dry clean only?

Anonymous

Is a dry clean only label a deal breaker? I purchased this top this week, thinking it would be a versatile summer top. It is soft and has a nice drape and I love the color. It is 70% lyocell and 30% linen and the label says dry clean only. I have been trying to research this morning to see if that is an absolute statement with this fiber blend. Anyone have experience with washing this type of fabric at home?

The top is expensive and I only want to keep it if I think it will get lots of use! Having to dry clean an item takes it out of play, sometimes for a week, by the time I get around to picking up the dry cleaning!

Keep or return or take a chance and wash in cold on the delicate cycle?

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9 years ago

General

7 replies

Latest reply was from

Anonymous

It is a really pretty top - and with this particular fibre blend, it's really the drying process that's important (and why dry-clean only is recommended. You should be ok washing it in cold water (on a delicate cycle with little agitation) and hanging to dry - no dryer. Although lyocell is a synthetic, there still is a fair bit of linen here and you could end up with shrinkage if you did use a dryer....

9 years ago

kkards

Veteran

you could wash it, but it will probably shrink some -- in my experience when the label says dry clean only its often because the manufacture has not pretreated the fabric.
http://www.thelaundress.com/as.....tHEzEtXulI

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I'm not suggesting you go against the laundering instructions, but sometimes I will do just that and have had mixed results, including ruining a few things. Even things that are meant to be washed, after I hang up, I will pull on the seams and this helps eliminate wrinkles and stretch out the slightly shrunken parts. I wonder if it's the thread that shrinks.

ETA: a dry cleanable summer top would indeed be a deal breaker for me.

9 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Lyocell does tend to shrink and that would be my concern. If you wanted to try washing it I agree with lisap, delicate wash and air dry.

I used to avoid dry clean items entirely, which I think is a good idea if dealing with them will just frustrate you. Now I have some but they aren't items I would wear super often anyway.

9 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

Both lyocell and linen should be washable (cold water, delicate cycle, air dry) but do tend to shrink a little on washing. You could consider sizing up to allow for that. I also agree with JAileen that you can gently stretch out the wet garment to encourage it back to shape. But it's a risky business. I have had some hits and misses.

9 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I always dry clean my dry-clean-only clothes, because I am too afraid of damaging the items. I also learned from the SA at BR that sometimes clothing can have a coating on it (I suppose to add subtle sheen or something?), which can be removed when washed in the regular way. So sometimes it's not even just a question of what the fabric composition is.

If you bought the top from a midrange store or high-end store, you could try calling the store and asking one of the SAs if the top can be washed by hand. Oftentimes the employees buy the clothes of the brand for which they work, so sometimes they try these shortcuts themselves and can let you know what happened.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks for all the good advice!

9 years ago

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