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Laundry symbols make no sense

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Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#101

Post by leephillips »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #66
carlmr wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they are a lot more intuitive than the old ones, but I'd need to look up some stuff. I don't know what's the difference between normal, perm press and delicate for example. Or why the 3 knobs on the washing machine should represent it The flask for bleach, and the drying symbols are much clearer though. The detail in some is a bit too high for some clothing tags, I'd agree on that.

Speaking of bleach though - when was the last time anyone here used bleach while washing clothes? I have never in my entire life done so.

I use it frequently.

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#102

Post by TwoHeadedBeast »

jrochkind1 wrote: post #67
masklinn wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also, while I can feel with my hand whether water is "cold," "warm," or "hot." I honestly have no idea what the actual temperature of the water in my washer is in degrees Celsius. The explicit temperatures are for machine washing, don't you just... set the washing temperature to whatever you want? If you're washing by hand, it's unlikely that you're washing above 40C, and that's if you like hurting yourself: at 50C…

My US market washing machine has settings for "hot", "warm", and "cold", but if there's a way to set temperature to a number, it is not intuitive and I am not aware of it (it may exist this is a 'digital' machine!). If it did have a way to set a wash temp to an arbitrary number, it would presumably be in F not C! I think this is typical for US washing machines? Do (eg) European washing machines instead typically have…

Yes, typically 30, 40, 50, 60 and 90.

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#103

Post by croes »

b112 wrote: post #78
detritus wrote: post #9

Within a second of seeing the 'improved' ones I spot what is, to my mind at least, an immediate failure - the detail resolution is far too small. It doesn't account for the printing limitations on small fabric tags, never mind the ability of old fogeys such as myself to be able to squint that hard and actually read them. I have no idea even looking on my screen here what the difference between the first three is supp…

I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…

Perhaps the symbols should simply be printed on the detergent packaging together with an explanation.

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#104

Post by Fatnino »

b112 wrote: post #78
detritus wrote: post #9

Within a second of seeing the 'improved' ones I spot what is, to my mind at least, an immediate failure - the detail resolution is far too small. It doesn't account for the printing limitations on small fabric tags, never mind the ability of old fogeys such as myself to be able to squint that hard and actually read them. I have no idea even looking on my screen here what the difference between the first three is supp…

I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…

Bleach and vinegar are both acidic, it's acids and bases (like ammonia. Main ingredient in Windex) that should not be mixed due to the potentially toxic gases they will produce.

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#105

Post by dpratt »

I would refer the author of this piece to read about Chesterton’s Fence, and then think about it in context of the subject of his article.

“There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, ‘I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.’ To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: ‘If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.’”

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#106

Post by Schroedingersat »

kgermino wrote: post #7

Some of these are better (the bleach one being the most obvious) but most of them are worse or neutral. If I don't know what a line under the washing machine means, how am I supposed to know what the 2nd button means. The line is at least more visible. It's similar for the iron. Maybe dots as temperature isn't obvious, but it's about as clear as the thermometer, is easy to read, and matches the icons on the iron itse…

The bleach one slightly reduces front loaded friction (ie. don't need to learn it) at the expense of being less legible, harder to print cleanly, less robust to fading and uglier. The others don't even really have the first benefit.

Which is exactly in line with 'good' ui design in software. So goal achieved, I guess.

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#107

Post by vidanay »

b112 wrote: post #78
detritus wrote: post #9

Within a second of seeing the 'improved' ones I spot what is, to my mind at least, an immediate failure - the detail resolution is far too small. It doesn't account for the printing limitations on small fabric tags, never mind the ability of old fogeys such as myself to be able to squint that hard and actually read them. I have no idea even looking on my screen here what the difference between the first three is supp…

I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…

> I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die.

You sure about that?

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#108

Post by april_22 »

mikeryan wrote: post #37
detritus wrote: post #9

Within a second of seeing the 'improved' ones I spot what is, to my mind at least, an immediate failure - the detail resolution is far too small. It doesn't account for the printing limitations on small fabric tags, never mind the ability of old fogeys such as myself to be able to squint that hard and actually read them. I have no idea even looking on my screen here what the difference between the first three is supp…

So I wear reading glasses and I’m with you the first 9 “improved” icons are indistinguishable to me at a glance. In particular the older ones with 20/30/50 are instantly readable where the new ones are not. The iconography is updated which is nice but the line weights are too thick.

line weights are too thick.

Way too thick, overlapping and thats why probably impossible to print on most textile labal printers. I also find most of the labels looking the same - similar to when Google redesigned their icons and not everyone liked it.

https://9to5google.com/2020/10/06/gmail-logo-workspace-redes...

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#109

Post by leephillips »

Fatnino wrote: post #104
b112 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…

Bleach and vinegar are both acidic, it's acids and bases (like ammonia. Main ingredient in Windex) that should not be mixed due to the potentially toxic gases they will produce.

So very wrong. Bleach is pH 12 or so.

(Chlorine) bleach mixed with ammonia (which is a base) or any acid, including vinegar, will release the chemical weapon chlorine gas.

Re: Laundry symbols make no sense

#110

Post by jeffwask »

Fatnino wrote: post #104
b112 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…

Bleach and vinegar are both acidic, it's acids and bases (like ammonia. Main ingredient in Windex) that should not be mixed due to the potentially toxic gases they will produce.

Bleach's pH is above 7 therefore it is alkaline not acidic
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