Can I Wash Dry Clean Only Garments? (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you wash a dry clean only garment? ›

What might happen if you wash a dry clean only garment? The garment could shrink – not just a little, but significantly. Some garments will shrink 2-3 sizes or more; drapes can shrink to half their size. Your garment might stretch out of shape.

To machine wash your “dry clean only” items at home, turn them inside out and slip them into a mesh bag designed to hold delicates during a wash. Machine wash them on cold with a mild detergent, using the gentlest cycle available.

While dry clean only items should not be washed or dried at home, dry clean items can be washed but not dried in the dryer. Always air dry items tagged dry clean to avoid shrinkage and irreversible damage t the fabric.

Here's a simple rule: items with the label Dry Clean, don't have to be dry cleaned. This is simply the manufacturer's recommendation. But if it says Dry Clean Only, you must obey!

Unlike traditional laundry, which uses water and detergent, dry cleaning is the process of cleaning clothing without the use of water.

The key thing to remember is that the clothes should never stay wet. There's a reason for the word “dry” in “dry-clean-only.” This means you'll want them dry before putting them back into the closet or in storage.

At home, you can use a chemical stain remover, heat and steam from the dryer, and an iron or clothes steamer to achieve similar results. Home dry cleaning solutions and kits are best used to refresh garments after they have been worn or lightly soiled.

The term dry cleaning is a little misleading, in that it isn't actually dry. Instead, it means that instead of using soap and water, dry cleaning employs chemical solvents that remove dirt and grease and eliminate stains. One of the earliest solvents used was kerosene, which had the downside of being flammable.

Dry Cleaning Kits Can Damage Fabrics

Your fabric could rip, stretch, or tear when cleaning your garments at home. Also, you could lose embellishments. This can happen at any point in the DIY dry cleaning process, but your clothes are in the most danger when in the dryer.

But often fabrics are labelled as dry-clean only because they have not been preshrunk by the manufacturer. If this is the case, contact with water might cause them to shrink dramatically.

Why is dry cleaning better than washing? ›

Dry cleaning is also a gentler process than washing, meaning it's less likely to damage delicate fabrics. If you want to keep your clothes looking great for longer, dry cleaning is the way to go. Dry-cleaned garments are less likely to shrink or develop wrinkles than those that are washed and need ironing afterwards.

Brushing. 30 seconds and a natural bristle brush is all you need in order to keep your garments clean and dry-clean them half as often. This simple trick removes dirt before it settles between the threads of the fabric.

The dry cleaning industry can be divided into 3 sectors: coin-operated facilities, commercial operations, and industrial cleaners. Coin-operated facilities are usually part of a laundry supplying "self-service" dry cleaning for consumers. Only synthetic solvents are used in coin operated dry cleaning machines.

Drycleaning is very similar to regular home laundering, but a liquid solvent is used to clean your clothes instead of water and detergent. The solvent contains little or no water, hence the term "dry cleaning". Drycleaners use very large and technically advanced computer-controlled dry cleaning machines.

Dry cleaning launders and cleans clothes and fabrics using a chemical solvent containing little or no water. A dry cleaning solvent cleans the surface of materials but does not penetrate the fiber like water does in a washing machine. It also prevents stretching and shrinking.

Dry Cleaning is a simple process that cleans clothing without the use of water. However, despite its name, the process is not completely dry. Fluids are used in the dry cleaning process.

The Do Not Wash symbol is the standard wash symbol with a cross through it. If the label instructs you not to wash the item, it will have to be dry cleaned after it gets dirty – see the section on Dry Cleaning Symbols below.

Polyester Dress

Polyester washes very well! Oftentimes polyester dresses have "dry clean only" tags to ensure that the dress keeps its shape. By washing on the delicate cool cycle with an enzyme-free detergent and hanging dry you'll be able to save a few bucks on dry cleaning your favorite dress.

Generally speaking, you can hand wash most things - except for padded items or sequined/jewelled things. Brightly coloured silks are better dry cleaned because of colour run/fading. But even then, most can take one or two cold/very cool hand washes in the garment life time.

Using the washing machine can certainly save you a lot of time, but “hand wash only” garments are typically those that stretch easily, snag and lose their shape when machine washed. There is always some risk involved in using any garment care process that is not recommended by the manufacturer.

How do you know if a garment can be dry cleaned? ›

Check the Label

Garment labels are the most straightforward way to tell if an item should be dry cleaned, but they're not always completely clear. Check specifically for the word “only” – if the label simply says “dry clean”, then dry cleaning may be the preferred method but not necessarily the only option.

Certain fabrics like cotton, nylon, polyester, spandex, acrylic, and acetate don't need dry cleaning. Durable materials can withstand the exposure to water, detergents, and a dryer machine. If you're unsure as to whether a sweater, t-shirt, or slacks should get the rinse cycle check the tags.

But often fabrics are labelled as dry-clean only because they have not been preshrunk by the manufacturer. If this is the case, contact with water might cause them to shrink dramatically.

Contrary to popular belief, dry cleaning services are far more effective at removing dirt and stains than washing. So, if you want your clothes to look their best, you should skip the washing machine and head to the dry cleaner instead.