Do you find clothing labels itchy? Do you dislike having them hanging out? Would you prefer not to be a walking advertisement? If you don't think having somebody else's name emblazoned on the back of your jeans improves your looks, consider removing the labels from your clothes.
Step 1
Examine the label.
Is it sewn on separately? 
Is the same seam holding the garment together, as well? - Is the label made of fabric or is it made of something papery?
Step 2
Cut any hang-tags on a new garment with scissors. Do not yank or pull to remove them, since you could tear or stretch out the garment, or leave a hole that could grow with time. Also look carefully and remove any stickers, pins, stiffeners, and other packaging.
Step 3
Cut the tag out. If the problem is that the tag dangles out and shows, simply cut the tag out with scissors, being careful not to break any loops of thread. This is also your best bet if the label shares a seam that is holding fabric together. The down side to this method is that you may leave small corners of the tag that will continue to itch, depending on the label material.
- Occasionally, you can cut the label right up to the seam and pull the other end out from under the stitching. Look closely, and be careful not to cut anything that shouldn't be cut.
Step 4
Use a seam ripper to remove the label. Carefully use the seam ripper to cut each loop of thread holding the label. Try to avoid damaging the surrounding fabric or any seams that matter to the garment.
Step 5
Use tweezers to extract any stray bits of thread remaining once the label is removed.
Tips
- Make at least a mental note of the fabric care and laundering instructions before you chop out the tag that explains them.
If tags and labels bug you because they itch, look for garments that don't have tags or labels. An increasing number of manufacturers are labeling their garments with a light silkscreen inside the collar or top hem. So far, this tag-free technique appears mainly on underwear and t-shirts, but if enough customers like it and seek out these items, it might spread to other garments, too.
Warnings
- If the label you wish to remove is on the outside, either remove it when the garment is new or do not remove it. Otherwise, the fabric surrounding the label could fade more than the fabric underneath, and you will be left with a shadow.
- Seam rippers are sharp. Take care to avoid cutting yourself or tearing the surrounding fabric.
- Avoid pulling or tearing the label. You could rip out stitches or stretch out the garment.
Things You'll Need
- Seam ripper
- Tweezers
- Scissors
