An interesting article has surfaced on the Daily Mail on dry-clean-only apparel. In an interview with Richard Neale, a laundry and dry-cleaning consult, he claims that most dry-clean-only labels are inaccurate and precautionary. The paper tested this theory by bringing five articles of clothing with such a tag to a laundromat. Four of five emerged from the wash unchanged.
Generally, a label that says “dry clean” and not “dry clean only” is safe to run through the wash. The former suggests the recommended best practice, while the latter the only practice.
On the label, you can always read the materials to determine if the clothing is cycle ready. Natural fibers like cotton, linen, silk, nylon, cashmere, and polyester are often okay. That said, there are ways to reduce the risk.
Steps for Safely Washing Dry-Clean-Only Apparel
- Perform a dye test. With a moist cotton swab, dab detergent onto a seam and look for discoloration.
- Check the stitching. Attachments like buttons, beads, and patches must be stitched and not glued.
- Protect in mesh. Turn the clothing inside out, then place it into a mesh bag. Run on a short delicate cycle—always in cold water.
- Skip the dryer.Most clothes get abused tumbling in the dryer. Opt to air dry them if possible.
The writers at Corporette admit to using a first-year policy with dry-clean-only clothes. With relatively new clothing, they follow the tag’s instructions. But after twelve months, they begin to wash at home to save cash. This makes sense: it is not feasible to treat cheap dry-clean-only apparel differently.