Do you put anything 'dry clean only' in the washing machine?

[HesGotHisTrombolyse]

Years ago I tried to put a couple of dry clean only bits in the machine machine because I wasn't happy to continue to pay dry cleaning prices (and couldn't really afford it). And, guess what? They came out just fine. I didn't put anything terribly delicate or 'structured' (like anything heavily pleated) but even a ladies suit jacket came out really well (it wasn't a natural fabric but I looked at it the other day and the fabric still looks good - the style of the jacket on the other hand...).

Have you ever washed an item of clothing marked as dry clean only, in the washing machine? If so, what happened?

I’ve hand washed the odd thing that’s been fine, but wouldn’t normally buy anything DCO, unless extremely special.

OTOH a friend put a white linen DCO skirt in a delicates wash - and it shrank badly. It was from Gap - how unbelievably daft is it to produce fairly basic white linen items that need dry cleaning??

I had a silk dress years ago that was dry clean only...

Someone spilt wine down it and I knew I couldn't get to the dry cleaners any time soon, so chanced washing it on delicate with silk and wool wash...
It was fine! Stain came out and it looked as good as new.

Saying that, it was a dress that I'd had for a long time so maybe I wouldn't have machine washed it if it was newer!

I always washed it in the machine after that.

Yes all the time.

I haven’t got the time (or budget) to be dry cleaning everything.

Ive never had any real disasters. I also wouldn’t put a structured suit jacket or similar in though.

Yes I've washed dry clean only in a machine most recently was a dress I had spilt food on it so washed it at 30 and hung it out to dry. No damage to it.

Cashmere jumpers are better handwashed or on a v gentle washing machine cycle. Whatever the label says dry-cleaning wool leaves it hard and stiff.

I weigh up whether or not I am prepared to lose the item to shrinkage or ruin.
I use a proper silk wash or other appropriate detergent. I use a cool temperature.
I have never had an issue yet. DCO is a catch all con. But, buyer beware!

The money I've saved over the years washing supposedly DCO items in the washing machine must be a lot!

Most things are fine, but I normally only buy DCO from vinted, never full price. The only thing that was destroyed was a pair of linen-viscose blend trousers from Cos that shrank hopelessly. I actually paid full price for them hence the vinted rule from now on.

Yes. I've never taken anything to a dry cleaners.
But I'm someone who puts all sorts in Washing machine , wellies, trainers, suits etc.

Yes, an extremely expensive suede jacket that I knew for a fact I’d never get around to dry cleaning, it was machine wash or bin. Threw it in the machine and it was fine. Saying that I did wash oh very expensive Hugo boss coat and I ruined that :/ annoyingly afterwards a did notice ‘cold wash’ on it which was an option on my machine, I didn’t see it and threw it on a normal 40 degree wash and it massively shrank

I have yes, with delicate / handwash washing machine feature and I use gentle soap and dry appropriately. This was because when I had it dry laundered the item rerurned stinking of Febreeze. I make sure to never buy dry launder only because I can't stand clothes that aren't washed frequently. Part of the joy of clothes is the feel and scent of them, it makes me self conscious to wear a dry launder item not only if it doesn't smell good but also the dread of the faff of cleaning it so wearing it is not worth it all the joy is taken out of it, it becomes a burden.

I hand-wash DCO in lukewarm water with small amount of detergent, swirling about not wringing out, wash out flat using tap above, then add in with a full machine wash that's just finished for a spin dry lying item flat at edge (less shaking about!). Then dry flat. Always worked for me.

Yes, frequently, but always on a cold or 20 degree wool or delicates cycle, and always on its own with a small amount of special (for wool) detergent.

Most recently was a roman blind that the dry cleaners quoted £120 to clean, but once I'd taken all of the poles out, it actually wasn't a great deal of material. It came up lovely on a cold wash, 400 spin.

Yes, I washed some revolting cushion covers my ex had in his sitting room, ingrained with cat hair, and they shrank/warped. They were made of the nastiest cheap polyester material ever, so I wasn't upset I had to throw them away.

I usually hand wash 'dry clean only' delicates, such as silk tops, linen knits or things with beading.

Yes I have done...I wouldn't do it with anything very precious or expensive. But if it's just an average day to day piece of clothing, I really don't want to pay to get it dry cleaned every time. I just do it on a gentle wash

Yes, quite a few things. Like others though it’s always a bit of a gamble & if it was something very expensive or irreplaceable then I wouldn’t risk it. I wash almost everything on a very cool wash except towels or soiled items and nothing’s ever shrunk.

DH used to work in a bank and had poly-blend uniform suits that was apparently DCO according to the label. We weren’t going to be doing that twice a week! Jackets and trousers all came out fine.

If it's made of one fibre only (ie. any lining is the same composition as the garment), and has no "extras" like interlining, then I will take a gamble. I will always wash it on cold, with the shortest possible spin, then put it on a thick towel and gently blot. Pull back into shape, and dry naturally (not tumble dryer), but as quickly as possible. So if it's a sunny day, then outside, or in front of a big window. Otherwise I might hang it in the cupboard where the hot water tank lives.
I've had nothing go badly wrong yet 🤞🤞🤞

Yes! I put them on a gentle wash or I just hand wash them. If they can't survive that they can't be a part of the team!

Hmm I need to take my only DCO item to the dry cleaner today so this is tempting… but it’s quite an expensive dress and I want to wear it again soon so I probably won’t risk it!

It’s a balance between will I ever wear it again if I don’t machine wash. things with linings that are in a different fabric esp vintage are a bit of a risk — I shrunk something the other day but I also accidentally did it on a 20c wash not cold. Mind you, I wasn’t wearing it how it was because it had been in storage so it was a risk I was willing to take.

some designers use DCO because they’re not willing to commit to a washing temp for hand stitching it and it’s just easier to use DCO.

This is super helpful , DD has a prom dress (second hand vintage) which has beading and the dry cleaner said the beading would be a risk. So we didn’t wash it before prom. But it def needs it now ! I think I’ll hand wash it in as cold as my hands can bear with delicate detergent and just slightly scrub the armpits and an area with a slight stain. Have been pondering what to do as it’s the sort of dress she could definitely wear again. Luckily it only cost £40 but she does love it.

All the time. Just use common sense. If it is made from a washable fabric, you can wash it. I always do a cold wash or luke warm on delicate and very low spin,turn it inside out and put it inside a pillow case if delicate.

Dry cleaners never get stains out of clothes, and clothes never smell fresh afterwards. I prefer washing with water if possible.

That's my feeling. If I can't machine wash you, I probably won't wear you.

I remember when I lived in SE London in the 80s there was a laundrette near me that had a dry cleaning machine. You put in your stuff, inserted your coins and off it went. Do they still have these?.does anyone remember or was I dreaming?

I am sure they put dco on the label to cover themselves half the time.

One of these was the dc school blazers. I washed them in the hand wash wool cycle for years and never had a problem. I dread to think how much some parents spend on cleaning fees for these. We live in a hot country and blazers have to be worn entering and leaving school, no exceptions. As you can imagine, they get quite pongy and need cleaning fairly frequently.

I always said the blazer manufacturers were in cahoots with dry cleaners.