How do I wash this? Pleats? What was I thinking?!

[PurpleNurple69]

I bought this beautiful Biba blouse and didn't consider how it would need to be laundered. I really really don't want to have to iron all the pleats back in! Is there a way to machine wash it in a way that the pleats will stay in? Folded carefully inside a stocking maybe?

It's going to end up like many of my "don't know how to wash this" items sitting at the bottom of my washing basket!

What fabric is it?

Er - follow the washing instructions? If it's a synthetic fabric the pleats will probably spring back in without any help

Oh god it's dry clean only Why didn't I check that first? It's 100% polyester.

Those pleats won't fall out, they will have been chemically pressed in (can't remember the technical process) I have a top and trousers from Cos with the same kind of pleats and they wash fine.

It might be dry clean because it's polyester generally, but you might get away with a gentle hand wash.

I'd handwash in cold water with plenty of space to swish the blouse about (?kitchen sink?) and drip dry on a hanger.

OR

If I was being lazy, a quick, cold wash with not much spinning in the machine, probably in a mesh wash bag, and drip dry as before.

It will be fine to wash it , the pleats will stay in . If it's polyester it will prefer to be washed than dry cleaned .

I have a pleated t shirt from French Connection. I bung it in the machine then line dry it. Comes out good as new every time.

Gentle wash and low spin, then shake out and hang on a hanger to dry.

Thanks all! I'm on leave this week and it's lovely and sunny so I think I'll delve into the bottom of the basket and get all the hand washing done!

It'll be like a new wardrobe