And the care instructions are… DO NOT WASH!!! - YouLookFab Forum

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And the care instructions are… DO NOT WASH!!!

Scarlet

Veteran

Rather impulsively I picked up this scarf on the weekend because I liked the colors. I removed the care instructions tag this morning and saw I am advised, do not wash, do not dry clean, do not iron. Has anyone else ever seen this before??? It boggles the mind! I can only think the dyeing process will not hold up? Or what?? Oh well, I will enjoy my new scarf as long as I can *sighs and wonders what the world is coming to*

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35 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

Jjsloane

Veteran

That's a new one. I'm guessing a nice hang in the wind and sun will freshen it when necessary? Maybe a steam clean? It is very pretty.

Deborah

Veteran

It's a very pretty scarf! I have never seen that on a tag before. Do you think it will withstand a gentle hand wash?

krishnidoux

Veteran

Wow, in French it goes as far as <code>Lavage interdit</code>("Washing forbidden") ! I have never seen this before. What fabric is it made of? Beauticians will tell you that scarves are hidden nests of bacteria and need to be clean regularly. Can you take it back?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That's funny. I would think that a tumble in the dryer with some Dryel would not harm it. At the very least, a spritz of Febreeze and hang out in the fresh air? That's all I do to many of my scarves anyway.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Good gracious!

What is the fabric?

It is a beautiful scarf and looks lovely on you. I hope you get more than a few wears from it!

Marigold

Interesting! To me, a dry-clean only garments are a deal breaker already, but have never seen that on any label.. I'd think a gentle rinse in lukewarm water and hang dry in the wind wouldn't hurt it (it's almost like being caught on the rain?) - or a Fabreze spray and airing out.. That being said, I do wash the few scarves I have very rarely, but I also need to get in the habit of wearing them more!

Lynne

Veteran

It's hard to imagine handwashing with a gentle soap could damage it? Is it silk, Scarlet? The colours are divine.

Queen Mum

Veteran

hmmm, and it's polyester I noticed.
My guess is that the pattern is stamped on to the fabric and won't withstand washing.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*chuckle*

I bet you can hand wash this scarf in cold water. It's certainly something that I would try.

Mellllls

Veteran

it says its polyester so that seems really strange.

in all honesty, i don't think i ever wash scarves....how often do most people was theirs?

Queen Mum

Veteran

Melllllis.... I wasn't going to say so out loud, but I don't wash my scarves very often either.

Mellllls

Veteran

whew, i am glad i'm not alone!

Anonymous

When it needs freshening, I'd try the Dryel or steam. I was given an apron (an APRON!) that had a tag similar to that one..do not wash/iron/dry clean. It was a dark blue polyester and survived cold water hand washing with some fading. After that it got tossed. Too much trouble for an apron.

Heather

Veteran

Scarlet, that scarf is gorgeous and I totally think you can risk hand-washing in cold water. I honestly have only ever seen this tag on pleather items which read: do not wash or dry clean simply wipe down with damp cloth! HA! What?! Laundering at its finest.

Diana

Veteran

Agree with everyone that a gentle dip in cold water likely won't hurt. I mean, you wear it around your neck so it probably comes into contact with sweat or maybe rain anyway. I assume the color has not come off on your neck or shirt yet if you sweat...

The only other thing I can think of is it might shrink. But, hey, it's a scarf and it will still fit!

Scarlet

Veteran

Ha! Laundering at its finest!

Well I must admit I do not wash scarves very often, but sometimes it is called for. I suppose there is always the technique of balling it up and putting it into the freezer as was recommended in that article someone posted awhile ago about not washing jeans :o) I hope this tag doesn't also mean Don't Get Caught in the Rain because that happens A LOT!

You know, it wasn't that expensive, but it wasn't that cheap either.

Joy--that is unbelievable about the apron! Really, what is the world coming to?

ETA: Krishnidoux, I didn't notice that until I had snipped all the tags off, so I don't supposed I could take it back. I am actually kind of curious now to give it a dunk in *gasp* water and see what happens...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The mind boggles.

I wash my scarves a few times a season - they get a LOT of wear. Also, I always travel with scarves and I *cannot* bear the plane smell on them.

I don't mean to sound gross, but you should give your scarves a whiff. They *can* smell, and not in a good way. Or perhaps I have a sensitive nose

Janet

(website)

Veteran

No, Angie, you're totally correct. I've noticed the scarf smell too, yuck. Dryel and Febreeze to the rescue!

rae

(website)

Veteran

What the what now?? For polyester? Maybe it's not colorfast or something... how strange!

Vix

Veteran

That's a new one to me, for sure.

Although I did almost buy a ring until the salesclerk said, "BTW, the marketing materials say it can't come into contact with water." WT...?

Anyway: It looks gorgeous on you, so I'd wear it frequently and then cross my fingers it could take a cold water handwash + drip dry. And if it couldn't I'd know I'd gotten as much pleasure out of it as possible without becoming too attached to a long-term thang!

Maya

Veteran

I learned my lesson about smelly scarf syndrome the hard way--ironically at my first YLF gathering ever.

Yes, they definitely need a wash now and then. A "do not wash" label would be a dealbreaker for me...

Scarlet

Veteran

Ha! No washing your hands, Vix. Who thinks of this stuff? Glad you like it Vix. I thought it would add "my colors" to any old neutral I happen to be wearing. Your strategy is exactly my thinking.

Kari

Veteran

Yeah, I don't wash my scarves too frequently, either, except for those that I wear very often, or those that tend to get more sweaty (wearing thick scarves in the winter when I'm bundling up and am doing a lot of walking around.) I'm glad I'm not alone! I hear what Angie mentioned about the after-plane smell. Yuck. Even the clothing that I put into my checked luggage tends to have that stale airplane odor!

MNsara

Veteran

I swear it is manufacturer's laziness that makes them resort to some generic and totally lame instructions like that.

Ployester should always be washable when treated gently (cool water by hand, etc.), but they might have used a delicate weave any not trust the consumer's ability to wash properly. Some polyesters do not hold up well with dry cleaning, so you really might want to avoid that one.

I 'd cool water wash in a sink with a bit of soap/shampoo. Swish rinse in a sink of clean cool water. Roll up nicely flat in a towel, then hang over the bottom rung of a hanger to dry.

Pretty scarf, so it's worth keeping it around for quite a while!

Jonesy

Veteran

What the heck?! I agree with you and everyone else: A) what is the world coming to? and B) I would try washing it in cold water and being verrry gentle with it. It's a pretty scarf and looks lovely on you, BTW :).

Anonymous

How odd!

Try sticking it in the freezer. I've heard you can do this with jeans to kill bacteria instead of washing them.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I'd warm water wash in the sink with some gentle shampoo

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

It's polyester! Just hand wash it in the sink. I'm certain you will have no problems with it.

Mellllls

Veteran

angie, i promise i will start to wash my scarves

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