DvF dresses. Dry clean or wash??

[springlenner]

I am the proud new owner of 2 DvF dresses. While they are FAB I am not so keen on the dry cleaning. I am a bit of a slattern when it comes to dry cleaning and tend to leave "stuff for dry cleaners" in a pile for months on end, lose the tickets etc... also I never get the feeling that dry cleaned stuff is really clean
So can I was them??? e.g. woolen wash in a bag??
Any experiences??

Have to say when you've spent the money on DVf dresses I would take them to the cleaners.

Imagine if you did put them in the machine and they got ruined!

Best to do what it says on the label. Especially when it comes to designer stuff.

I did it. It was ok at first but over time it got ruined :-(. A lesson learned.

It's worth dry cleaning as they do last for years as they are classics

I did once have a skirt (not DvF) that was dry clean only,but I thought I'd hand wash it, and it was ruined. Since then I've been very careful about it.

What are they made of?

bishboschone they are 100% silk I should have probably checked that before I posted. I had assumed they were some kind of silk-synthetic mix.
I'm pretty new to the UK and our local dry cleaners is crap. Are Johnson's any good??

NO! Johnsons just sling it in the big machine after pre-warning you it might get damaged. Ask local wedding dress/suit hire shops who they use.

I'm a dry cleaner ( well , was) and you can get away with washing most things with extreme care but it does take the oomph out of them . I thought they were silk but thought I would check . I think they are a heavy silk and would probably go out of shape and maybe run if washed . Could you wear a camisole underneath and wash that so the dresses don't touch your skin too much. ? I only really recommend washing items that are ruined( with stains ) and you have nothing to lose .

Dry cleaning involves' it all going in a big machine together' .. The skill and care is in choosing what goes with what and on what cycle . The machines cost a fortune to run and things just don't get cleaned on their own due to time restraints and also EEC laws on excess use of solvent .

I might add , I have never ruined anything but there are lots of things I have turned away as I know they are not made to survive the process ( could name and shame many 'designers ' but I won't .