to expect a £45 school blazer to cope with a "quick and cold" trip round the washing machine?

[freddiefrog]

DD started high school in September, so has been wearing the blazer for just over a month

She managed to brush against my car so ended up with a black streak across the back.

Checked the washing instructions which said it was machine washable upto a 40 degree wash, to drip dry, do NOT tumble dry, cool iron, etc, etc.

Stuck it through on the quick and cold cycle with some Vanish on the black streak, put it on a hanger and hung it from a curtain rail to dry, then whizzed over it with a cool iron.

It looks awful, the badge on the front pocket looks like it has shrunk which has pulled the front all out of shape and wonky, and it looks really baggy - like the lining has shrunk but the outer didn't if you see what I mean.

So I complained to the uniform provider and asked them to replace it. They're refusing - they feel it's acceptable "wear and tear" and "for best results it is preferable to have the item dry cleaned"

It's wearable, but looks crap and at £45 I kind of expected better to be honest.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

If it says machine washable then it should be. It sounds to me like the blazer might be washable but the badge wasn't. That being the case they should have changed the label. I'd insist that they change it given the cost and the short time you've had it.

[pigletmania]

Yanbu any school uniform should be washable, it not it for purpose

[NomDeClavier]

YANBU at all. It's not washable if it looks like that after 1 wash following the instructions.

[MrsZimt]

I had the same issue, my ds's black blazer said it's maschine washable at 40degrees, but after I washed it it's lighter around all the seams and looks dreadful, like I washed it 100 times.
He will have to wear it until he grows out of it I'm afraid.

In your situation I would maybe make a written complaint (if you haven't already done so) and tell them you will raise the issue with the school, as you feel this is inacceptable quality for a school uniform item.
If it should not be washed it should be clearly labeled as dry cleaning only.

[woozlebear]

Utter tosh. If it says it can be machine washed, then it should suffer no ill effects from said machine washing (bar the expected creasing which can be ironed out). If it can only be dry cleaned then the label should have said dry clean only.

Did it say on the label 'for best results' dry clean? I've never seen anything like on a care label, and it still shouldn't mean that it gets totally messed up by a machine wash.

Their instructions are either incorrect or the item is not fit for purpose. Either way it's their fault and they should be replacing it.

Cite sale of goods act and give them hell.

[Rufus44]

YANBU my children's £28 blazers pop in a half hour wash and come out spotless and only need half an hour on the radiator.

Children destroy uniforms so they need to be as easy to clean as possible. I am unhappy with the skirt I bought fom a school shop, its cool iron only....I'm not even sure my iron has a cool setting!

[PigletJohn]

I wonder if this is yet another case where the Head has fixed up a Sole Approved Supplier contract where the shop sells inferior goods at inflated prices and the Head and the shop split the excess profits as they think fit?

[freddiefrog]

No mention of dry cleaning on the label - it says machine washable up to 40 degrees.

It's not just the badge that has shrunk, it looks like either the outer has stretched or the lining has shrunk.

"wear and tear" after 1 month wear and 1 wash following the washing instructions seems a crap excuse to me.

And anyway, I don't think school uniform should ever be dry clean only.

Will email again.

Her skirt annoys me as well, that has "machine washable but for best results hand wash" although has been fine on the quick and cold wash so far even if I do have to iron the bloody pleats back into it every time. Who's going to hand wash school uniform? I have a stash of my own stuff waiting for me to get round to hand washing it.

I should be able to stick uniform in the washing machine, hang it up to dry (although tumble-dry-able would be preferable), squizz an iron over it and it be ready to go. My eldest manages to stay fairly clean, but my youngest is a dirt magnet so it should really be able to stand hot and repeated washing, especially at that price.

At £45 for a blazer and £35 for a skirt, I can't afford to have a stock of spares so need to be able to wash and dry it quickly, not fanny about at the dry cleaners

[3asAbird]

can you contact head of school and mention trading standards and ,mention what good story make for local press.

school and supplier rip parents off over uniform.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Lined clothing often doesn't cope well with machine washing. But if the label says you can machine-wash it, it shouldn't go wrong!

[TobyLerone]

I wash DS's blazer at least once a week and it's still fine over a year later. Completely unacceptable and the company is full of shit. Don't let this rest, OP!

[Binkyridesagain]

I've dealt with 3 school blazers up to now, all of them have coped with a 40 degree wash. The only problems we've found is with the lining tearing too easily.

Complain again, a garment that is supposed to be washable and has shrunk after only one wash can not be classed as general wear and tear.

[sarahtigh]

all goods under sale of goods act should last a reasonable length of time 1 month for a blazer is not enough 1 school year I would think is

[freddiefrog]

Thanks.

Will email them again and copy in the school.

They are the sole provider - we have to get the skirts, blazers and PE kits from them so I have no choice but to buy their crappy quality clothing.

[shewhowines]

Ours washes brilliantly. Drys quickly and needs no ironing. Looks as good as new.

[Mandy2003]

The local outfitters supply blazers by David Luke for all the local secondary schools. Fortunately they cope fine with a "quick and cold" 30 minute wash.

If your suppliers do not accept a return when this happened after you followed the washing instructions that should be a matter for Trading Standards I would think.

[steppemum]

I think you need to be careful how you word it.

For example:
it says wash at 40, I washed once at 40 and it looks dreadful ie item is not fit for purpose

don't say : it is school uniform therefore I think it should be washable and not dry clean only, because your rights are based on what the label says and if the garment lived up to it, rather than your opinion (however valid) on the washability of school uniform

I would however write to the school about the poor quality of their sole supplier - even tesco stuff has permanent creases and cost very little.

[pointythings]

Definitely complain again, carefully worded as suggested by steppemum. DD1's blazer was £28 and washes beautifully at 40, no creases if hung in the airing cupboard on a hanger either. The 'fit for purpose' argument is your strongest one.