Wash silk jersey DVF dress?

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Veteran

Could I? Should I? Hand wash? Cold water gentle in the machine? Or do not chance it and send it to dry clean.

11 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from em

kellygirl

Veteran

Curious what others will suggest. I think for an investment dress, I would dry clean.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Jersey or stretchy things I worry about hand-washing because the shape might do weird things, but I don't have much experience. Watching this thread too.

11 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

I would definitely dry clean. ( even though dry cleaners can mess things up!). If you like the dress and want to keep it nice, dry clean.

11 years ago

Glory

Veteran

I rarely if ever dry clean but I don't have any really lovely items like that. In this case I would send it out - better safe than sorry for such a wonderful item.

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

DVF - I would probably dry clean. Just because I would be very, very sad if I ruined it.

11 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I would likely wash it but I'm risky that way. I just won't do dry cleaning chemicals any more.

I would likely wash it by hand if I was really worried about an item, but my washing machine has a great Delicate cycle (always wash delicates on COLD/COLD setting) and I wash all my silk things in it. Use a very mild soap (not the regular laundry stuff. Baby shampoo or something similar. If you have hard water where you live you should add some Borax and let it dissolve.

Then squeeze it in a big towel to gently get as much water out as you can. I prefer to hang mine on a good hanger with a towel under it or in the extra shower (padded hanger if you have one) as the weight of the item helps smooth it while it dries.

Dry cleaning can shrink silk jersey from what I've read.

Some good info here:

http://texeresilk.com/article/.....ng_washing

11 years ago

dustt

Veteran

Mo - from the crazy laundry lady.... first test with water and your preferred cleaner in a small spot on an inside seam to be sure the dies don't run!!! - if they don't then - I'd say it would be ok to hand wash with baby shampoo, then roll in a towel to get most of the water out and here's the rub..... you need to dry it flat or it will stretch!! - so that could be a show stopper - I'd hate for you to ruin the shape of it!! - after it dries you can put it in a cool dryer to fluff it back up as it may be a bit stiff at first.... and it will probably require ironing...... ready to send it to the cleaners yet......

11 years ago

Anonymous

I wash a lot of things that many dry clean, but a DVF dress would go to the cleaners just yo be safe. Knits can too easily get out of shape, especially as large a piece as a dress

11 years ago

MaryA

Active Member

Mo - I'm a knitter and I found this article on washing silk in a blog from a knitting magazine,
http://www.knittingdaily.com/b.....r-silk.asp
It gave me the courage to hand wash all of my silk items.

11 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

For an investment piece like DVF, I would use Dryelle in a lingerie bag put inside the Dryelle bag...I guess the better path would be to dry clean it but I am like you with dry cleaning chemicals...Either way, good luck...

11 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Okay, it looks like for now I will choose dry cleaning. I rarely do, but for special items, I can make an exception. Besides, here I have shared laundry for the condos and the machines are pretty basic, and top loaders with agitators.

11 years ago

viva

Veteran

I do dry clean my DVF.

Although thanks to Suz, I now handwash all my silk tops. So I'm improving.

11 years ago

Active Member

I do not yet have a wrap, but I have 2 of her dresses, one in silk and one in wool. Both went in the washing machine on delicate. No problem. I do suggest putting it in a mesh bag though.

11 years ago

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