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Washing 'dry clean only' clothes?
hieveryone
Posts: 3,858 Forumite
Hi all,
Looking for some advice on 'dry clean only' clothes. I have a couple of winter coats and a lovely blazer (in white!!! :eek:) that state dry clean only, but wondering if they can be washed at home.
Item 1 - Cream belted mac. 89% polyester, 9% viscose, 2% elastane. 100% polyester lining.
Item 2 - Another mac. Shell - 100% cotton. Body lining - 100% cotton. Sleeve lining - 100% polyester.
Item 3 - White blazer. 70% polyester, 25% viscose, 5% elastane. Lining 97% cotton, 3% elastane.
Any tips on whether these can be washed at home gratefully received.
Looking for some advice on 'dry clean only' clothes. I have a couple of winter coats and a lovely blazer (in white!!! :eek:) that state dry clean only, but wondering if they can be washed at home.
Item 1 - Cream belted mac. 89% polyester, 9% viscose, 2% elastane. 100% polyester lining.
Item 2 - Another mac. Shell - 100% cotton. Body lining - 100% cotton. Sleeve lining - 100% polyester.
Item 3 - White blazer. 70% polyester, 25% viscose, 5% elastane. Lining 97% cotton, 3% elastane.
Any tips on whether these can be washed at home gratefully received.
Bought is to buy. Brought is to bring.
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Comments
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Its the polyester lining that I would be concerned about. The length of the other fabric could shrink, then the lining becomes longer than the outer fabric.
However, I have noticed that they are white so I see your problem. I would only risk hand washing myself.0 -
I tend to wash most things in the machine, even if they say dry clean only - but never wool (unless I want dolls clothes :rotfl:)
I'd have a go at washing all 3 items - spot treating marks/stains with a bit of hand soap, and initially on a cool wash only. However, I'd be extra careful with items 2 & 3 (maybe try a wool wash) because of the cotton content. (You don't want any shrinkage!)
My downfall usually comes with ironing - I'm just not very good at it
(and I hate it 
) 0 -
Thank you both.
Sorry I should have been clearer, not all of the items are white, one is cream and the other is a burgundy colour, but they have make up marks on collar and the white one has a dirty mark on the sleeve.
My local dry cleaners has an offer on at £18 for two coats. I haven't dry cleaned anything in a long time so no idea if this is a good offer?
Bought is to buy. Brought is to bring.0 -
For make up marks I rub in a little Fairy liquid first. If the make up marks are really bad, I'll also give the area a gentle rub with a nail brush/Fairy. With the white one, give the dirty mark a rub with normal basic white block hand soap.
My theory is, if I can't wash it in the machine, then I can't afford to keep it anyway, especially if it's light in colour (what with paying for regular dry cleaning) - so I've nothing to lose.
The last time I went to the dry cleaners they trashed my favourite coat, so I don't bother anymore (which is why I would now rather use my machine). But in our area, the local cleaners charge between £6/£9 for a 3/4 length coat and between £9/£15 for a full length coat. hth 0 -
For make up marks I rub in a little Fairy liquid first. If the make up marks are really bad, I'll also give the area a gentle rub with a nail brush/Fairy. With the white one, give the dirty mark a rub with normal basic white block hand soap.
My theory is, if I can't wash it in the machine, then I can't afford to keep it anyway, especially if it's light in colour (what with paying for regular dry cleaning) - so I've nothing to lose.
The last time I went to the dry cleaners they trashed my favourite coat, so I don't bother anymore (which is why I would now rather use my machine). But in our area, the local cleaners charge between £6/£9 for a 3/4 length coat and between £9/£15 for a full length coat. hth
:eek: what happened when you went to collect it? Did they compensate you?
Bought is to buy. Brought is to bring.0 -
I am pretty sure you can wash all of them on a normal wash, as long as the water is stone cold to prevent the viscose and cotton shrinking, and don't tumble.0
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I use to work in a dry cleaners, from experience we have been brought in clothes that had been washed, and generally the lining is the aspect that is affected, usually the item shrinks but the lining stays the same.
If the label has an underlined P this means it needs a gentle programme.
When you dry clean macs there put in a special programme to have the clothes treated with a waterproof programme.
As for the white blazer, - we use to have to do whites / lights 1st thing in the morning when the chemical mix is cool.
I would say shop around, independant dry cleaner tend to be cheaper than the big named stores xxxx rip dad... we had our ups and downs but we’re always be family xx0 -
Thank you all.
I think I'm a little nervous to be washing them!
Whilst dry cleaning is an expense I could be well doing without, buying new coats from not following the instructions is an expense I really can't do!
Will shop around locally, thank you all.
Bought is to buy. Brought is to bring.0 -
I have successfully washed several 'dry clean only' items. One being a pure wool coat!
Like honey said, wash only on cold. Choose your most gentle cycle and use a small amount of delicate type liquid detergent. Once the cycle is complete remove from the drum immediately and hang up on hangers to dry. Of course, all at your own risk!No buying unnecessary toiletries 2014. Epiphany on 4/4/14 - went into shop to buy 2 items, walked out with 17!0 -
shandyclover wrote: »I have successfully washed several 'dry clean only' items. One being a pure wool coat!
Like honey said, wash only on cold. Choose your most gentle cycle and use a small amount of delicate type liquid detergent. Once the cycle is complete remove from the drum immediately and hang up on hangers to dry. Of course, all at your own risk!
I'm not sure my machine has a cold setting?
Bought is to buy. Brought is to bring.0
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