分之一英國人表示，他們從不看說明標籤。
Some seven in ten confessed they have machine washed items that should have gone to the dry cleaners because they failed to look at the labels.
大約七成人承認因為沒看水洗標，將本應乾洗的衣物用洗衣機水洗了。
The ignorance about how clothes should be cleaned can cost families thousands of pounds, according to a sample test of householders by school uniform supplier Trutex.
根據校服供應商Trutex的一份家庭樣本測試，不知道該如何清洗衣物可讓家庭損失數千英鎊。
Men are the worst offenders with more than three quarters (78 percent) always using the same programme on a washing machine regardless of the instructions.
男性是最大受害者。超過四分之三（78%）的男性總是使用洗衣機上的同一程序，不管洗滌說明。
Almost half of women (48 percent) used just three programmes or less.
近一半的女性（48%）僅使用三個以下的程序。
While almost eight out of ten people (79 percent) believe it is important to check the labels on their clothes, less than half (39 percent) look at them when buying a new item.
雖然有近八成人（79%）認為查看衣服上的標籤很重要，但只有不到一半的人（39%）在購買新衣服時會查看標籤。
In the test some nine out of ten said they were unaware that some clothing should never be put in the tumble drier.
在測試中，約九成人稱，他們沒發現有些衣物不應該放進滾筒烘乾機裡。
Ironing was the most understood symbol however six in ten people automatically use a high heat steam without checking.
熨燙是人們最熟悉的圖標，然而，六成人不查看洗滌標籤就想當然使用高溫蒸汽熨燙。
Most women (90 percent) said they had learned how to wash clothes when helping their mothers as young girls with almost all (95 percent) separating out whites and colors.
大多數女性（90%）表示，她們兒時學會幫媽媽洗衣服，幾乎所有女性（95%）都將白色衣物和其他顏色衣物分開洗滌。
This compares with only 15 percent of men who helped their mothers or washed their own dirty linen when at home.
相比之下，只有15%的男性在家裡幫媽媽洗過衣服，或者洗自己的髒衣服。
One in four said they never looked at instructions and one in six had never used a washing machine.
四分之一的人表示，他們從沒看過洗滌說明，而六分之一的人從沒用過洗衣機。
Overall less than half (47 percent) of all who took part in the study 'often' check labels.
總的來說，不到一半的（47%）被調查者「經常」查看洗滌標籤。
Matthew Easter, managing director at Trutex said: 'The research shows a huge lack of knowledge when it comes to knowing what care labels mean and an ignorance of their importance.
TruteX公司總經理馬修•伊斯特說：「研究表明，關於洗滌標籤的含義，人們非常缺乏相關知識，並忽視了它們的重要性。」
'The labels are there so the best care can be taken of fabrics and show how they should be treated.
「這些標籤是為了讓面料得到最好的護理，並告訴人們應該如何打理衣物。」
'This helpful information can save time and money and ensure clothes last longer.'
「這些有幫助的信息可以節省時間和金錢，讓衣服更『長壽』。」