https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:51:14 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1212420 Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:01:04 +0000 April 1212420@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was going to ask if it's a stretchy knit or a woven. &nbsp;If it's knit, washing should be fine. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1212392 Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:14:51 +0000 abc 1212392@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all for the input.</p> <p>I am a brain-dead MOTG / WFH so I didn't even think of doing a spot test, so thanks for that suggestion.</p> <p>I did it and nothing ran (dye) - so I crossed my fingers and threw it in the washer (in a lingerie bag) on perm press (no delicate on this machine, grr).</p> <p>It came out fine! &nbsp;So happy.</p> <p>Thanks, all! &nbsp;:D </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1205789 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:55:11 +0000 Annie 1205789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have machine washed this fabric blend many times without any issues. I put&nbsp;it in a mesh bag and wash it on cold and gentle cycle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1205727 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:10:57 +0000 unfrumped 1205727@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Usually you can hand-wash or delicate wash and air dry but may need ironing. I agree it depends on the fabrication, such as if it is designed to have a particular finish. If it's a run of the mill polyester knit or woven, most of those fabrics been washable for eons (that was part of the whole point of the polyester movement!) and it's a more recent construct to label everything dry clean. Not able to say for sure without direct experience with this fabric, though. Synthetics that I avoid washing are acetate and triacetate because water seems to do something bad to those. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1205714 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:02:55 +0000 Liz A. 1205714@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you so much for posting!&nbsp; I think I bought the same Calvin Klein shell from Macy's, and I will be returning.&nbsp; I have a few shirts made out of a similar material that I wash in the washer just fine, and I don't see myself dry cleaning something that should be simple and easy to care for. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204954 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 20:02:18 +0000 Gigi 1204954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another thing you could try is contacting the retailer where you bought the garment (assuming you didn't buy it direct from CK). You could ask an SA if she knows of anyone who has the garment and has hand-washed it. When I was considering buying a cashmere sweater from Nordstrom, I asked the SA about the care instrux, which were dry-clean only. She told me that it would be hand-washable, that she washes sweaters like that all the time. So you might be able to get more info that way too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204943 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:50:29 +0000 Elle 1204943@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>With a dry clean <u>only</u> tag, you probably should dry clean it to be safe.&nbsp; That way, you won't risk damage.&nbsp; </p> <p>In theory, you should be able to hand wash a poly/spandex blend.&nbsp; The problems come if they did a cheap job with the dye (so it will run when washed), if the fabric is unusually delicate, or if, as previously mentioned, there is a coating on the fabric.&nbsp; You won't be able to tell these problems until it is too late.&nbsp; </p> <p>Having said that, I confess to almost always ignoring dry clean instructions. I&nbsp; hand wash&nbsp; (after getting an obscure corner wet first to see if the dye runs) including silk and rayon tops. There seems to be less risk when it just says dry clean and not dry clean only. &nbsp; BUT I wouldn't wash anything really expensive or anything I'd regret losing.&nbsp; You have to be able to accept the possibility of ruining the garment.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204934 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:41:34 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1204934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For new stuff, I usually follow the manufacturer's instructions, especially if I paid a lot of money for an item, or if it is irreplaceable. &nbsp; But otherwise, I&nbsp;agree with Thistle - &nbsp;I hate the smell and the feel of&nbsp;dry-cleaning chemicals in clothing. &nbsp;Unless a garment&nbsp;is lace, silk,&nbsp;rayon or has an acetate lining, I will use the delicate cycle&nbsp;or hand-wash setting on most things things these days. &nbsp; (Sometimes I wash stuff&nbsp;by actual hand if it looks particularly delicate). &nbsp;I use lingerie/laundry bags that I get at Target to help reduce the friction or beating a garment might take.</p> <p>For my part, I would do a little patch test, close to the hemline. &nbsp; &nbsp;Saturate a dime-sized spot with water, using a cotton swab, and see if the water does anything. &nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204925 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:28:32 +0000 Gigi 1204925@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>All I can offer is that some possible reasons for the dry-clean tag are that (1) there is some kind of coating applied to the fabric to give it a sheen, and that will come off if washed in water; and (2) the polyester will pill badly if submitted to the agitation of water washing. If the reason for the care instruction is (2), then hand-washing might be OK as long as you don't agitate it much in the water. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204902 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 18:59:12 +0000 Minnie 1204902@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really don't know if&nbsp;it's ok to wash your shirt. :-)<br />However, I wash almost everything saying "dry clean only" and so far have not had a problem.<br />More delicate items such as silk blouses&nbsp;or cashmere sweaters&nbsp;are machine-washed either on delicate or hand-wash cycle. Sometimes I actually hand-wash my more treasured items.<br />I have successfully washed my silk-jersey DVF dresses and earlier this year I even washed a&nbsp;nubuck coat. I was really very happy how that turned out. (I will not even try washing newer napa or suede leather though)<br />I think with more delicate items it's important to choose either a machine cycle with (very) low spin speed or to soak it in a sink and then gently squeeze the water out. My nicer items do not usually go&nbsp;in the dryer. I think the dryer is often harder on clothes than the washer.<br />I also use gentle detergent. A couple of years ago I switched to The Laundress detergents etc and am using those exclusively now.<br />On their website, they state that 90% of items marked "dry clean" are washable.<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.thelaundress.com/our-story/"><a href="http://www.thelaundress.com/our-story/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thelaundress.com/our-story/</a> </a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204804 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 17:15:52 +0000 Thistle 1204804@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmm, I am not sure. I think it depends on the polyester. I know sometimes they use dyes that bleed or inferior thread that will shrink as well as fabrication issues.</p> <p>For me, it would depend on how much I love the shirt if I was willing to take the chance. I might try hand washing first, especially so that if the dyes bleed, it doesn't ruin anything else.</p> <p>I will be honest, though, if it were me, I would end up taking the risk. I HATE the smell and feel of dry cleaning chemicals. I know, I know, no one else seems to know they are there. But I swear I can smell them and they bother my super sensitive skin.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204766 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:44:49 +0000 greycat6 1204766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I will be watching this thread with interest as I often have the same issue.</p> <p>Thanks for asking this!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/polyspandex-wash-or-dry-clean#post-1204759 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:36:46 +0000 abc 1204759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I recall a thread recently talking about care instructions on garment tags. &nbsp;I have a related specific&nbsp;question for the YLF community.</p> <p>I have a new CK sleeveless shirt and the fabric is 95% polyester, 5% spandex. &nbsp;The tag says dry clean only (didn't notice it when I bought it). &nbsp;</p> <p>Do you wash this fabric mix or do you stick to dry cleaning?</p> <p>I am a believer that mfrs put the most restrictive (aka CYA) care instructions on the tag, so if there is no reason why this can't be washed, I am all for it.</p> <p>But if there is something about the mix of fabric&nbsp;or that it's&nbsp;part rayon, or something that really makes it legit that it needs dry cleaning, I don't mind.</p> <p>FWIW I would put it in a delicates bag and wash on a perm press cycle in cold water.</p> <p>Thanks!</p>