What’s the ‘dry clean only’ label mean? The answer might surprise you
We’ve been taken to the cleaners.
Consumers are beginning to understand that clothes with “dry clean only” labels don’t always require professional servicing — and that there are easy home remedies to get the job done instead.
“Most clothing manufacturers put ‘dry clean only’ when a normal wash at home would be just fine,” experts from Dependable Laundry Solutions told The Mirror.
They insist that the fabrics of acrylic, cashmere, cotton, nylon, polyester, denim, and many wool variations can all be handled at home.
“I get a giddy amount of joy out of sticking ‘dry clean only’ clothes in the washing machine and getting away with it,” one fan of the loophole boasted.
New York-based fabric care company The Laundress takes things a step further, breaking down how to handle different types of typical dry-cleaning items from home — turns out, many of them can simply go on a delicate cycle with cool or cold water and a low spin.
Items with manufactured pleats may lose their rigid crease during a home wash, however, a steam treatment to follow should work as easy restoration. Wool materials can also benefit from a blast of wool and cashmere shampoo.
Clothing made from viscose that is only wrinkled but not dirty can also be freshened with a fabric steamer at home, according to the company. However, this material typically does not fare well for a home wash and should be avoided unless otherwise noted on a label.
Other items to not self-clean are typically structured and lined as machine washing can cause tears or bunching around seamed areas. Take a play out of Elvis’ book and don’t wash suede either.
Leathers identified as non-washable and fur with skin also make the do not self-clean list. Anything containing polyamide material risks being warped or damaged in a home treatment, too.
However, to clarify — The Laundress suggests only doing flouting convention with “dry clean suggested items, not those that flat-out state dry clean only.
