Would you chance washing this dry clean item? - YouLookFab Forum

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Would you chance washing this dry clean item?

Helena

Veteran

Hi there! I am looking for a fine-knit, simple spring sweater in a clear, spring-y color, and this one from Banana Republic, in Jade, fits the bill perfectly.

However, the label says dry clean, and I need something washable. As I understand it, unless the label says "dry clean only", the item can usually tolerate being washed gently at home (and our washer has a gentle cycle and does not have an agitator, so is probably more gentle than a hand wash really).

What do you think - would you chance it? The proper thing to do is keep hunting for a similar, washable piece, but a similar item seems to be a bit of a unicorn at the moment ...

Or if anyone has seen something similar in a different fabrication, can you let me know?

Appreciate your thoughts!

Shopping

29 replies

Latest reply was from Freckles

Thistle

Veteran

Hmmm, the item is silk and cotton, and neither of those are typically dry clean.

Unless perhaps silk is, but I have many silk items I've hand washed and hung to dry.

I don't buy much from BR anymore, so I'm not sure the thread they use in construction. This could cause an otherwise okay to wash item to be dry clean only.

Could also depend on the dyes they used to get such lovely colors, though silk holds color so well.

Bijou

Veteran

If I bought this sweater I would definitely wash it rather than dry clean it. I would probably hand wash it, and then to get the water out of it without wringing it, put it between two bath towels and roll it up to get all the water out of it and dry it flat.

For me, that works on all knits, even the ones that say dry clean only. Personally I prefer items to be washed, as they feel cleaner than if dry cleaned. I do get jackets, skirts and trousers dry cleaned, but silk blouses, dresses and knits I always hand wash.

I get very annoyed with manufacturers that label all their items "dry clean only" when in fact the items wash up well. I hope someone can recommend a similar sweater that is washable, then you don't have to worry that you may wreak your sweater on the first wash.

Helena

Veteran

Side rant - why oh why is this such a hard item to find? Seriously? It's such a simple piece!! :-/

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Well... that's a tough question. Can you afford the price if you wear it once, hand-wash it, and it doesn't turn out well?

I hand-wash a lot of items that say "Dry Clean", but they're usually thrifted, and have already withstood time, and whatever the previous owner has done for laundering.

We have a washer with a great hand-wash cycle, but honestly, I've started hand-washing a lot of pieces, and I've seen a noticeable improvement in doing my own hand-washing - even the things I've run through the delicate or hand-wash machine cycles countless other times.

I would say, if you spring for this, genuinely hand-wash it yourself, with your own two hands. You can eyeball the piece and get it out of the water quickly if it's starting to bleed, and control the amount of friction, far better than a machine can.

Colette

Veteran

I love a silk/cotton blend knit! I hand wash all my sweaters, roll in a towel, lay flat to dry and then steam. Never have had a problem with any of them so, yes I would hand wash it but I would not put it in a machine hand wash cycle.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I used to wash my silk/cotton shirts in a laundry bag on the delicate/warm setting and never had any issues with them tearing or shrinking.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'd wash it in delicate in the machine and lay flat to dry. It shouldn't be a problem. Silk can be a really nice addition to a knit.

Helena

Veteran

Hmm, ok ... tempted to chance it ... I like the idea of washing it on delicate in a mess bag ... think that's what I'll chance. Thanks ladies!

Marilyn

Veteran

Not sure why it says dry clean. Should be just fine on the hand wash or gentle cycle. I've never dry cleaned a silk/cotton blend from BR or anywhere else.

I have this one. 85% silk, 15% cashmere. Labeled hand wash. Washes like a dream. No shrinkage. I use the hand wash cycle, very brief spin in the dryer to warm it up and release any wrinkles, then dry flat.

Banana Republic

Silk-Cashmere Pleat-Sleeve Boatneck

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2

Anonymous

It's the dryer that is the issue - so as long as you lay it flat to dry, you'll be fine.

The Cat

Veteran

I machine wash several "dry clean only" items, and they come out fine. I use the hand-wash or mild cycle, and Woolite, and let them airdry.

Greenjeans

Veteran

Yes, I would chance it.

rachylou

Veteran

I have thought about this... and because it’s BR, I think I would be reluctant to chance it... I’ve had variable luck with their sweaters. Some years the yarns are better than others.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I would chance it, but be willing to accept the color may significantly fade. I just finished a class in textiles and the instructors said that while silk is of course hand-washable, silk often does not take dyes well. I have a red silk blouse that is probably 20 years old that I hand wash. Every time it hits the water, the water runs blood red. I suspect that if I put the current blouse up against its original color, it's faded. But I don't wish to dry clean this garment. Were this my sweater, I would hand wash in cold/cool water, possibly using a detergent that says it's designed to help retain colors. Then block it and dry flat. And just be aware the wash water will probably be the color of the sweater.

Tina

It's so hard to find sweaters with no wool, cashmere, angora, etc., but I'd be worried that it would totally stretch out of shape. If you find something washable, I hope you'll share! All of those animal-supplied fibers feel terribly scratchy to me.

Anonymous

Go to a website called “the laundress”. They tested out all kinds of fiber and textiles and give recommendations on what to do in handling fabrics. You can ask questions and get reasonable answers. Bought a couple of their products for difficult jobs (like men’s sweat soaked rain hat). I often take chances with hand washing because I hate dry cleaning chemicals. Try to use a green one but they are real costly. Laundress has given me psychological support to try it by hand. Good luck!

cindysmith

Veteran

I almost never dry clean natural fibers. The dry cleaning is damaging to the fibers, and it's expensive, and they double crease my pants and drape them over a wire hanger when I gave them the pants on a pants hanger with clips (and they don't give back my good hanger) and and and

Seriously though, I don't dry clean much of anything.. I hand wash, cold water, gentle detergent or baby shampoo.

Joy

Veteran

The only things that I definitely dry clean ate those with a lining. Often that can be acetate which needs to be dry cleaned..
I do not trust the machine to wash anything like this and would hand wash, dry flat. You could roll it in clean towels to get more moisture out, then gently shape and let dry.

Anonymous

Opinion alert! Don’t know it for a fact, but.....manufacturers have gotten real slick with labeling everything dry clean only. It’s the lazy, cheap way out. By putting DCO on the label they can absolve themselves of responsibility for their product and put the responsibility on dry cleaning industry. If the fiber doesn’t hold up, dry cleaners fault. Dye doesn’t hold, dry cleaners fault. They are making lesser quality clothing and they can get away with it but putting DCO label. If a product doesn’t withstand a trip to the dry cleaners it is the dry cleaner not the manufacturers forced to respond to consumer. And those slick manufacturers know very well we will try to wash by hand and when we do they have the answer for why their garment shows less than stellar- it’s not the garment-label said DCO...aarrgghh

Mainelady

Veteran

I would chance it, but I am brave that way. I hand or delicate wash almost all my sweaters, reshape them and lay them flat to dry. I have had great success.

Style Fan

Veteran

I would handwash it. I only send wool winter coats, blazers, men's suits and my trench coat to the dry cleaners.

Katerina

Veteran

I hand wash a lot of my clothes which are labeled dry clean only. I use both the “hand wash” cycle of the mashing for silk shirts, some trousers, sweaters and underwear. I also wash by hand - mostly scarves and very delicate blouses. What is important is to keep the water temperature cold and to use a mild soap/detergent in moderation. I hand wash even my patterned silk scarves in cold water with soap - so far no problem. Knits have to be air dried flat. But there is always a risk, if the quality of the item is not good, the colour might bleed and fade.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I would chance it....hand wash it or put in the machine on a really gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry. One of the reviews mentioned machine washing it with no problems.

Jane

Veteran

Yes, I would, but I tend to be quite positive with washing vs dry cleaning (and even put some jackets in the wash). I've had one disaster but that was to do with the pressing post washing. I've quite a good washing machine with a very gentle cycle. I've also got a steamer for pressing afterwards.

If it helps, I only do this type of washing though when I am concentrating and not in a rush.

Zibbets

Veteran

Pretty sweater! I agree they're hard to find.
I don't think I would put it in the machine, at least not the first time. I would wash it by hand in cold water with Woolite, roll it in a towel and then lay it flat to dry.
I would also ask the BR staff if they have any experience with washing it.

Helena

Veteran

Thanks so much ladies ... I bought the sweater today. I'll let you know what happens when I wash it! Hope it works out, as the pink one was really pretty too ...

Anonymous

I don’t know if it is true but I have had several people say I should only use woolite for fibers like wool or alpaca. They suggested Castile soap baby shampo or baby soap(US has ivory snow and dreft) for other hand washables like silk, cotton, bras undies etc. There was a reason but I forgot what it was but now I use baby shampoo / Castile soap and leave woolite for animal fibers only. For what it is worth

Greyscale

Veteran

I have a BR silk cashmere top from a year or two ago. I machine wash it and line dried. Sadly the black dye faded quite a bit. I was disappointed, as generally their quality is better than that. I haven't had that problem with other silk blends from them. But in general I machine wash most things that suggest dry cleaning, and just deal with the fact that the items won't look brand new after washing.

Freckles

Veteran

Good luck!