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Original poster

Dry Clean Only Clothes - do you bother?

24 replies

CoolToned · 26/09/2016 20:32

Not outerwear. Dresses, tops, skirts...do you buy them or do you just avoid no matter how nice you like them?

OP posts:
herecomesthsun · 26/09/2016 20:40

do I bother? no.
I buy cotton stuff with elastane in, that doesn't even need ironing.
Life Is Too Short.

CremeEggThief · 26/09/2016 20:43

Definitely avoid.

maggiethemagpie · 26/09/2016 20:52

Avoid unless it's something like an evening dress. Does anyone buy dry clean only suits/trousers/skirts? What a hassle!

Statelychangers · 26/09/2016 21:27

Avoid

abbsismyhero · 26/09/2016 21:57

I machine washed my last dry clean only trousers they are fine as long as you don't tumble dry them

mumonahottinroof · 26/09/2016 22:06

I machine wash all dry-clean only on 30 degrees unless there's an obvious reason why not to - have never had a problem

neveradullmoment99 · 26/09/2016 22:54

I avoid. Why oh why do companies even bother to make them? So impractical and clearly not a popular thing as the dry cleaners near me has closed!

DontFuckWithMyChocolate · 26/09/2016 23:05

If I like it I buy it, and stick it in the wash and hope for the best. Never had a problem before. I even washed my wedding dress and it was fine.

Queenbean · 26/09/2016 23:09

Yes I buy. Then wash them on the hand wash cycle of my machine

Mostly it's no problem but I've had a few incidents - fake leather patch thing which flaked off, a tshirt which shrunk up to crop top size etc

I'd still take the hit over faffing around with it though

MontyPythonsFlyingFuck · 26/09/2016 23:11

I have about 3 things other than coats that get dry cleaned. Only one of them is something I wear regularly - a beautiful dress for work that makes me feel amazing. But generally, yes, a. life's too short and b. you can machine wash most things.

It particularly pisses me off when the label reads something like 67% polyester, 31% viscose, 2% elastane, dry clean only, yes, Jaeger, I'm looking at YOU.

Lilacpink40 · 26/09/2016 23:11

Yes, I use handwash function on washing machine. Like everyone else I've not had problems.

Hockeydude · 26/09/2016 23:20

I will not buy anything that's dry clean only for myself or kids. Dh has work suits that need dry cleaning that we hang up to air after every wear to avoid the dry cleaners for as long as possible.

In general I would put anything into thevwashing machine. If it doesn't survive it has no business in my house! I don't think I've ever wrecked anything by washing it. Anyway you'd wash it carefully at 30 deg, on its own abd hang nicely to dry.

Original poster
CoolToned · 27/09/2016 10:37

If it's a cotton-silk blend and says professional dry clean only will it shrink?

OP posts:
mrsvilliers · 27/09/2016 11:19

I buy. And dry clean them. Saves ironing Grin

mrsvilliers · 27/09/2016 11:21

Someone posted a link once about what materials can be washed and what can't. Iirc the only completely dodgy one was viscose, although I do have a machine washable dress that's 100% viscose so who knows.

SinglePringle · 27/09/2016 11:22

I buy and I also dry clean. I wouldn't ever put dry clean only in the machine or hand wash them.

imjessie · 27/09/2016 11:24

Manufacturers put dry clean only on to prevent returns because a lot of people are frankly shit at washing . They can then blame any issues on the dry cleaner ! Most everyday things you can wash and often are better being washed !

Judydreamsofhorses · 27/09/2016 15:55

I hand-wash most dry clean stuff, other than coats. My winter coats are going through the cleaners now and costing me a bloody fortune.

crusoe16 · 27/09/2016 15:56

Machine wash most of ours. The only thing I don't is things with linings - formal coats etc.

Original poster
CoolToned · 28/09/2016 20:50

I'm currently ebaying my dry-clean only dresses - it pains me because they're beautiful but I'm really lazy! Plus dry cleaning is expensive...

One is a silk-cotton blend, another is 100% cotton that, to be fair, looks like it's made of tissue paper that will just shrink.

OP posts:
AnotherGreenDot · 28/09/2016 21:03

I haven't been to a dry cleaner for at least 10 years! Even my coats are washable! It's not just the expense, it's the inconvenience too. Much easier to wash at home.
I always check the care label before buying and don't buy new clothes that are dry clean only.
I would buy dry clean only stuff from charity shops though, and would either hand wash it or machine wash on the hand wash setting. If it only cost a few quid it's worth the risk!

BeMorePanda · 28/09/2016 21:11

I just hand wash or delicate wash dry clean only stuff.

n0ne · 28/09/2016 21:13

I have never dry cleaned anything. I do currently own a 100% silk dress that says dry clean only but I'm just going to put it in the washing machine on delicate wash and hope for the best

disneyprincesswannabe · 28/09/2016 21:18

Gosh I don't even like buying stuff that can't be tumble dried nevermind dry clean only. Though maybe I will start and just use the hand wash function on the washing machine

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