100% Viscose - to wash or not to wash?

[Mandalayblonde]

DISCLAIMER: yes, I should have read the washing instructions before buying ...

Yesterday I bought a beautiful new top (sea green, from Witchery, not cheap). Looked at the label today and it's 100% viscose and can only be "gently" dry cleaned. Apparently, I can extend it's life by "airing" between wears.

AIBU that;

a) it is no longer justifiable for responsible clothes manufacturers to sell items for every day wear that are so delicate, high maintenance and inevitably short lived;

b) "airing" items that sit next to your armpits is not a reasonable laundering technique;

and c) to ask for wise MNers guidance in how to actually WASH 100% viscose?

YANBU.

Maybe fabreeze?

I had to look this up recently and I think it said a cold handwash . Such a pain.

I would put it on a low heat/gentle cycle in the washing machine, I'm sure viscose is fine to wash. Sometimes I think retailers put dry clean only to make it seem more posh somehow!

@Mandalayblonde how to actually WASH 100% viscose?

Mesh laundry bag on wool wash with mild dish soap? A teaspoon of eco should do it. Good luck

I have my eyes on a viscose dress, this is why I haven't bought it yet.

What I am doing, and with no adverse effects, is to wear my clothes more before washing. So, as long as I don't get sweaty I hang clothes up to air and wear them a couple of more times before washing. It definitely works for clothes I wear for working from home. I also make sure clothes don't rub on my armpits. I have a couple of old tops that are just too fitted for this so they don't get worn much.

As @ohnoisaid2much advised.

I design and sew my own clothes with a variety of lovely fabrics and in your case, I’d put it in the machine on a wool wash setting at 30° using a detergent designed for delicates.

Some viscose is perfectly washable - especially the jersey type.
Others can be prone to shrinking and going out of shape if washed.
I'd risk it carefully by hand because realistically, in never going to get a top drycleaned regularly.
I do extend the wash/wear of delicate evening items that are only on for a few hours by e.g. wearing a thin t-shirt underneath and airing after wear.
I guess this is why dress shields were popular in the past.

yanbu

tbh I would wash it in the machine on a gentle cycle.

I also agree that clothes that can't be washed in a regular household washing machine don't have a place as every day wear.

I’ve generally handwashed viscose garments. In an effort to learn more, I found this, which I enjoyed reading:

thedreamstress.com/2014/01/terminology-rayon-viscose-acetate/

YANBU

My DDs keep buying viscose stuff. My washing machine has a handwash setting (30 degrees, gentle tumble) so I use that, and air dry rather than tumble dry. It seems to be ok whereas if I forget and use the normal 40 degree wash they shrink a bit. The clothes that is, not the DDs.

Or you could just return it and buy something just as nice but fit for purpose.

Thank you all, I guess a cold wash might work...

But @fluffedup exactly that - not "fit for purpose"

It's here, and actually much nicer than it looks "Yoke Shoulder Blouse - Women's Long Sleeve Tops | Witchery" m.witchery.com.au/yoke-shoulder-blouse-60270180

I feel duped by the impracticality of a supposedly everyday item

Put it in the freezer? That's what they say to do with jeans?! I'd just chuck it in on a wool/hand wash setting to be honest.

It does say dry clean, right there in the item description.
Of course, that could have been added recently.

@thedevilinablackdress

It does say dry clean, right there in the item description. Of course, that could have been added recently.

Yes it does very clearly say dry clean. It's ridiculous though. Does look very nice but not so nice that I'd pay for it to be dry cleaned every time I wore it.

No I do agree it's lunacy to have to dry clean something like that.
Some people do live their lives like that - I took a coat to be dry cleaned recently and the shop owner says she has a client who brings in her suitcase after a holiday, gets everything cleaned, repacked and ready for the next trip.
How the other half live!!

I have never bought anything from Witchery, but I wash all my viscose in the machine on the 30 degree delicates setting. It's fine - I think clothes manufacturers put the dry clean only stipulation on to cover their backs
Very annoying!

I know it says dry clean, and I acknowledge I am 100% culpable for not reading that earlier... But honestly, how do they justify making an everyday top which is so impractical??

I wash everything that says dry clean only - even suit style jackets.

As long as you use a hand wash Cycle and gentle detergent , get out of the machine the second it finishes, shake well and hang up. I've not had a single disaster (yet)

@fluffedup

YANBU

My DDs keep buying viscose stuff. My washing machine has a handwash setting (30 degrees, gentle tumble) so I use that, and air dry rather than tumble dry. It seems to be ok whereas if I forget and use the normal 40 degree wash they shrink a bit. The clothes that is, not the DDs.

Or you could just return it and buy something just as nice but fit for purpose.

I'd take it back and tell the store why. If you love it, keep it and try hand washing first to see how it behaves.

I have washed viscose that says dry clean before, usually by hand unless the instructions say it is machine washable. They have survived but it is common to shrink a little. One top however was ruined :(

PS I have a friend in the fabric industry and she washes most things - her view is that most manufacturers are just trying to cover their back, so are over-cautious in their instructions.

I’d use woolite on a 20 degree delicates short cycle / handwash programme, no spin, wash it inside out in a net bag, remove it while wet and blot it then dry flat on an airer. That way you reduce or eliminate the heat, the spin and the friction. The main thing that could go wrong is the garment isn’t colour fast in water.

Companies have to pay to get washable certification so some just put dry clean only on.

You can also get those pads that go on armpits of clothes to reduce marking, or wear a washable cami underneath?

@Mandalayblonde

I know it says dry clean, and I acknowledge I am 100% culpable for not reading that earlier... But honestly, how do they justify making an everyday top which is so impractical??

Silly isn't it. They might as well put "do not wear" on it.

I have a shirt very similar to your OP, except it's long sleeves. Also 100% viscose. Mine says dry clean as well, but I wash it on the hand wash cycle. I will change out of it as soon as I get in, as I don't wash it every time I wear it.