Ponte Knit pants - can I wash these?

Transcona Shannon

When I went to Winner's last night for towels, I saw these Louben ponte knit slim leg pants and tried them on. They fit beautifully, are a wonderful weight (substantial) and are the perfect length requiring no hemming. They'd be perfect for Angie's knit pant formula and were only $49.99.

But the instructions do say dry clean only based on the fabrication (a mix of nylon, rayon and spandex). I do not want knit pants that have to be dry cleaned. Do you think these could be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle and laid flat to dry? or would they shrink?

http://www.shopping.com/louben.....baA==/info

13 years ago

Shopping

9 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Lyn D.

Veteran

Shannon, they look good, price is good.
Fabric doesn't read like something that would shrink if washed in cold water. Let 's see what others have to say.

13 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Shannon I would say washing at home should be fine. I wash so many things that are supposed to be dry clean only:). I have just washed a pair of ponte black pants myself (first time) and they are looking fine, but I will pop back when I have slipped them on to let you know (they are just drying at the moment). If I am unsure, I will put the garment in the machine on its own and customize the cycle ie I will only put it through one wash and then drain and spin. The other option would be a hand wash but I would be suprised if you needed to do that:)

13 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, I picked up a pair of knit pull on pants with a seam down the front at Costco for $25. They came in charcoal grey and black and in 30" or 32" inseam. They are cold wash and dry flat. They may be an alternative if you don't want to risk washing.

13 years ago

missvee

Veteran

I had a pair of ponte pants ( note the past tense) and when washed in cold water they shrunk about an inch and a half. They weren't very expensive, and actually I didn't like them that much, so it wasn't much of a loss. Maybe if I had stretched them out a bit when they were wet?

13 years ago

Veteran

Ponte knit is a stitch, not a fibre, so it could vary from one to another. I am watching with great interest, because this precise kind of pant is on my wish list. It would be such a winner (no pun intended) with tunic tops.

FWIW, I have a pair of ponte career shorts (polyester, rayon, spandex) that said cold hand wash, hang to dry. I threw them in the dark load with everything else and had no trouble whatsoever. I don't think nylon is that different from polyester, somehow.

13 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

It's the rayon that could give you problems, both in shrinking and color loss. Wonder if you can find reviews of the pants anywhere, just in case someone else has tried to avoid dry cleaning? I would at least try to Dryel these most of the time.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Dianthus - I'm just catching up on the posts from the last couple of days and just saw those grey knit pants. They're lovely! And a 30" inseam would work for me. I'm definitely going to have a look and see. Thanks for the tip! I did really like the fit of the Louben ones though...

Donna - I keep forgetting about Dryel. Definitely a possibility there too. Thank you.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was going to suggest Dryel too.

13 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Yeah, rayon can be tricky and just not like water. I'd dry el, dry clean, or maybe try a steamer if you have one of those and it is a dry steamer? I just got one of those this summer and it works pretty good.

My INC Ponte knits, not sure of the fabric content, but do need the dryer because they relax a lot with wear. They pull eventually. And did shrink several inches first few washes. The gray pair pilled a lot faster than the black.

13 years ago

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