Hand washing dry-clean only garments.

[herminia]

I have two dress - one a silky 100% polyester dress and the other a J Crew "cotton cady" dress. Both are dry-clean only, but I can't see why. Any tips on determining what will be damaged? Gentle hand washing with cold or warm water? Woolite?

Technically, these are "dry clean" items, not "dry-clean only."

Thanks.

Comments

[dreamer512]

Maybe to reduce any fading or sretching. I've always hand washed everything that's dry clean only, except for a wool coat, without any problems using Woolite.

[ipsafictura]

Is there beading or lace or any other delicate detailing? That is sometimes the reason for something being dry clean only. They also might bleed like the dickens, but I would -guess- you'd probably be fine hand washing instead, go with cold water and woolite, or castile soap.

[bkmichele]

Woolite is fine in my experience. I buy almost all my work clothes at Banana and J Crew and haven't ruined anything yet with Woolite. The only stuff I bother to send out are things I think might lose shape due to my lack of a good drying area.

yes you can!

[meequalcriminal]

i worked at a dry cleaner for about 5 years, and we could always suggest handwashing dry cleanables in COLD water, and laying/hanging to dry ...and yes woolitie is a good solution to use with things you don't want to fade..just a lil dab ol do ya

good luck
handwashing is usually better 80% of the time verses the cancer causeing dry cleaning solution anyways.... in my opinion ; )

[victoria7]

I wash nearly everything that says "Dry Clean" in the washing machine with cold water with a gentle soap and white vinegar to cut down on color fading/bleeding.

A few items hadn't made it over the years, but, overall, everything has been fine and I've not supported the terrible dry cleaning poisoning systems! :-)

The three things that you have to really worry about are shrinkage with the wool sweaters (wash those by hand), weird texture changes with some silks (check by putting some water in a place that you won't see), and fraying with some rayons or other weird fabrics.

Anything with beading, embroidery or extra decoration should go in a fancy washing machine net bag or a regular ol' pillowcase.