https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:13:45 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1808349 Sat, 13 May 2017 23:07:48 +0000 jill58 1808349@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't dry clean anything anymore. If it can't be washed, I don't want it. I even washed my wool blend winter coat in the washing machine and it came out looking great. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it but I did it and it was fine.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1808302 Sat, 13 May 2017 18:36:34 +0000 minimalist 1808302@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Meredith, I thought that pressing silk while damp could damage the fibers. Perhaps the effect isn't enough to present a real risk to the garment, though? </p> <p>I was also under the impression that washing silk in water would "stain" the entire piece, rendering it unthreatened by water spots, unlike silk that's always dry cleaned. That's been true in my experience, but it could just be coincidence. </p> <p>I've cut the tags on a "dry clean only" 100% viscose, 92%-discounted Kate Spade cutaway-shoulder ruffle top, and am probably going to hand wash it inside-out. Am not optimistic. It can afford to lose length, and normally I wouldn't be so hesitant about a $12.93+tax garment, but this seems like a top that should have gone to someone who adores the brand and doesn't expect 30 wears. Out of curiosity, I'm going to count the wears. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805947 Sun, 07 May 2017 02:17:40 +0000 Meredith 1805947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Minimalist, I am curiously why you recommend against ironing when damp? When I was taught how to iron my mom instilled in me a deep fear of water spots from ironing dry silk with steam. Am I going about it all wrong? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805932 Sun, 07 May 2017 01:47:39 +0000 cindysmith 1805932@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hardly ever take clothes to the dry cleaners anymore. When I do, it's something really hard to do myself, like a winter coat or something with a print that may bleed and be ruined if I do it myself (learned that lesson the hard way).</p> <p>For natural fibers in solid colors, I hand wash in cool or cold water with baby shampoo or laundry detergent designed for delicates. I don't wring the water out if them, I spin them or just leave them dripping wet. Line dry or flat dry, and the appropriate heat setting for ironing (low heat lots of steam for silks, higher heat for cottons with lots of steam, higher for linen with lots of steam, and wool gets high heat with lots of steam). I don't use a lot of pressure with the iron.</p> <p>Baby shampoo is a wonderful thing, because it's gentle yet it's still shampoo and shampoo is great at removing protein stains like blood. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805870 Sat, 06 May 2017 21:59:41 +0000 barbaraq 1805870@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JAileen, I forgot to add: &nbsp;don't panic if the top takes on a stiff, woody texture when it is wet - that's what rayon does. &nbsp;It will press out nicely when you iron it and regain the lovely drapy quality it has now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805842 Sat, 06 May 2017 19:16:10 +0000 minimalist 1805842@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another long-time Miele fan here. (No affiliation, either.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805841 Sat, 06 May 2017 19:11:37 +0000 The Cat 1805841@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Monica, yes, Miele machines are among the very best. Top reputations. And they last and last ... My parents have had theirs for more than 20 years, the whole family has used it a lot, and there have been no problems. (I suddenly notice that it sounds like I'm paid by Miele, Well, I am NOT. But if anyone from Miele reads this, I surely wouldn't mind receiving a small (or large) amount for speaking so appreciatively about your machines. )</p> <p>I have also access to an Electrolux machine with a fast, mild but effective hand wash programme. It has been used for several "dry clean only" and other delicate items, always with good results. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805840 Sat, 06 May 2017 19:09:32 +0000 Verdy 1805840@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just to add to what others have already said - it is important to use a detergent that is specifically made for washing silk! Some bio- powders/detergents can damage silk. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805831 Sat, 06 May 2017 18:24:38 +0000 anchie 1805831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am probably not good reference since I don't do dry cleaning and wash everything - even my Theory wool suit. I have not ruined anything yet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805829 Sat, 06 May 2017 18:22:09 +0000 minimalist 1805829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Keep in mind that washing can change the feel of silk. Raw silk will lose its shine and stiffness, for example, which can change a dressy garment into a casual one. (For me that's a feature, not a bug.)</p> <p>I wouldn't iron silk when damp. </p> <p>JAileen, after losing a rayon garment to careful, cold gentle wash in front-loading machine, I avoid rayon unless the garment length to spare. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805826 Sat, 06 May 2017 18:10:21 +0000 Greyscale 1805826@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wash all my silk except two blouses I'm saving in pristine condition. The thinner the silk, the more it shrinks, in my experience. </p> <p>I used to do them by hand but now I use the delicate cycle on my machine. I should probably go back to hand washing but I wear a lot of silk. Haven't seen a difference between hand or machine washing as long as I do a very short cycle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805815 Sat, 06 May 2017 17:13:38 +0000 harmonica 1805815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We bought it 8-10 years ago and I insisted on top quality because of all the laundry that comes with toddlers (and cloth diapers). It's a Miele machine, one of their most advansed for households. I have not regretted one single day. It really stands out when it comes to washing delicate fabrics.</p> <p>ETA: beautiful top. How are the seams? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805814 Sat, 06 May 2017 17:11:54 +0000 Anonymous 1805814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have that Loft top and plan to hand wash it. I have hand washed and blotted and hung to dry unlined silk, wool and rayon items. They feel better next to the skin too. Silk should be treated gently and not given a long soak. The water weakens the fibers while wet. If lined in acetate, do not wash, unless someone has done this successfully. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805809 Sat, 06 May 2017 17:00:23 +0000 The Cat 1805809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting points from harmonica. Harmonica, which washing machine do you have? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805807 Sat, 06 May 2017 16:48:22 +0000 harmonica 1805807@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with others on cold water, mesh bag (sometimes 2x) and gentle program on washing machine. Must add that the quality on water, detergent and the machine itself are factors that weigh in. We've had several washing machines and there is a huge difference in how well they did the job. The one we have now is by far the best. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805799 Sat, 06 May 2017 16:22:13 +0000 barbaraq 1805799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JAileen, I think you could carefully hand wash it. &nbsp;Rayon shrinks like crazy, particularly in length. &nbsp;When I sew a rayon garment I always pre-wash the fabric and put it in the dryer to deal with the shrinkage. &nbsp;But I think you could wash it. &nbsp;Be very gentle, cold water, no wringing it out, and air dry. &nbsp; Press with as cool an iron temperature as you can. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805774 Sat, 06 May 2017 14:50:50 +0000 Elle 1805774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hand wash silks and rayons all the time. I don't rub them and dry flat.I think that often they put that label on when the dye isn't set propertly - so on new items, I dip a corner first in cold water to see if the colors run.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805772 Sat, 06 May 2017 14:38:03 +0000 JAileen 1805772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I ended up buying the Loft top after first rejecting it. (It looked bad with the jeans I was wearing). Yesterday I noticed it was dry clean only! It is 100 percent rayon. Do you think it would be hand washable? I am against dry clean for things like tops. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805770 Sat, 06 May 2017 14:28:05 +0000 Irina 1805770@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wash silks in cold water. Consider, it will shrink after any wash. Hard to say by how much. I learn to buy one size up for myself in anticipation. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805757 Sat, 06 May 2017 13:52:15 +0000 The Cat 1805757@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes! I use a detergent for wool (detergents for wools are the mildest), choose the most delicate cycle in the washer, and let the item air dry in house. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805752 Sat, 06 May 2017 13:47:25 +0000 Diana 1805752@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Definitely washable but like Mel said don't scrub or wring it while wet. Silk has an odd property of being weak when wet but strong when dry. so don't wring it to get the excess water out! (You can press it gently or blot with a towel instead.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805746 Sat, 06 May 2017 13:34:08 +0000 Mel 1805746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of the reason silk is dry clean only is because it is a very delicate fabric, so be sure not to rub the fabric in anyway while you are washing it. I ruined a silk shirt once by trying to very gently scrub out some stains.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805745 Sat, 06 May 2017 13:33:48 +0000 unfrumped 1805745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As above! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805743 Sat, 06 May 2017 13:31:07 +0000 ma 1805743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yay! Goodnews! Thanks, ladies!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805739 Sat, 06 May 2017 13:08:37 +0000 Janet 1805739@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I do the same -- machine wash on the gentle cycle in a mesh bag, and hang or lie flat to dry. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805734 Sat, 06 May 2017 12:35:24 +0000 Anonymous 1805734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's a pretty top! It has a nice flow-y shape - what a good find!<br /> I do the same as Meredith - delicate cycle in lingerie bag. Do dry flat, it could stretch out if you hang dry. I like to steam rather than iron silks, because it is easier. If I iron them, I use a pressing cloth - which can be something like a thin kitchen towel, pillowcase, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805733 Sat, 06 May 2017 12:25:19 +0000 always trying 1805733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, hand wash and dry flat or hang depending on the garment. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805728 Sat, 06 May 2017 11:50:08 +0000 Meredith 1805728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wash silk all the time. Hand wash or delicate cycle in washer (in laundry bag) with mild detergent and hang to dry. You will probably need to iron it and I suggest doing that while it is still damp.</p> <p>Pretty tank! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-ever-wash-your-dry-clean-only-items#post-1805721 Sat, 06 May 2017 11:12:07 +0000 ma 1805721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>...Or will I ruin my clothes? &nbsp;</p> <p>I thrifted this silk tank and it says dry clean only on tag, but I don't really want to make a trip to the cleaners for this one small thing.</p> <p>Any feedback appreciated.&nbsp; </p>