Handwashing a "dry clean only" dress....

Doooo

Hi,

I recently bought a dress that I love. It is a peachy/orangey colour.
I wore it out at the weekend, and there are little marks on it from my fake tan, so I need to clean it.
The tag says dry clean only though....

Has anyone ever attempted to handwash a dry clean only item? And how did it turn out?

The material of the dress is 97% cotton and 3% spandex. The lining material is 100% polyester.
Surely you can handwash cotton and polyester....?

Any advise?

I don't mind getting it dry cleaned the odd time, but I dont really fancy the hassle of it all the time.

Thanks

ams

the materials sound fine to handwash but Id be wary if it was a real expensive dress. You used to be able to get a kit to use in your dryer to dry-clean at home but I havent seen these anywhere recently.

Id probably take the risk myself and wash it in cold water but if its a really special dress might be worth forking out to dryclean. Maybe you could just try spot washing the bits with the tan on it first?

punkindrublic

I have done it, I just washed the dress in cold water and it turned out okay but I wouldn't risk it on an expensive item

Miaireland

I would dab a bit of water on a spot that will not be seen and let it dry before I did the whole dress.

Doooo

Thanks for the advice.

The dress SHOULD have been expensive....but I got it in TK Maxx

I do love it though, so really don't want to ruin it.

What's the biggest risk doing this anyway? That the material will stain, or that the dress will go out of shape?

I think I'll try a small area and see how it goes first.

Miaireland

I had a dry clean only dress and water left a water mark stain on it. That is why I suggest doing a spot test.

I suggest that if you do wash the dress, dry it flat and inside out. That is often suggested when you are drying delicate items.

rsta

Ugh I hate 'dry clean only' clothes. I'm always buying something nice and then when I go to wash it I see the blasted instructions to dry clean only. :mad:

I wash a bunch of my dry clean only stuff together in the bath in tepid water, not too warm, but warm enough that the soap will work. I use something mild like washing up liquid, not detergent. Just swirl it round and rub lightly on the more stained parts.

Wring it out very carefully and wrap it in a big towel to get most of the excess water out. Then dry it flat.

Hope that helps

I can't do that with everything dry clean only though, I do have a lovely silky dress and I just hung up on a hanger on the bathroom door and sponged it lightly. Turned out fine!

Madame Razz

The dry cleaner in the dry cleaners I use told me before that a lot of things that are marked 'dry clean only' are actually fine to wash but the manufacturers of the clothing haven't tested the fabric to make sure so they stick a 'dry clean only' label on it to cover themselves.

I've taken the chance with stuff a couple of times; however if I really liked something I think I'd just go spend the €12 to have it cleaned. Or at least go ask a dry cleaners opinion first.

Deffo do a spot test somewhere hidden if you are going to chance washing it tho:).

forestfruits

Loads of clothes come with dry clean only label now- I put them in the washing machine on a hand wash!!! Do quick spot test in a seam and then hand wash with a gentle washing powder- dont use anything that says whiter than white or brightens colours or any of that - non bio or hand was soap flakes if you do it by hand!

John Mason

i am not recommending you do this but i have washed all my dry clean clothes in the washing machine on a delicate, no spin wash, i have never had a problem.

lasair

I usually wash all my "dry clean only clothes"..... I pop them into a pillow case and put them on a delicate wash. Always works... At one stage I even recall washing satin heels in the machine which got destroyed on a night out..... Last item I washed was an expensive designer dress and it washed perfectly.....

tanya2007

ya i washed my debs dress in a pillow case as well it came out grand

Novella

I have a pretty expensive vintage top that has a lot of sequins on it and I put it into the wash by accident and it was grand! It was inside out and yeah, a few sequins did fall off but other than that, not a bother on it!

If it's something you really love, I wouldn't risk washing it in the washing machine but I'd imagine a hand wash would be ok.

tinkerbell

I used to go to the drycleaners quite a bit but now I never do. My washing machine has a handwash cycle (with options for cold wash, and warmer washes) so anything handwash goes into the washing machine, put on handwash cycle and also on cold wash. I never wash dry clean stuff in anything but cold. Always turn out perfect!

Just leave it dry naturally then, don't put it into the tumbledryer or anything.

sogg

Be so careful!! dunno if I would with a dress again to be honest - I have a cream coat that was costing me a fortune in dry cleaning so have been handwashing regularly and not a bother, but recently tried the same with a dress (silk) and didn't realise til I put it on that it had shrunk (it was quite a loose style dress to begin with) and the hem was all asymmetrical....was raging! Would definately agree with the others that were saying just to try sponging it maybe!