Ask Angie: Dry cleaning woven blouses (especially white ones)

nancylee

As a new convert to Team Woven Tops, I've been taking my blouses to the dry cleaners (ironing just doesn't get the wrinkles out as well). But I've been worried about the discoloration (for the white blouses, which tend to yellow during this process) and general wear and tear this places on the fabric over time.

How do you care for your woven tops? Do you dry clean them, or wash them on your own and press them? I'm considering washing them with bleach and then taking them to the dry cleaners for pressing only. It seems a little redundant, but maybe it's a good compromise.

Thoughts?

14 years ago

General

7 replies

Latest reply was from nancylee

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I dry clean most of my woven blouses, accept for my Ann Fontaine shirts with I lovingly pop into a special laundry bag and into the handwash cycle on the machine. I iron them afterwards.

I haven't had a discolouration problem generally, (accept for yellow marks on white shirts after years of wear). I think because my items are better end. I once had an express shirt that I took to the cleaners and it didn't wear that well.

14 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks, Angie. Right now most of my woven blouses are JCrew and Ann Taylor. I'll see how they fare at the dry cleaners over time. If they start to yellow quickly I might have to switch to a higher-end brand. Do you consider BB high end?

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Not high end, but better end for sure. I take my BB shirts to the cleaners all the time and the quality is just perfect.

14 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

My brother worked in a bank for years and had all of his shirts cleaned. I remember his biggest complaint was that the steaming damaged the buttons.

I checked the local cleaner and they charge $7 per shirt. Ouch.

14 years ago

Refugee

Veteran

If you have white blouses that have yellowed from the dry cleaners, I have a suggestion to help them. Soak them in warm (the hottest the fabric allows per the care label) distilled water and oxiclean. This can do a lot to save yellowed or grayed whites without the stress that bleach can put on the fabric.

14 years ago

rosee

Veteran

seconding Refugee's comment!!!

14 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks for the laundry tip, Refugee and rosee.

14 years ago

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