Do you machine wash items that say hand wash?

I do not hand wash anything. I put items in a laundry bag and wash on the delicate cycle. Sometimes I turn them inside out.

Yes, "hand wash" is code for delicate cycle.

Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, even my local hardware store -- all sell mesh laundry bags for a couple of bucks. I have many and just bag up my nicer things and toss all bags in with a minimal amount of regular laundry detergent. Line dry always, and my clothes stay looking like new.

I feel clothing gets cleaner in the washer than by hand, as well.

Yes. I think I've been burned 1 or 2 times by that in my life, but pretty much it always works out.

I bought a flyaway cardigan with hand embroidery at a boutique last summer and because it's a white background, it was time for a good dunk around the arms where it gets black from rubbing on the desk at work.

I turned it inside out and put it in a lingerie bag and it came out fine.

I can get another summer out of it next year and then it may be done (or out of style by then if flyaways are not in anymore).

Yes, I will machine wash things that say to hand wash, and if they live... I keep them.

Seriously not into too much hand washing but I do have a couple of great gentle settings, and will dry the item in the garage on my dryer stands. Most turn out great....

Always in the machine on delicate!

On 9/26/2014 buddylou said:

Always in the machine on delicate!

I usually also turn them inside out. No problems whatever.

No. I hand wash. It's really not inconvenient for me. I have a lot of stuff that has to be hand washed ... I'm used to it.

I always put hand wash items in the machine on the delicate cycle. I think they get cleaner that way and nothing has been damaged in any way, and I don't use (or even have) any mesh laundry bags.