How Do I Know If I Should Wash or Dry Clean Clothes
Clothes are one of the necessities in our lives. It is also a representation of how we would want to portray to people. With that mentioned, we do not wish to appear in an important meeting with a torn shirt or dress. This article discusses how we can understand to care for our garments.
Looking at the care label
On every garment, there’s a care label sewn into it. Take a minute to check the label, and you’ll find a wealth of important information, from the fabric’s make to how the garment should be cleaned.
Depending on the quality of the garments, even simple T-shirts and jeans are labelled as ‘Dry Clean‘ only. Many clothing manufacturers recommend the most conservative cleaning treatment of the fabric to ensure the best results for the consumer. For example, most dark blue denim jeans may only have the ‘Dry Clean Only’ label to prevent them from fading or shrinking.
In some cases, some fabrics are labelled as dry cleaned can be hand washed or cleaned with a do it yourself dry cleaning kit at home. But because of the hassle and sometimes the mess could worsen if it is not handled by a professional.
Guidelines to Wash or Dry Clean Clothes
If you handle laundry for a while, you should have learned the best way to clean your clothes through trial and error. Looking at the care label, understanding the different types of fabric, and how the garment is made helps you decide what approach to take to clean your clothes.
If you are a beginner at doing laundry or uncertain about what to do when a piece of clothing is labelled as ‘Dry Clean Only‘. You can follow the simple care label guidelines or use these guidelines to help you decide.
Are there spots or stains on the garment that you don’t know how to treat?
Is the garment made from acetate, triacetate, or rayon? Although these fabrics can be hand washed in cold water, they can still cause shrinking or misshapen in water.
Is there a unique finishing on the garment? For example, stiff fabrics have a stabilizing finish to help them hold their shape. Using water or excessive agitation in a washer can ruin them.
Is the garment difficult to iron? If there are many ruffles or tucks to iron, you may want to consider handing them to a professional dry cleaner.
Is the garment structured or tailored like a coat or suit jacket? The fabric may be washable from the outside, but the interfacings that give lapels and shoulders their shape may be ruined by water.
Is the garment structured or tailored like a coat or suit jacket? The fabric may be washable from the outside, but the interfacings that give lapels and shoulders their shape may be ruined by water.
Is the garment made of leather or suede?
Is the garment's fabric unfamiliar with you?
Is the garment expensive or unique to you? Taking a high risk to wash the clothes yourself may cause mishaps and might not be reversed. You should consider contacting a dry cleaning expert to care for your laundry.
If any of the above is a ‘Yes’ for you. You should ask someone who is more experienced in doing laundry for a recommended or you can call us at the button below.