I didn’t know how helpful washable labels would be until I started using them.
I used to constantly lose jackets, deal with mixed up laundry, and buy school clothes for my kids over and over.
Then I finally decided to try washable labels and my life was changed.
I wish I had discovered washable labels years ago.
I thought they were only good for daycare or kindergarten outfits. But everyone can benefit from using them.
Once I started using washable labels on clothing and personal items, staying organized became much easier.
What Are Washable Labels?
Washable clothing labels are stickers or iron-on labels that don’t come off when you wash and dry them.
Unlike typical stickers or if you write names on clothes with a Sharpie, washable labels:
Withstand Water
Won’t fade with heat
Survive detergent
Comes out of washing machines and dryers intact
Most labels are even safe to put on clothing care labels.
The best washable labels look brand new even after multiple washes.
Why I Started Using Washable Labels
My kids started school and every week I was missing something:
- Hoodies
- Water bottles
- Sports uniforms
- Lunch bags
- Towels
And other families seemed to have extra stuff showing up at our house that wasn’t ours.
Trying to keep permanent marker on clothing felt tacky and didn’t last long anyways.
Washable labels were the answer to all my problems.
Now all my kids clothes and belongings have a name label on them.
No more questioning. No more wondering who’se stuff it is.
Where Would You Use Washable Labels?
I thought washable labels were mainly used for kids clothes.
WRONG.
I use them on:
School uniforms
Daycare outfits
Sports uniforms
Jackets and sweatshirts
Blankets and towels
Lunch bags
Backpacks
Storage Containers
Clothes at nursing homes
Camp t-shirts
Whenever I had multiple people sharing clothing or fabric items, labels helped keep things organized.
What To Look For In Good Washable Labels
I tried a few different brands of washable laundry labels. There is a big difference between quality ones and ones that don’t work well.
Some of the cheap labels started coming off after one wash.
Others faded to the point where you couldn’t even read the name on them.
Here’s what to look for in good washable labels:
- Strong adhesive: They shouldn’t peel up at all at the edges when you wash and dry them.
- Print stays legible: It defeats the purpose if you can’t read the name on the label after a few washes.
- Soft texture: Cheap labels often feel stiff. Good ones are soft and won’t irritate your skin.
- Waterproof: them through countless washes and dryer cycles.
Last Longer Than Permanent Marker
I tried writing my kids names on clothes with permanent marker before washable labels.
It works… sort of.
Eventually the:
Ink starts to fade
Markers rub off
Clothes don’t look very professional
Clothes absorb the marker (gross)
Washable labels look a lot cleaner.
They’re also MUCH easier to read.
Mistakes To Avoid When Using Washable Laundry Labels
Buy the cheapest labels
Just because they’re cheaper doesn’t mean they’ll work well.
I bought really cheap labels once and they:
Lost their adhesive and had to be re-applied
Were crooked
Faded
Stuck to other clothes in the dryer
Were smaller than other brands
Did not work well
Did not save me time.
Skipping Research
I bought a set of washable labels without checking what fabrics they worked with.
They didn’t work well with cotton clothing. The labels started to peel off.
Take a few minutes to research your labels before you buy them.
Rushing Through Application
I learned that if I didn’t let the labels dry on clothes, they wouldn’t stick as well.
I also tried to write on clothes before putting the labels on.
The labels wouldn’t stick to wrinkled clothesCare instructions.
Are Washable Labels Worth The Money?
Yes!
They save me so much time not having to replace lost clothing.
If you have kids that go to school or wear sports uniforms, then washable labels are amazing.
Daily uniforms for daycare, colleges students, nurses, chefs, campers, nursing homes are also great uses for washable labels.
They make staying organized simple.
Washable labels are one of those things you don’t know you need until you use them.
Now life is so much easier.
I don’t have mystery clothes laying around.
Our family laundry isn’t mixed up with someone else’s laundry.
We don’t have to constantly buy new clothes for school because we lost them.
Washable labels work great on children’s clothes, but they can be used for pretty much anything.
Any time you have fabrics that need to be organized and kept straight, these labels will help.