Dry clean vs wash at home - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Dry clean vs wash at home

Echo

Veteran

I have a pair of pants that is a stretchy polyester/spandex knit. They are harem-type pants with elastic at the waist and cuffs and are not lined. I just realized that the label says "Dry Clean Only."

With a polyester crepe or a lined item, I would always follow directions, but these are a stretchy knit material. Is there ever an occasion where a stretchy knit polyester/spandex could be ruined by washing? I would wash on delicate and hang dry, just in case, but I have other items that have the same fabrication and feel that regularly go through the washer.

So my question is when do you follow label directions and when do you cheat? Have you ever ended up ruining anything?

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from chadya

Karina

I use Dryell (at-home dry cleaning kit) for all my dry cleaning and have never had issues. I've done this for years for both myself and my husband's clothes. You can get the kit at Target or the grocery store. Honestly, with your description of the item I would hand wash and line dry, but of course that is up to you.

E

Veteran

I wash everything on my washer's hand wash cycle even if it says dry clean only, but I don't hang dry my knits: I dry them flat so they don't get stretched out. Don't know if that's helpful!

Diana

Veteran

I almost always wash everything at home. The only things I dry clean are my wool coats, suiting, and some formal dresses. Oh, and things with leather don't get washed either.

Like E says, it's best to not hang knits to dry since they could get stretched out or misshapen. Better to just lay them flat on a towel. If it's a lighter weight jersey type material it's probably safe to hang it.

Anonymous

What you describe is something I would hand wash and lay flat to dry unless you want then to stretch longer. I sometimes do this on purpose to get more length for a short top and, most recently, a pair of knit ankle pants.

deb

Veteran

I would wash them if it were me.

Golden

Veteran

I do exactly like E, I hate the chems in dry cleaning so I do a lot in garment bags in the machine on gentle and the hang dry in my closet. Works great!

rachylou

Veteran

Same. I wash everything at home. Air dry.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I do what E & Diana do with no problems.

crutcher

Veteran

I long ago put the dry cleaners out of business with Dryelle...I spot clean with the enclosed little cleaner each garment...usually only 3 because I find they clean better if they aren 't packed into the bag...Then, I put them in the dryer and I do deviate here by putting them on regular dry...As soon as the time is up and I mean I set my stove timer so they are not allowed to sit..I hang them up to perfection pull the pants straight, straighten blazer seams, etc...I usually let them line air for about a day...This way all of the smell is about out...
I have done this method with all of my clothes because of convenience, not having the awful dc chemicals in my house and saving a ton of money...

rute

Veteran

I sometimes cheat, it depends on the fabric, I don't read labels or compositions, I just feel the fabric and decide what to do. If it's an expensive piece I don't take chances and take it to the dry clean.
Maybe gentle cold wash?

gryffin

Veteran

Major chicken - I would dry clean (but, of course, I've had items ruined by the cleaners too) Good luck with whatever you choose!!

Helena

Veteran

I would wash them - primarily because anything dry clean I've ever bought gets worn until it needs a clean, then sits for 2 years until I get rid of it I will say I've only ruined one thing, a cashmere sweater, out of everything I've tried, so I think it has worked out for me on balance.

So to me there would be no loss - if they are precious though, don't risk it.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I only take my winter coats to the dry cleaners.

Thistle

Veteran

I am with Diana. Unless it is a wool coat, suiting or formal dress, I wash it on the hand wash or delicate cycle in my machine. And bras I wash by hand.

I won't lie, a few things have been ruined, but dry cleaning chemicals bother me a great deal.

Echo

Veteran

I think when these pants need washing, I will wash in cold water on delicate. Interestingly, I have a pair of pants with the same fabric content and the same feel/fabrication, but they are not from a higher-end department store. They give washing instructions to wash on cold and tumble dry low! If the pants didn't have the same fabric content and same feel, I wouldn't compare them, but I have to wonder how many labels on slightly more expensive items say to dry clean while a similar/same item labeled for a lower price range has washing instructions. Do they think that "Dry Clean Only" makes people feel better about a purchase? If anything, I would imagine it would discourage many buyers.

JAileen

Veteran

I can't recommend that you wash something that says dry clean only. Probably you can wash, but I have ruined a couple of things. One item was rayon, and the other was wool. Just thinking about them make me feel stupid for wrecking things I loved.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

For me dry cleaning is just too much of a hassle and an unnecessary expense. I rarely buy anything that needs it in any case.

So far I have one cotton jacket that came out oddly crinkled after washing, but since I got it on eBay for only a few pounds I'm not that worried. Some day I will figure out how to iron it back into shape.

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm a content - reader and fabric- feeler. These SOUND like something I'd have no problem washing at home. Acetate and some (not all) rayons, not so much. For me there are different decision points: can it take water, can it take a washer cycle, can it take any dryer heat at all. Many thanks to my Mom, who bought 1-2" test strips of desired fabrics and put through the washer before making a garment for me or for herself, to see if shrank/ puckered/ frizzled, and so I learned how different fabrics and blends behaved. Not infallible, but allows me to ignore many Dry Clean Only labels.

chadya

Veteran

poly/spandex can be washed in the machine. The only caveat for me would be if the waist band is stichted down or not or it could get twisted during washing.
Get a washing mesh bag and use that for your pants. I machine wash everything with those bags