Poly/spandex: wash or dry clean?

abc

I recall a thread recently talking about care instructions on garment tags. I have a related specific question for the YLF community.

I have a new CK sleeveless shirt and the fabric is 95% polyester, 5% spandex. The tag says dry clean only (didn't notice it when I bought it).

Do you wash this fabric mix or do you stick to dry cleaning?

I am a believer that mfrs put the most restrictive (aka CYA) care instructions on the tag, so if there is no reason why this can't be washed, I am all for it.

But if there is something about the mix of fabric or that it's part rayon, or something that really makes it legit that it needs dry cleaning, I don't mind.

FWIW I would put it in a delicates bag and wash on a perm press cycle in cold water.

Thanks!

11 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from April

greycat6

Veteran

I will be watching this thread with interest as I often have the same issue.

Thanks for asking this!

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Hmmm, I am not sure. I think it depends on the polyester. I know sometimes they use dyes that bleed or inferior thread that will shrink as well as fabrication issues.

For me, it would depend on how much I love the shirt if I was willing to take the chance. I might try hand washing first, especially so that if the dyes bleed, it doesn't ruin anything else.

I will be honest, though, if it were me, I would end up taking the risk. I HATE the smell and feel of dry cleaning chemicals. I know, I know, no one else seems to know they are there. But I swear I can smell them and they bother my super sensitive skin.

11 years ago

Minnie

Active Member

I really don't know if it's ok to wash your shirt.
However, I wash almost everything saying "dry clean only" and so far have not had a problem.
More delicate items such as silk blouses or cashmere sweaters are machine-washed either on delicate or hand-wash cycle. Sometimes I actually hand-wash my more treasured items.
I have successfully washed my silk-jersey DVF dresses and earlier this year I even washed a nubuck coat. I was really very happy how that turned out. (I will not even try washing newer napa or suede leather though)
I think with more delicate items it's important to choose either a machine cycle with (very) low spin speed or to soak it in a sink and then gently squeeze the water out. My nicer items do not usually go in the dryer. I think the dryer is often harder on clothes than the washer.
I also use gentle detergent. A couple of years ago I switched to The Laundress detergents etc and am using those exclusively now.
On their website, they state that 90% of items marked "dry clean" are washable.
http://www.thelaundress.com/our-story/

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

All I can offer is that some possible reasons for the dry-clean tag are that (1) there is some kind of coating applied to the fabric to give it a sheen, and that will come off if washed in water; and (2) the polyester will pill badly if submitted to the agitation of water washing. If the reason for the care instruction is (2), then hand-washing might be OK as long as you don't agitate it much in the water.

11 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

For new stuff, I usually follow the manufacturer's instructions, especially if I paid a lot of money for an item, or if it is irreplaceable. But otherwise, I agree with Thistle - I hate the smell and the feel of dry-cleaning chemicals in clothing. Unless a garment is lace, silk, rayon or has an acetate lining, I will use the delicate cycle or hand-wash setting on most things things these days. (Sometimes I wash stuff by actual hand if it looks particularly delicate). I use lingerie/laundry bags that I get at Target to help reduce the friction or beating a garment might take.

For my part, I would do a little patch test, close to the hemline. Saturate a dime-sized spot with water, using a cotton swab, and see if the water does anything.

11 years ago

Elle

Veteran

With a dry clean only tag, you probably should dry clean it to be safe. That way, you won't risk damage.

In theory, you should be able to hand wash a poly/spandex blend. The problems come if they did a cheap job with the dye (so it will run when washed), if the fabric is unusually delicate, or if, as previously mentioned, there is a coating on the fabric. You won't be able to tell these problems until it is too late.

Having said that, I confess to almost always ignoring dry clean instructions. I hand wash (after getting an obscure corner wet first to see if the dye runs) including silk and rayon tops. There seems to be less risk when it just says dry clean and not dry clean only. BUT I wouldn't wash anything really expensive or anything I'd regret losing. You have to be able to accept the possibility of ruining the garment.

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Another thing you could try is contacting the retailer where you bought the garment (assuming you didn't buy it direct from CK). You could ask an SA if she knows of anyone who has the garment and has hand-washed it. When I was considering buying a cashmere sweater from Nordstrom, I asked the SA about the care instrux, which were dry-clean only. She told me that it would be hand-washable, that she washes sweaters like that all the time. So you might be able to get more info that way too.

11 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

Thank you so much for posting! I think I bought the same Calvin Klein shell from Macy's, and I will be returning. I have a few shirts made out of a similar material that I wash in the washer just fine, and I don't see myself dry cleaning something that should be simple and easy to care for.

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Usually you can hand-wash or delicate wash and air dry but may need ironing. I agree it depends on the fabrication, such as if it is designed to have a particular finish. If it's a run of the mill polyester knit or woven, most of those fabrics been washable for eons (that was part of the whole point of the polyester movement!) and it's a more recent construct to label everything dry clean. Not able to say for sure without direct experience with this fabric, though. Synthetics that I avoid washing are acetate and triacetate because water seems to do something bad to those.

11 years ago

Annie

Active Member

I have machine washed this fabric blend many times without any issues. I put it in a mesh bag and wash it on cold and gentle cycle.

11 years ago

abc

Veteran

Thank you all for the input.

I am a brain-dead MOTG / WFH so I didn't even think of doing a spot test, so thanks for that suggestion.

I did it and nothing ran (dye) - so I crossed my fingers and threw it in the washer (in a lingerie bag) on perm press (no delicate on this machine, grr).

It came out fine! So happy.

Thanks, all!

11 years ago

April

Veteran

I was going to ask if it's a stretchy knit or a woven. If it's knit, washing should be fine.

11 years ago

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