Machine washing a Dry Clean Only item

cazs

I have a beige coloured mac/trench coat that I would like to clean.

It says Dry Clean Only but I know that you can sometimes put DCO things in the machine.

It's 97% cotton with 3% elastane and the lining is 100% polyester.

Can anyone advise please if this would survive the washing machine?

Thank you,

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I've washed lots of dry clean items,jackets in particular but never in the machine.
I always wash gently by hand using a mild liquid detergent and then drip dry on the line putting the item on a hanger to do so and smoothing it out so that its in shape.
Someone maybe able to tell you more but I would'nt risk the machine particularly if it's an expensive garment.

linni

I wash mine on the wool wash in the machine and have never had a problem. The only thing I look out for is the 'wool' content and make sure the temperature of the water is 30 degrees (or cold if it's wool). I washed my heavy red velvet curtains in the machine and they came out like new. I also use Stardrops as recommended on other threads. I would wash them by hand if they were 'delicate' items though.

Babymerlin

only this weekend i washed our DCO curtains, i washed them on a quick cycle (with spin) at 30. and came out perfect, not shunk (which i was worried about), and sparkling!!!

i also wash underwear which is hand wash only as normal, all been fine.

and clothes which are dry clean only i wash as the curtains, they have all been fine. the only things i dont wash when it says DCO is say dresses which have beads attached to the dress etc.

good luck.

Babymerlin

oh and PS: i washed my DCO mac last autumn as i took it in to be dry cleaned and would cost only few pounds cheaper than buying a new coat....! so i washed it myself......came out PERFECT.

horsechestnut

The fibre content would suggest that it is washable, but check that it doesn't have any kind of "finish" (being that it is a mac) that could be destroyed by washing.
Often manufacturers just put "Dry Clean only" to cover themselves in case people do something silly in the washing process!

soupdragon10

I often was DCO items, including macs on the gentles coolest shortest cycle on my washer then put on a hanger to dry. Never had a problem yet.

moonrakerz

The main thing to watch out for is if the lining and the coat react differently. The coat might stay put and the lining might shrink slightly (or vice versa !), while it is still wet, have a look and if you do see any differences just try and pull it back level again.

I've never had a problem, even with silk ties which are meant to be a NO-NO !

ormus

as above. the cost of dry cleqning is so high now, that weve put lots of stuff into the WM on a warm wash. 30 degrees.
cant remember any real problems at all.
so worth a try.

Paul_the_Painter

moonrakerz has it right, I used to sell curtains, and you can take a washable fabric, and a washable lining - stitch them together and the curtains are DCO, simply because the fabrice will shrink but at different rates.

The main reason for unlined garmets/fabrics to be labelled DCO is that the testing is actually quite expensive, think a couple of thousand or so. This doesn't sound like a huge amount, but on a limited run of a few hundered garments this adds up to quite a few quid per garment/metre of fabric. Therefore many manufacturers don't bother, as once you add a standard retail markup, you are adding possibly £10 to the price.

My rule has always been if it's lined dry clean, or hand wash very carefully. If it's unlined and not velvet/silk/beaded etc, chuck it in the machine!