What Happens if You Accidentally Wash a Dry Clean Only Dress?
Not reading care instructions on clothing is one of the top laundry blunders that we Brits are guilty of. Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us have been in a horrible situation whereby we wash a new garment only to open the machine door to be greeted by a nightmare!
Dresses can be one of the trickiest to wash as they often feature multiple materials and complex design patterns. If you are trying to figure out whether it’s better to wash or dry clean clothing, you should always start by paying attention to the care label, as the answer has already been determined. This is one of the main reasons why dry cleaning should not be done at home and why people take the time to understand whether or not their new fabrics can withstand a machine cycle.
As expert dry cleaners, we have treated our fair share of dresses, from mini styles to ball gowns, so let us share our insights into what can happen if you accidentally wash a dry clean-only item.
How Do I Know if My Dress Is Dry Clean Only?
The best way to avoid the frustration of having accidentally washed dry clean only pants or a dress is to pay close attention to care labels. A survey by Data Label found that 56% of people do not always understand the symbols on clothing care labels, which leads to clothes being damaged and wasted. While many people find laundry symbols confusing, they are straightforward once you know what to look for.
Keep an eye out for
- the hand wash only,
- do not wash,
- do not wring,
and most importantly, the dry clean symbol, which tells you a dress is too delicate for a wash and spin cycle.
Hanging a laundry symbol guide in your laundry area is a great habit, and there are plenty of expert guides to laundry symbols available online to make decoding them easier. Another reliable indicator is the fabric itself. Certain materials simply cannot handle the warm water and agitation of a washing machine.
What Happens to Dry Clean Only Dresses If You Wash Them?
The average adult will ruin 95 items of clothing in their lifetime. One of the main reasons is accidentally washing items that should never be inside a washing machine. If you accidentally wash a dress that was intended for dry cleaning care, you could experience any of the following:
- Shrinking could happen, so your dress becomes only suitable for children. Most clothing is also pre-shrunk, but not dry-clean-only items due to the delicate fabric used. When a dry-clean-only dress is subjected to water and heat, the construction will naturally shrink and deteriorate in quality to the point that it cannot be returned to its former state.
- Discolouring or dye bleeding can happen for some dresses labelled as dry clean only. Their colours will fade or become lost if washed normally. This not only means that your dress will lose its original coloured design, but other laundry items will also become damaged from dye, which is very hard, if not impossible, to repair with re-dyeing.
- Damage is also a common side effect if washed. Delicate dresses will likely suffer from loose stitching, rips, tears, and distortion in their form. This is even more common for dresses than other garments, as they are often made of fabric panels and materials to achieve detailed designs. More elements mean a greater chance of damage occurring if they are washed.
Understanding what happens if you wash a dry-clean-only dress (or any delicate garment) comes down to knowing what those materials are. Always opt for dry cleaning if your dress is made from any of the following.
Why Certain Fabrics React Badly to Washing
Wool: Many people have accidentally washed dry-clean-only wool garments and ended up with a shrunken, misshapen mess. Woollen dresses are a cold-weather wardrobe staple, but the fibres are only designed to be handled gently. The washing machine can permanently distort their shape.
Linen: Linen is prized for being lightweight and breathable, thanks to its flexible fibres, but heat is its enemy. Put a summer linen dress through the wash, and you risk ending up with stubborn creases that may never fully recover.
Silk and Rayon: These are among the most delicate fabrics you’ll encounter. Unknowingly or accidentally washing a dry-clean-only silk gown or rayon blouse can result in colour loss, warped fit, and ruined texture. If you’re ever tempted to try dry-clean-only at home, silk and rayon are the fabrics where that risk is simply not worth taking.
Dry-cleaned clothes tend to last longer both in overall lifespan and between cleans. So it’s worth taking the time to understand the care needs of each piece before it goes anywhere near water.
Can You Save a Dry Clean Only Dress if It Has Been Washed by Accident?
The best method is to dry the item properly using either air-drying or steaming. You can then assess the damage and determine the best course of action. You may be able to re-dye items, make alterations and fixes, and even steam out creases, but most damage will be irreparable.
This is why it’s always important to read the care label or to send dry-clean dresses to a professional dry cleaner for processing. While you may be able to work some magic to save a dry-clean-only dress that has gone through the wash, unfortunately, it is highly unlikely.
How Can I Clean Dry Clean Only Dresses?
There are some suitable substitutes for dry cleaning, which we have included below.
Send for Professional Dry Cleaning
The best option is to choose an expert dry cleaning service like what we offer at Love2Laundry. This ensures dresses are treated with professional cleaning detergents and only treated with dry cleaning machines that use gentle heat with garment agitation to achieve clean results.
Even when an item needs dry cleaning, it still has to be checked on its own. Dry cleaning experts look at the care label, fabric type, and design before choosing the right cleaning method. They also clean similar items together when possible to help protect the clothes and avoid damage.
Hand Wash at Home
You should also be able to hand wash dresses using only cool water at home if you must. Always check the care label first.
During this process, you should gently pat the items and never pull them to ensure distortion does not take place. Items should be cleaned one at a time and left to dry properly in a way that doesn’t pull on the dress, as damage can still occur when items are damp due to the item’s weight.
Steam Clean at Home
Last but not least, you can use a clothes steamer to freshen some dry-clean-only dresses, but check the care label first. Use a low heat setting and keep the steamer a few inches away from the fabric. Move it slowly and do not hold it in one place for too long. Test a small hidden area first, especially if the dress has beads, sequins, or other delicate details.
How Does Love2Laundry Care for Dry Clean Dresses?
Love2Laundry is your go-to laundry app for dry cleaning that offers the perfect way to clean dresses that are dy-clean-only.
To ensure you are always the belle of the ball, our experts dry clean dresses individually using only suitable treatments that will never cause damage. Check out our pricing or contact us if you have any questions.
Do you want to learn more about dry cleaning? These blogs would be a good read for you –
How Long Can Clothes Stay In The Cleaners?
Why Do My Clothes Still Smell After Dry Cleaning?
Does Dry Cleaning Remove Armpit Stains?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Save a Dress After Accidentally Washing It in the Machine?
It is possible, but not guaranteed. Once removed from the machine, gently reshape the dress whilst it is still damp and lay it flat to air-dry away from direct heat or sunlight . If creases remain, use a steamer on a low setting to ease them out. However, shrinking, fading, and structure damage are irreversible.
Which Fabric Types Are Almost Always Dry Clean Only?
Wool, silk, rayon, and linen are the fabric types that are almost always dry-clean only. These materials have sensitive fibre structures that can be permanently damaged by water and heat.
Is Hand Washing a Dry Clean Only Dress Safer Than Machine Washing?
Hand washing is gentler than machine washing, but it is not without its risks. It should be done in cold water only, patted lightly instead of being pulled on or twisted, and laid out to dry. Remember to always read the label before wet washing any fabric.
Why Do Dry Clean Only Dresses Shrink When Washed?
Dry-clean-only dresses are not pre-shrunk during manufacturing because their delicate fabrics are never intended to come into contact with water. When exposed to the water and heat of a washing machine, the fibres shrink permanently.
