..."or dry clean" ?

Peri

I have many sweaters that give hand wash instructions and end by saying "or dry clean". What do you choose when you see that?

I used to choose dry clean because it is easier, but I kept seeing things that said dry cleaning is harder on your clothes. I've not had a problem with things coming out badly with dry cleaning but I do go to a "clean" cleaners...CO2 or something like that.

I was just trying to do more handwashing for the cost basically. Recently though I hand washed a favorite sweater...very gently too...and had it fade (like the wash water was green) and come out less silky looking. Now I'm inclined back to dry cleaning.

I'm just curious. When given the choice on a care label, which one do you go for? And which one do you actually think is harder on clothes?

1 month ago

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I usually do not dry clean unless it is something like a jacket or coat that will lose its integrity if I wash it. But if I had an eco dry cleaner with reasonable prices near me I might think differently. Not sure which is harder on the clothes because I do not have access or much knowledge about clean dry cleaning.

1 month ago

Kate

Veteran

I only dry clean my heavier wool coats, and that's just at the the end of the season (unless the coat has suffered a catastrophic accident that can't be blotted or swabbed away). Everything else goes into the washer, including all my wool sweaters, even if the maker recommends only dry cleaning or hand washing.

For the sweaters, I wash on delicate in cold water, with a low spin cycle. With a high spin cycle you can run the risk of felting the wool, especially in looser knits. A low spin cycle means I sometimes have to wrap my really heavy sweaters in a towel post washing to press out any retained water. Then I hang them to dry on racks.

1 month ago

Bijou

Veteran

What Jaime said!

I always wash when given the choice and even some items that have "dry clean only" tags, I handwash. I prefer the feel of items that have been washed, rather than dry cleaned.

1 month ago

Kathie

Veteran

With knitwear, if the garment is made of natural fibers, I hand wash even the ones that say “dry clean.” I don’t own any knitwear that is made of synthetic fibers and requires dry cleaning, so it can all be wet-washed. And, if it wears out, so be it. Knitwear quality can be so variable that I don’t worry too much about washing instructions.

1 month ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Agreeing with previous answers. I don’t think I’ve been to dry cleaners in years. Blazers or wool coats were about the only thing I ever had dry cleaned.

Hand washing or machine washing on hand wash or delicate cycle have worked well on everything I own.

1 month ago

phoebe

Active Member

I've always hand washed knits and dry cleaned woven but I currently have none of the latter.

I haven't experienced discoloration with any wool items but if I was cleaning a silk knit I might dry clean it as they can be prone to dye loss

1 month ago

kkards

Veteran

my experience is just because the water picked up some of dye, I haven’t noticed any fading or discoloration on my sweaters. But definitely have noticed a change in the hand, which generally steaming can improve. The good thing is that wool really doesn’t need to be cleaned often, unless you actually spill on it. I will wash most of my sweaters if needed, but always dry clean at them at the end of the season as that’s will kill any moths if there are any.

1 month ago

Irina

Veteran

I dry clean in two cases - when I want to make sure I preserve the shape. Or when it is a difficult knit, like a thick cotton sweater. Fortunately, I only have a couple of sweaters like that. Everything else I hand wash.

1 month ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The only thing I ever dry clean is my wool coats, and that, but rarely.

I wash everything else, especially knit wear. In cold water, delicate or knits cycle, usually in a laundry bag, and I lay flat to dry. Yes, occasionally a sweater looks a little different when it comes from the wash, but typically it relaxes with wear. Except for one or two exceptions, my knits are all merino, cashmere, or cotton or silk (or blends). I don't know how other fibres do but for me, dry cleaning equals a hassle (I'd have to drive there) and it's one I don't want.

1 month ago

MsMary

Veteran

I will admit I dry clean most of my knits (including my favorite sweatshirts) because my husband has a business account with the dry cleaners, so I just put my pieces in the blue bag and they magically reappear a week or so later. If I didn't have that convenience I wouldn't bother.

1 month ago

Peri

Veteran

Wow, with the exception of MsMary, my new wish to go back to dry cleaning puts me in the minority. Interesting!

1 month ago

cat2

Veteran

Dry clean here. We have a really great service that keeps garments looking fresh for much longer than if we wash at home.

1 month ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I take my coats to the cleaners who use a 'Green Cleaning' method. There are no harsh chemicals used, and the coats turn out beautifully. I am tempted to take some of my delicate silk blouses and older cashmere sweaters to them.
I previously had problems with dry cleaners, but these cleaners are excellent.

1 month ago

April

Veteran

My views on dry cleaning (and I used to work in a dry-cleaning store) were drastically altered by Patric Richardson's book Laundry Love. He says that basically nothing ever "needs" dry-cleaning but of course, that depends on your willingness to spend time using his methods to deal with fussier items.

I will say, as I always do, cashmere PREFERS washing and that I have machine-washed leather jackets many times with no ill effects.

An issue I have at the moment: my washer at the apartment has a "Tap Cold" cycle for items that truly cannot withstand warm water. And yet, when I open the washer at the end of a Tap Cold cycle, it steams my glasses. Likewise the "Air Dry" dryer cycle. Baffling.

1 month ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Generally, I am on Team Dry Clean when the label suggests it. That said, I do take the occasional risk

1 month ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

There are never *complete* guarantees for anything (especially these days, with so many different ways to manufacture clothes). Having said that, here's two things I've learnt:

1) if a tag says 'or dry clean', that usually means the item is OK with water - if it says 'dry clean only', it's *usually* because they're wanting to be extra careful (maybe the item is delicate). If the tag specifies 'do not dry clean', it's best not to expose it to water - either the item is hydrophobic or is more likely to suffer the issues you mentioned.

2) Apparently leather can be machine washed because leather is a skin. In other words, such animals are out in the elements at all/ most times, but their skin does not get damaged by water exposure. I've also heard similar about fur - because it's a type of hair, you can use baby shampoo to clean it! Disclaimer here that I have not tried either method though, since I own no leather or fur clothing. Second disclaimer that YMMV according to the quality of the leather/ fur lol.

Hope that helps

Sincerely,
~ Has never dry cleaned anything

1 month ago

Joy

Veteran

I find that dry cleaning takes care of pilling sweaters. I would dry clean. I do much of it in my dryer with Drell that I buy in the laundry section of Target. I tear the wet towel in two to make it go further. I hang sweaters and dresses to dry in my laundry room after treatment.

1 month ago

Suntiger

Active Member

I use Dryell too as long as the things aren't stained. Much quicker and cheaper than going to the dry cleaners.

1 month ago

Joy

Veteran

When it says that I tend to dry clean . Have you tried dry cleaning in the dryer with Dryell or something like it?

3 weeks ago

Peri

Veteran

I've decided to go with dry clean. The votes were mixed, but part of that seemed to be about the location and quality of the cleaners you had access to. I have an excellent "green clean" one. I know "green" is a controversial word these days and can mean anything but in this case it is decidedly better than a regular cleaners.

Thanks for the Dryell recommendations as a middle ground. I used that in the past but can't use it anymore due to my allergic contact dermatitis. Dryell is fragranced and has ingredients I need to stay away from.

3 weeks ago

anchie

Veteran

When you mention allergies, I did have terrible allergic reactions to freshly dry cleaned blazer some years ago and haven’t used dry cleaner since.

3 weeks ago

Peri

Veteran

Thank you Anchie, but I am safe with this dry cleaner...different method than most.

3 weeks ago

Joy

Veteran

Allergies are awful and tend to multiply you age. I am fearful of my mother’s allergy with anything elastic it is everywhere. I had problem finding pj’s without elastic that were easy on and off for someone wheel-chair bound with MS. She froze in winter but would not wear a sweat suit although they were popular as no one would believe she could walk or run in athletic wear. She only saw the function it came from. See what parents came from my Dad would never wear jeans as he was not a farmer. He even mowed and climbed trees in a suit and tie and dress shoes.

3 weeks ago

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