The Meaning Behind That Dry Clean Only Tag On Your Clothes, And Whether Or Not You Can Get Away With Skipping A Trip To The Dry Cleaners
Does anyone else get bummed or feel a bit of a pit in their stomach when you see that a new cute piece of clothing you bought is listed as ‘dry clean only?’
I mean, it’s understandable, as trips to the dry cleaner are not nearly as efficient as using your washers at home, but they can also add up.
Have you ever seen the ‘dry clean only’ tag and wondered if you could get away with getting your garment clean and skipping the dry cleaner?
Well, I’m here to tell you that you probably shouldn’t.
You may come across a clothing tag with a dry cleaning symbol along with other symbols. In those cases, it’s highly recommended to take that garment to the dry cleaner, but it’s unnecessary.
However, a tag that says ‘dry clean only’ should not be taken lightly.
When a garment has a dry clean only tag, it means that the elements of machine washing, whether it be the detergent, water, or machine itself, could damage it.
Now, let’s say you do not have the luxury of visiting a dry cleaner for one reason or another and are desperate to wash your clothes on your own.
Very delicate pieces of clothing like silky or lace garments are typically labeled as dry clean only, but you may be able to get away with hand washing them.
Look! – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
When hand-washing clothes, use a very gentle detergent and cold water, as warm or hot water can shrink clothes.
Stop hand washing immediately if the clothes begin to warp, fade, stretch, or shrink. To ensure extra protection for your clothes, only hand wash a small section of the garment as a test first.
Expensive suits, jackets, and evening gowns or dresses should always be dry-cleaned. After all, it’s better to spend a few more bucks dry cleaning them than waste your money by ruining them through machine washing.
Materials like velvet and wool should also be dry-cleaned to maintain their shape and quality.
However, if your clothes are made of materials like nylon, polyester, and cotton, you can machine wash them. Keep in mind that using gentle or organic detergents can help your clothes last a bit longer.
So, the takeaway message is that if you have garments that are ‘dry cleaner only,’ stay safe and take them to the dry cleaner, especially if they mean a lot to you.
You can give hand washing a try, but you need to remain gentle and diligent, keeping an eye out for any potential damage.
Finally, if you’re out shopping for clothes and hate going to the dry cleaners, read the clothing labels!
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