OT: Clothing care

Shauntelle

So I was given several dressier knit shirts that I think will be nice to wear with blazers and cardigans this fall/winter but they say "dry clean only."

I'm wondering if I couldn't gently handwash them with woolite and air or line dry? One is like a lace shell from Black House/White Market, one is a silk blend knit that has some sequins around the neckline, a couple more are a rayon knit with no specials stitching or anything... I don't normally buy shirts that need dry cleaning, only dresses or suits, so I guess I'm mostly wondering if I"m going to do irreparable harm if I try to handwash them?

These are cute tops but if they really require dry cleaning, I will probably need to give them away since my lifestyle isn't one where I have the time or desire to run to the dry cleaner that often.

Thanks!

14 years ago

General

7 replies

Latest reply was from Charmian

April

Veteran

Hi Shauntelle -- nice to see you posting again! Have you seen this thread about rayon: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....age-common Apparently some forms of it are particularly prone to shrinkage.

I have a couple of thoughts. One is to choose the piece you're least fond of and try handwashing as you said. Another is to get a Dryel kit at the grocery store and do your own "dry cleaning" at home.

I handwash lace all the time and have no problems, but not sure what yours is made of?

A final thought: if the top says "dry clean only" it's probably not washable, but if it merely says "dry clean" it may be.

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I see no reason a knit top can't be handwashed and hung to dry. If your option is to give them away, then you aren't losing anything by attempting to handwash. The only things I personally dry clean are jackets and special occasion dresses. Everything else gets handwashed, or washed on my front-load washers gentle cycle.

14 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

I handwash most things and line dry. I have had a few things shrink up a bit (appeared more until it dried) and they were rayon knit so that might be the only one you are really risking.

14 years ago

Anonymous

As QM says, you won't be out anything to try washing gently. Rayon may come out of the water looking ruined...shrunk and crinkly; but hang it up and it usually smooths out as it dries and returns to at least close to it's original size and shape. Ironing will help further. I've used Dryell with a silk blend sweater with sequins successfully. You don't need to use the whole Dryelle sheet, just cut off part of it.

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I think you'd be OK handwashing. For the most part, I only dry clean lined items (suits, blazers) or formalwear.

14 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Dry clean is the way I would go:)

14 years ago

Charmian

Veteran

I would also try hand washing, if you're amenable to it. Dry cleaning (or your washer on its gentlest cycle) is harder on your clothes than hand washing. Plus, the products that you're willing to get on your hands are gentler on the environment than whatever so-called "green" chemicals the dry cleaner will use anyway!

As with several others, I wouldn't hand wash a special occasion dress or a jacket, but that's mostly logistical for me (they wouldn't fit in my sink).

14 years ago

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