Community Chat

[KittySoftPaws]

Thanks to all, for the great tips and advice.

[occasionalrain]

I have a several silk blouses that I've collected over the years, two, a sage and a pink with cuffs that use cuff links instead of buttons, all are hand washed.

The family of a school friend owned dry cleaners businesses and we'd stop by sometimes. The solvents used are carcinogens and remain in the clothes. Items are put in with other people's clothing, they're not individually cleaned.

I get outer lined coats, jackets dry cleaned but would never wear a dryer cleaned anything next to my skin.

[Janey2]

@KittySoftPaws  My items are from Eileen Fisher. The instructions say hand wash cold. I never did that. I always send to dry cleaner. Never had a problem. Sometimes I use a cool iron with a towel on top of the item if it gets creased. Nothing ever shrunk.

[Janey2]

@occasionalrain  I use an organic green dry cleaner which does not use toxic chemicals

[occasionalrain]

@Janey2 

What chemicals do they use?  I would prefer to have my outerwear cleaned there.

[Janey2]

They use solvents like hydrocarbon which is less toxic than the traditional perc. Not completely nontoxic but better.

[KittySoftPaws]

Thank you for that great info as well! I had been leaning towards hand washing them as I know I will take more care in doing so than a Dry Cleaner would. This confirms my suspicions. We do have cleaners around here that are "green" as well as those specifically for delicate materials and couture items, and your regular cleaners too, but I still have my reservations. Thanks again.

[shoekitty]

@KittySoftPaws     I have washed fabrics that have said dry cleaners only!! . I went online and typed in handwashing 100% silk jersey for you.  There is a way to do it. I think the problem is making sure you don't stretch fabric.  With item I did , I used tad gentle woolite, and swishing item around. No squeezing, wringing.  Then rinse under water, in container ..swishing again,  you drain water, out,.  Hand press waters out of fabric. You gently lay item flat between a couple towels on bottom and top of item till you feel sufficiently damp dry.  Here is clemcher, you need to dry item flat, on new dry towels, maybe on flat rack?   I layed on table in back yard, towels underneath. Then changing towels. As one poster said. You will need to touch up with slightly warm iron.  Look up online. I had a skirt I loved that specified dry clean only, do not wash.  I had to try, as cleaners had closed in town, and I didn't want to travel.  I put the fabric content, and washing dry clean only item, and I had a few articles how to do it. I did test on bottom 3 inches of skirt.  Worked so proceeded with rest of instructions. The main thing was no wrings, squeezing, , scrunching and prolonged washing.  I had to iron. But skirt turned out beautiful 

[KittySoftPaws]

@shoekitty Thank you for that excellent info! I will take this advice and try at least one of the items and see how it turns out. I am going to take measurments before I do to see if any shrinkage occurs. I have a hand washing bin with a drainer hole at the bottom and some delicate wash so I will try this method. Fingers crossed. I am going to also use very little soap too. Thanks again!

[shoekitty]

@KittySoftPaws   I would try with smaller item.  Healthier for you. What I have heard is the main thing with some of these fabrics isn't shrinkage, but "perma pressing" wrinkles in fabric with wringing and such.  I noticed fabric looked better as it dried.  When wet it seemed not as soft, and thicker.  As it dried it returned to normal texture.  I washed that skirt several times after that.  I still have  it. It was a simple skirt, no buttons, zipper with flat turned in elastic waistband.  It wasn't silk, but it was a DO NOT WAH, DRY CLEANERS ONLY .Please let us know how your first item goes, if you elect to wash