Is this viscose top really dry clean only?

[Valsoldknickers]

I've been eyeing up a top for months online. It is sitting in my shopping basket this evening and I don't know whether to buy it or not as it says 'dry clean only' (100% viscose).

As it isn't going to be a going out top only I would like to be able to chuck it in the washing machine.

Has anyone any experience of machine washing viscose and care to share please? TIA

I machine washed a £200 viscose dress after one wear as I believed that it could t possibly be that delicate. It is now approximately half the size.

I have just machine washed a new 100% viscose blouse in a
laundry bag and it's fine. I did do it on the hand wash symbol which is cold
though.

I destroyed a viscose skirt by machine washing it on a cold, delicate programme - it also ended up half the size. I no longer buy viscose.

Can you link to it?
I've successfully washed many a dry clean only item, but usually on cold and a delicate wash. It's still not really convenient to run a cycle for just one item, though, is it? And you definitely won't be able to bung it in the dryer.

Oh, that doesn't sound goodGiraffeski.

The top I like is m.houseoffraser.co.uk/Mint+Velvet+Noa+Print+Double+Layer+Top/204965539,default,pd.htmlood (sorry, not sure if the link is going to work).

I'd love to get it but it won't be worth it for me if I can't even wash it on a delicate cycle

BaronessBomburst I would be happy to handwash and wrap the top in a towel and squeeze excess water out if it would do the job. Do you think that would work?

I never knew this - I wash my delicate all viscose top on a wool wash! Maybe I should be more careful.

I have had viscose stuff which can wash and has shrunk, I am very wary of buying viscose clothes because of this.

Viscose is just kind of unpredictable with water. I've been lucky so far either hand washing or doing a delicate/wool machine wash, but have heard horror stories of other garments reducing to dolly size.

I suspect the issue with that top will be the differing fabrics. The vest bit will probably be fine, I wash viscose tops like that all the time. But the sheer top layer might behave differently, and may not hang properly after washing. I find that type of fabric can pucker along the hem if washed, and it may go a bit odd where it joins the vest.

IME Mint Velvet stuff isn't always the greatest quality, so if it were me and I didn't want to dryclean it, I'd pass.

I agree. I wouldn't risk that one either. The two different layers will spell disaster.
Shame, it's a lovely top.

Oh, yes, with a different top the towel trick would work.

Do be careful with viscose. It absorbs 50% more water than cotton. and the fibres are often weakened by the additional water, so not only might it shrink, it may also be damaged by any rough treatment received in the washing machine or by wringing out. Much will depend on the quality of the viscose used (at that price it should be decent). I'm always wary of buying viscose, and I used to be involved, in some minor way, in its production.

Thank you very much for the advice. It's a tricky one as it is such a lovely top.

Even the t-shirt I'm wearing today is 100% viscose (never noticed before) and it was definitely bigger when I first got it.

Will have to give this some serious consideration.....

I make a lot of my own clothes and love sewing with viscose but dear god it can shrink like a bugger and as Molecule said it is delicate when wet. I pre wash viscose twice to try and then wash on the hand wash cycle. If you get this top I really wouldn't risk washing it as the fabric will probably shrink.

Have I ruined my 100% viscose rayon dress? I’ve worn it once and there were light foundation marks around the collar and rather than take to the dry cleaner I thought i would try and dab it out with some washing up liquid and water. Well, it hasn’t worked and is now stained. Help! Is it worth a trip to the drycleaners to salvage?

Viscose is a right bastard for shrinking. Having said that, I've got some that washes just fine on 30c and a medium iron. It is totally unpredictable.