OT- Fabric Frustration - 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

OT- Fabric Frustration

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Is this just me or are more items in the shops these days hand wash or dry clean only.

Monday may have been a holiday for the American and Canadian YLF'ers (happy belated holiday) but back in Blighty it was a run of the mill Monday. My chores for the day where to strip the bedlinen, clean the bathroom and do the hand washing.
The last took forever and I even lost some skin from my knuckle *OUCH*.

When I visited the shops on Saturday I put so many beautiful everyday items back because they could not be machined washed. Even some children's clothes where dry clean only!

I believe some designer pieces now come with the label 'do not wash', how's that for a disposable society.

Apologies for my rant but is anybody else having the same problem?

General

16 replies

Latest reply was from taylor

Louise

Veteran

I've noticed this too I think sometimes they do it to cover themselves.
I have a sequined skirt which says hand wash only. I machine wash it in a laundry bag on a gentle cycle and it's fine
A winter boucle coat which I've had 5 years (personal record) says dry clean only i've risked washing it the same way as the skirt and it came out fine. I think if it's silk etc then i'd dry clean it but i think if it's cotton, polyester etc it's fine on a cool wash in a laundry bag

Maya

Veteran

OK, I *know* this is probably not going to be popular YLF opinion...but there are 2 thoughts I have on this subject:

1) In the US we have home dry cleaning kits like Dryel. Do you have anything like that? It's actually easier to use than actually doing the laundry. Put your stuff in a bag with a little cloth and toss it in the dryer for half an hour. Done. I love this option as it has opened up a world of possibilities that were previously unavailable to me, and it is so much better for the environment.

2) This is the part that probably isn't YLF approved: I think much of the time, dry cleaning is a big scam. I discovered this when I accidentally tossed a silk cowl neck top in the washer and it came out absolutely fine. Since then, I have been washing all my silk garments in cold water, gentle cycle, and all of them have come out perfect (give or take a little ironing).

Through a lot of trial and error, I have found that some allegedly DCO items can be washed while others cannot. But I realize most people will be afraid to do this as they don't want to risk ruining their beautiful and expensive items, which I understand. To be fair, I *have* ruined a couple of things, but those were accidents. One was a merino sweater from J Crew which shrunk down to a child's size, and one is a quilt that the salesgirl assured me was safe for washing. Apparently not.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hmm....the only items I hand wash are my bras. Everything else I either dry clean (mostly because even though the items can be machine washed and air dried, I don't have a lot of time to iron and the dry cleaner's also press the items), or wash on gentle in a lingerie bag and air dry. I think my stuff stays nice a long time. I only put socks and lounge t-shirts/workout gear in the dryer.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I agree- I think that it's partly to cover their own behinds that they will label things Dry Clean Only. It might also be that in this economy, manufacturers are trying to skimp on fabrications which might not stand up to washing machines. I don't have any problem finding items that I can wash, but my wardrobe is very casual.

marianna

Veteran

I've noticed this too. Even some of my very casual tops say "Dry clean only" and I don't believe it or listen to it. I wash these items on a gentle/delicate cycle and they always turn out just fine (I always air dry). Last time I was at Forever 21 (cheap cheap store) I noticed many items said DCO also -- probably because these clothes might fall apart in the wash!

I generally dislike spending money on dry cleaning and I only have a few items which I dry clean (sweaters, mostly). Otherwise, gentle cycle it is.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The trick is to have a hand wash cycle on your washing machine. I do all my hand washing that way – in the machine. Does that make sense, Julie?

Ellen

I have been reading a book called "Organic Housekeeping", which is excellent for understanding cleaning products and methods which are safer for both us and the environmet... and which tend to be much more gentle on whatever it is you are cleaning!

The author's point about dry cleaning is that many DCO-labelled-items are ether a) a result of a company covering their rear regarding damage, b) a sign of cheap manufacturing in which fabrics have been neither pre-shrunk nor dye-set properly, or c) concern for the delicacy of a particular fabric.

In light of this, she says (and I have found it is true) that most DCO items can be washed in the handwash/delicate cycle of the wash machine, even better if in a lingerie bag to protect them from the agitation. Detergents meant specifically for delicates will also help in protecting them. Then air dry the items. You should be fine 90+% of the time. Just ask yourself WHY the label says DCO, then take precautions in the appropriate areas (dye bleeding, shrinkage, etc).

marianne

Most of my wardrobe is machine washable, and I still wash DCO items on gentle cycle in a mesh bag. I air dry most of my stuff. The only things I get dry cleaned are coats, dress pants and jackets - once in a blue moon. I haven't been buying silk items lately, just because they are high maintenance, but I've washed them successfully in the past. I actually don't like dry cleaning them, because sometimes they get a weird sheen from the press - maybe they keep the temperature too high. Besides, dry cleaning is outrageously expensive IMO.
I've also used those home kits, but the only thing they do is get rid of odor. You can pretty much get the same result by airing them out.
I also agree with Marianna - many cheaply made items, especially knits, just can't stand the washing.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I do not have a hand was cycle on my washing machine but I do have a delicate 40 degree wash or a 35 degree wool wash. Do you think they could work? Honestly this would revolutionise my Monday's!

fathenry

Veteran

I truly do not consider buying anything that I cannot wash in the washer. My dry clean items languish for months and months at the bottom of the laundry pile. I am often drawn to silk but I just put it back on the rack rather than bother at this point.

Beyond silk, most other fabrics I have had good luck washing on the delicate cycle and hang dry/flat dry. One exception would be cashmere, for that I put it in with dryell.

One other exception, I have some mid weight lined wool pants that I've had for 4 years or so, I'm going to have them pressed and dry cleaned to give them a new life this fall.

Melanie

RoseandJoan,

I don't have a special handwash programme on my machine either, but I do have a 30% silks/delicates programme and a wool programme. I wash all my handwash items with these programmes and no damage yet. But I have occasionally mixed up the handwash items with, say, a cotton sheet wash and the handwash items have shrunk or got matted.

Why don't you try a couple of the least precious things and build your confidence up that way.?

I don't tumble dry nice clothes any more because I think the drying is both shrinking cos of the heat and damaging. Instead I invested in a standalone radiator and drape all my items over that.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Delicate is good! Can you set your machine to cold water washing, Julie? That's the next trick! I’d experiment with one item and take it from there. No tumble drying. Ever.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thank you everyone for your responses. I don't own a tumble drier so that won't be an issue. As I don't want to use treasured items as guinea pigs I may thrift a couple of inexpensive hand wash items and see how it goes. I really hope it works.

shana

Veteran

I have a terrific washing machine that has a handwash cycle as well as a delicates cycle (and it is a front-loader so much less wear & tear than a traditional top-loader with agitator). I almost never dry clean anything (other than coats or suits) and have even washed clothes that I used to dry clean (e.g. silk shirts & cashmere sweaters) and haven't had any issues. I think the key is the cold water setting - I think even 35 might be a little warm for delicates. If I am really concerned, I will hand wash in the sink which I do while the kids are in the bath!

medusa

Veteran

I definitely machine wash clothes that are supposed to be hand washed, and machine wash some dry clean only items.

I do still dry clean garments that have two different fabrics - like a wool blazer with a lining - because I worry that if they shrunk differently in the wash they would be ruined.

taylor

Veteran

The dry cleaners in my town love me....I have learned the hard way and ruined far too many items to attempt to machine wash dry clean only items...although I admire you that do successfully.

When I was a SAHM I didn't wear dry clean only items very often, just wasn't practical