For many, the weekly trip to the dry-cleaner is a chore that is both costly and inconvenient. However, experts suggest that some garments labelled 'dry-clean only' can be safely handwashed at home, provided certain precautions are taken.
According to Howard Duffy, technical officer at the Drycleaning Institute of Australia, care labels may sometimes be overly cautious. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission notes that overly cautious instructions could breach standards if a garment can be safely cared for in another way. Yet, brands may guess care instructions without proper testing.
Key factors to consider before washing include fibre composition, dye type, chemical finishes, preshrinking, and how hardware like buttons or zips react to water. Cotton, linen, and polyester blends are generally safe to handwash, unless treated with water-soluble finishes that alter texture. Silk can be handwashed but may lose lustre; delicate silks like chiffon are best left to professionals.
Shrinkage is a risk, especially for fabrics not preshrunk by manufacturers. Lined garments pose additional challenges if inner and outer fabrics respond differently to water. Wool and cashmere should only be handwashed with a pH-neutral detergent to avoid felting.
Colour fastness varies: natural dyes on silk, cotton, or linen may fade with dry-cleaning, while some dyes bleed in water, particularly deep, vibrant colours like red. Embroidered items with colourful threads are also at risk.
