Seeing one of your precious garments or curtains ruined after a washing cycle is sad and frustrating. These are the items that are more valuable, sometimes sentimental and always harder to replace.
It’s actually quite common for people to not be certain about which items can be machine-washed normally and what should only be sent to the dry-cleaners. To end the confusion, stop the washing mishaps and cease spoiling your favourite garments, we at Brite Dry Cleaners have created this little list to help guide you in getting your items cleaned in the right way. Here are the top items you should and should not dry clean.
Fabrics That Should Always Be Dry-Cleaned
Some fabric types just don’t do well in the washing machine and your normal detergents will absolutely ruin these garments. Here is a quick list of fabrics that you should avoid washing at home or with a regular machine:
- Velvet fabrics – They’re mostly used in curtaining and often in clothing and bedding and should never be machine washed because the machines will flatten those fine fibres in your fabric, can crease everything horribly and can cause shedding.
- Shiny sequins – These will get ripped off in your washing machine so be sure to hand in all of those sparkly outfits and cushions to your dry cleaner.
- Fabrics with embellishments – Are also best suited in the hands of experts who will ensure that these fine artworks and detail won’t get damaged.
- Some synthetics fabrics – Items like Rayon are also not machine washable and will last you much longer if cleaned by dry-cleaners.
- Leather – Should always be washed at the dry cleaners unless you can simply wipe down dirty spots on smooth leather surfaces. If it’s been a long time without a good clean, rejuvenate that jacket and drop it off for specialised dry-cleaning.
Types of Clothing That Should Be Dry-Cleaned
Some clothing items and especially designer items can get pretty pricey so it’s not worth risking machine-washing damage just to save a few pennies. Here is a quick list of the types of garments that should go to your dry cleaners:
- Suits and corporate wear – They are often lined with a fine silk on the inside that is torn out immediately during washing and should always be handed in at dry cleaners.
- Formal wear – Ball gowns, bridesmaid dresses, wedding dresses, and sequin tops contains lots of delicate seams, decorations, and fabrics and should never be dumped into your washing machine unless you don’t mind it being ruined.
- Items with intricate designs – Embroidered items, crochet or sequins should be sent to your dry cleaners.
- Fine leathers – Leather jackets, boots and handbags are at their safest in the hands of our dry cleaners.
- Furs and synthetic furs – Are incredibly hard to clean at home and should always be cleaned by expert dry cleaners so that you don’t risk losing some of their fluff and softness.
- Rugs and carpets – When they have a mat or rubber layer at the bottom, they shouldn’t be machine washed because the pile will loosen and the rubber coating will peel off.
- Fine linen – Like satin, quilts, sequins and items with lots of handmade detail can be hand washed or machine washed but is much safer in the hands of your local dry cleaner.
So there you have the rundown of common items that need to be cleaned with care by professional dry cleaners. If you have a delicate item that does not fit in the above categories, it’s best to not err on the side of caution and get it cleaned by expert dry cleaners rather than risk destroying it in the wash at home.