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Original poster

Would you, could you, do you machine or hand-wash a silk dress when it says dry clean only???

27 replies

RinkyDinkyPinky · 10/05/2009 08:52

I'm fed up of clothing companies putting dry- clean only labels on clothes that are fine on a gentle machine or hand wash.

It's bad for the environment, expensive and inconvenient.

IMO it's often done as a kind of insurance against mishandling at home.

But would you risk it with a silk dress (woven)?
Advice much appreciated...

OP posts:
cluckyagain · 10/05/2009 08:54

NO! Unless it's a non-important dress. I'm with you and was seriously fed up with the obligatory dry clean only label - I tried handwashing with 3 items as an experiment.....one was fine, the other two my dds could have worn!

franke · 10/05/2009 09:14

Depends on the type of woven silk - sometimes washing can alter the texture. Having said that I quite often wash silk scarves and they seem to survive okay. Just make sure you use a detergent suitable for delicates - don't bung it in with Persil bio. And don't wring it out and don't spin it in the machine. I'm sure you know all this, but in case you don't....

Original poster
RinkyDinkyPinky · 10/05/2009 09:15

Oh no! Clucky, poor you, what were the garments that shrunk? And the one that survived? Need a survey here...

I can understand wooly knits shrinking. Back in the day I had a gorgeous chunky blue wool cardi and shrank it so badly in the machine that I gave it to my neighbour's 6 year old daughter- who looked fab in it.
Although now I always put wool and cashmere knits in the machine on a handwash cycle. If it says handwash a gentle machine wash is fine.

But with woven silk... surely it can't felt up like wool.

OP posts:
Original poster
RinkyDinkyPinky · 10/05/2009 09:17

Good point Franke- Bio wash contains enzymes that dissolve wool/ silk and protein fibres.

Maybe this is why the dry- clean label gets slapped on everything...?

OP posts:
CaptainKarvol · 10/05/2009 09:24

I just (machine) 'handwashed' a silk/cashmere cardie from Toast. I had to throw it in the bin. Sweaty marks under the arms (that were invisible before, ie I didn't know they were there) had gone a pale brown colour, trashing an 'alabaster' cardie. And that was with Woolite, on a cold 'handwash' cycle for something that had been drycleaned about 4 times in the past. So if you like your silk things, dry clean them.

Original poster
RinkyDinkyPinky · 10/05/2009 09:39

Karvol what a shame.

It seems there are many variables in washing something- the washing solution, and other things like body cream and deodorants can interact?

There must be a way...

OP posts:
EachPeachPearMum · 10/05/2009 10:59

IME silk knit items survive- I have handwashed a cardigan and a silk short-sleeved top just fine... pre-dc days obviously .

Podrick · 10/05/2009 11:01

I refuse to buy anything that is "dry clean only" as a protest

macherie · 10/05/2009 12:06

I have a silk dress that says dry clean only. Last year I got caught in a really heavy rain shower and the dress got soaked. I was freaking out about it, but I put in on a hanger in the bathroom and the next morning it was fine, ironed it on VERY low and it was good as new. Now I throw it in the machine on a 30 delicates cycle and it's fine.

I wear it a lot more now that I know it doesn't need to be dry cleaned

lambanana · 10/05/2009 14:56

I have a few silk tops from Karen Millen and I handwash them with the tiniest amount of washing liquid in very tepid water, give them a good rinse and hang straight on a hanger either on the line or in th bathroom. Always been fine.

AnyFucker · 10/05/2009 17:43

I have a washed a couple of silk items, including a dress, on very low temp and only a little detergent

they were fine

I would have been sort-of ok though, if they got ruined, so be prepared for that

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 10/05/2009 17:52

Spot clean any obvious stains, clean the rest by steaming in a bathroom with shower running on full heat (then spray with ironing water)

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 10/05/2009 17:54

I utterly ruined a dry clean only coat by putting it on the handwash setting, in my very reliable washing machine. The shoulder stuffing and lining all shrank and I had to throw it away. It was only from Zara so not mega precious but it was one of my classic coats.

onehitwonder · 10/05/2009 18:03

On the subject of washing instructions (apologies for the hijack) I have been given a set of those fabric covered shelves today via freecycle . The cover which is 50% polyester 50% cotton says 'dry clean only' but as loads of machine washable bed linen uses this same fabric combination (albeit in a lighter weight fabric) do you reckon I would be ok with it on a 30 degree machine wash? Loathe to spend the money on drycleaning.

Heated · 10/05/2009 18:05

Dd has a silk Chinese kimono style dress that no way would I hand wash. The fibres are too delicate and the sheen finish would be ruined (having done similar to a favourite Monsoon top)

However I use hand-wash cycle on most of my dry-clean clothes (except suits!) by putting them in an old pillowcase and knotting the end, using a detergent like Dreft.

If it has no 'finish' to it, I will machine-wash silk clothes but definitely don't use clothes softener.

GentleOtter · 10/05/2009 18:08

Poly cotton should wash in machine ok.

I never dry clean any silk including a silk velvet coat which said 'do not get wet'.(FGS we live in the wettest country) They handwashed well with Woolite and a small amount of sugar in the rinse. Silk setting on the iron.

MollieO · 10/05/2009 18:13

I've got a lovely Oscar de la Renta twinset that I had always had dry cleaned until my mum decided to be 'helpful' and do a wash for me one day. Included in her wash was this twinset. I was mortified but it was absolutely fine. Purchased in the USA though where I think they are very quick to put dryclean only labels on stuff (ime drycleaning is lot cheaper there than here).

geordieminx · 10/05/2009 18:29

It all depends whether the dress is worth the £7 for dry-cleaning doesnt it?

I hand wash wool type things but I paid £140 for a ted baker dress, it had a mark on the front, was well worth the money to get it fixed rather than having it completley knacked

bishboschone · 10/05/2009 20:29

I am a dry cleaner and you are bang on about companies putting dry clean on things as an insurance so they can blame us rather than get returns. It depends on the dress ..can you do a link? If I could see it I could tell you as we wash alot of stuff (at owners agreement ) that is not fixable dry cleaning. I have NEVER ruined anyhting in 20 years with this method but I can give advice if you need it. As a general rule we go by if it says dry clean you can hand wash it and if it sasy hand wash you can machine wash it.

Original poster
RinkyDinkyPinky · 10/05/2009 21:03

Thanks Bishboschone, here is the dress.

I also have a couple of last years ghost dresses- one is fine silk jersey and another is woven silk but a bit shinier than the Farhi one. I am less confident about those TBH.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and sympathy for the horror stories too!

OP posts:
ravenAK · 10/05/2009 21:08

Judgment call depending on how gutted you'd be if it didn't survive.

Dd1 has a silk Monsoon party dress. Bought it in sale, so happy to chuck it in the machine at 30 (it'd been worn by a 2 year old to eat jelly & icecream & then play in a sand pit, so a bit beyond drycleaning which would anyway cost more than the frock did).

It came out fine & now gets worn & washed a LOT with no problems.

Would probably not risk it with anything that cost more than x 5 drycleaning, say...

runnyhabbit · 10/05/2009 21:16

This weekend I have put most handwash/dryclean only clothes in the machine, becuase I was fed up with the cost of dry-cleaning!

My only thought, when putting said items in the machine, was would I be gutted if they were ruined?

Luckily for me, they were fine (did them on a delicate wash) Although I did hold my breath when I took them out of the machine

And one the items was a silk Karen Millen top.

runnyhabbit · 10/05/2009 21:17

Although, I would never machine a suit or coat. Think the machine would mess the shape up, iyswim

bishboschone · 10/05/2009 21:38

right rinky. I cannot zoom to much on that dress but from what I can see I think it would be fine. YOu have another issue with patterns is that the colour may run. It is an expensive dress though so I would suggest as others are and indeed would say to my customers is how gutted would you be if it was ruined.
IF you do risk it make sure you hand wash with cold water (if its not actually stained) with a specific hand wash for silk LIQUID. wash quicky ie swish round th bowl and rinse with a fabroc softener. Then (and this is thr key) . Do a very short spin in the machine and get out immeadiately and hang if possible in front of a fan on a plastic hanger.Iron when damp but be VERY careful with you iron. This is where alot of people go wrong. If you panic take it straight to your nearest dry cleaner and get them to press only (typically half cleaning cost)
As it dries pull it into shape and smooth with your hands.
Many dresses can go out of shape stretch and colour run if left to wet for too long. If you dont spin this can happen.

obviously this is what we do and I have been doing for a long time and as I said we have not ruined a dress yet but there are some that we would NOT wash and send away as they are becasue as I say to some people at least you can wear it with a small stain but not if it is 2 sizes too small!.

Please message me again if you need more advice

bishboschone · 10/05/2009 21:42

p.s agree with others if it has a sheen this will be washed off ..difficult to tell from pic..generally washing will cause more abuse to your clothes as dry cleaning is more delicate so will prolong the life of your garments.

I might add I have just got back from holiday and washed a washable new look cardi which is clearly labelled washable and it is half the size so even washable things can shrink badly..( of course I can take it back to the shop in this case but you wouldnt be able to)