Dry Clean or bung it in the WM?

Boatie_Bird

There's a definite autumnal chill in the air today so I dug my coat out of the wardrobe this morning. Trouble is it's looking a bit grubby and it's 'dry clean only'.

So my question is: Do you dry clean if it says so on the label or do you just bung it in the WM on a delicate cycle and hope for the best?

Biddyrolo

Personally I never dry clean but I'm not saying that's the wisest thing to do:rolleyes: , although up to now I've never had a disaster. Touch wood.

MATH

I used to work as a textile designer designing for a hugh English clothing store (they sell food too - I believe) :rolleyes: and I know that wash care lables are the biggest pile of doh dah going! Times I've seen dry clean lables stuck on items just because they are the labels in stock, why order five different care lables when 40 c wash or dry clean can be stuck on everything. I've even known dry clean labels to be used for no other resason than the dry clean lable is dry clean only LOL. This is really true I'm not being stupid!!

I look at the fabric blend and use common sense. A cool wash with minimum aggitation, gentle soap and light spin and you can get away with a lot more than you think you can put items in a pillowcase for extra protection too.

Over the years I have washed allsorts of dry clean only things from suits to heavily beaded evening/bridle wear with great results. My sofa covers are specialist clean only and have been routinly washed four times a year for the last 3 years - they look great!

floridadreamin

It really depends on what it's made from. I used to work in a dry cleaners and manufacturers often put "Dry clean only" to prevent washing machine horrors. Some people just don't know how to use their machine properly. If it's wool I'd take it to the cleaners.

Mado

I'm glad I am not the only one to ignore some dry clean only labels....

For one thing. I have always wondered what kind of horrible chemicals are used at the dry cleaner. (anyone know?)

Common sense is indeed your best friend. One of the main inconvenient of conventional cleaning is the weight of the item once wet. better think beforehand how you will dry it without stretching...

JennyB

Funnily enough I was wondering the same thing about a shirt I've just bought. It's a Karen Millen one, material is 76% cotton, 18% acetate, 16% polyamide, 2% elastine. It says "delicate dry clean only" - "low temperature, low moisture, low mechanical action, low drying temperature" and it has the P in a circle with a line underneath. It was very expensive and I love it so I don't want to ruin it but it's a work shirt so I am going to have to clean it pretty regularly and dry cleaning is so expensive and I'm rarely impressed by the results.

What do you think? Wash? No wash?

Boatie_Bird

I've just looked at the label on my coat and it's 54% Virgin Wool (is that wool from virgins?) and 46% polyester.
Not sure what to do, it was a bargain coat that I got for £10 in the January sales, but I do love it...

Boatie_Bird

JennyB wrote:

Funnily enough I was wondering the same thing about a shirt I've just bought. It's a Karen Millen one, material is 76% cotton, 18% acetate, 16% polyamide, 2% elastine. It says "delicate dry clean only" - "low temperature, low moisture, low mechanical action, low drying temperature" and it has the P in a circle with a line underneath. It was very expensive and I love it so I don't want to ruin it but it's a work shirt so I am going to have to clean it pretty regularly and dry cleaning is so expensive and I'm rarely impressed by the results.

What do you think? Wash? No wash?

Glad it's not just me!

jennybb

If you love it, perhaps not worth the risk - mind you most of my clothes these days are charity shop or similar I never use drycleaners. My daughter was playing in a bridesmaid dress the other day - strictly dry clean - but fine in WM - i tend to use short wash and a low temp. most of the time.

MATH

Boatie_Bird wrote:

I've just looked at the label on my coat and it's 54% Virgin Wool (is that wool from virgins?) and 46% polyester.
Not sure what to do, it was a bargain coat that I got for £10 in the January sales, but I do love it...

Don't know many wooly virgins, in fact thinking about it I don't know many vigins full stop. LOL:rotfl:

Wool is a funny fabric and as a good coat I would probably dry clean as coats arn't washed that often. OHHHH you've got me all undecided now!!

Disclaimer: MATH's cavalier attitude to laundry should not be taken as general fabric care advice. If your gusset ends up scorched, your trousers bobble at the crotch and you melt all the buttons on your flame-proof nightie, I take no responsibility. LOL:rotfl:

hilstep2000

I've got a lot of Jacques Vert and Condici suits (bought from ebay, nothing over £20!) and they nearly all say Dry Clean only. However, they are all polyester mix, and I wash them all the time!