Linen dress says dry clean only. Can I wash it?

[fussychica]

I have a new black and white linen dress which says dry clean only. I never normally buy anything I can't wash but somehow I have.
Can I wash it? If you reckon I can any tips?

It may shrink. Is it roomy?
I remember buying some linen palazzo pants which were lovely, cool and drapey and flowing. Not so after (hand) washing.

Are you sure it's linen?
Personally I would take the chance and wash it, because if it works that's great, and you'll know it washable, and if it shrinks it'll save years of dry cleaning costs.
Normally you can wash linen in quite hot water, but it may be that the colour isn't properly fixed and they suspect they might run. Can you test it by dipping the black bit only in hot water to see if the colour runs?

Is it lined?

That might be a problem if the dress shrinks (even slightly) & the lining doesn't.

To be fair, I wash all of my linen on a delicate programme at 20 degrees. Then reshape when damp.

I suspect the black might run, so second testing it.

I've washed linen that said dry clean only.

No more than 30 degrees, on the shortest wash time, (mine is 14 mins
and also do not spin on a high setting, mine was 600 iirc.
Obviously wash it on it's own and if the dye runs you can buy one from wilco for a couple of quid.

Thanks everyone. As I feared. Lining is black cotton, dress is linen. Might test it but wasn't cheap so dry cleaning looks safest.

Not sure if you can still buy dry cleaning bag things that you put into the tumble dryer on a low heat....I had these years ago and it worked well on a couple of suits that I had for work.

Here you go...it's a cloth not a bag ( I used to put mine in a mesh bag).

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L81U2SA/ref=asc_df_B00L81U2SA54661955/?hvlocphy=1006615&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvnetw=g&hvadid=232328122683&creative=22146&hvpone&hvlocint&creativeASIN=B00L81U2SA&hvpos=1o2&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-403390867167&hvrand=14233997126101316013

I washed my Hobbs linen dry clean only dress on a 30 degree hand wash, no spin, and it hasn't shrunk slightly. Or I have gained a few pounds! Either is possible 🙈🙈

I suspect the black will run into the white. Otherwise I'd wash it!

The tumble dryer sheets look interesting, reviews are a bit mixed though especially about the smell!
It's LK Bennett so too good to ruin. bug might take a chance on the sheets when the time comes.

I've washed a Hobbs linen dress and it was fine. It isn't lined.

It just sort of smells like dry cleaned clothes smell..I can't remember it being overpowering tbh.