Machine washing a silk shirt that says Dry Clean only??

[OutHouse]

damn, bought a shirt at costco that is silk but didnt read the tag that says dry clean only. Can i still wash it in my washer but use the delicate setting?

 

[loup garou]

No

 

[FoBoT]

dry clean it if you want it to stay nice

you could try hand washing it in your sink, but it might wreck it

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Citrix
damn, bought a shirt at costco that is silk but didnt read the tag that says dry clean only. Can i still wash it in my washer but use the delicate setting?

Sure, if you want to destroy it.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Get those dryel sheets and stick em in the dryer

 

[ElFenix]

could try that dryer dry-cleaning bag thing

 

[dirtboy]

I wash everything at home, but then again, I have a set of these:

Whirlpool Duet

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Get those dryel sheets and stick em in the dryer

do they really work?

 

[FoBoT]

why does a guy with the screenname "dirtboy" have ANY washing machine?

 

[PingSpike]

I've had this happen to me before, this is what I do.

Wash it with your regular clothes with no special treatment whatsoever.

If it comes out alright, cool, its just a normal shirt with a paranoid label.

If it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be. Throw the shirt away. I'll be damned if I'm running around town on special trips for one stupid shirt.

"These pants are dry clean only...That means they are dirty."

 

[KarenMarie]

Use COLD water
Imtermittent/slow agitation.
one rinse... GENTLE

DO NOT PUT IT IN THE DRYER!

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: dirtboy
I wash everything at home, but then again, I have a set of these:

Whirlpool Duet

Fancy shmancy washer/dryer != dry cleaning... but still nice.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Get those dryel sheets and stick em in the dryer

do they really work?

Yes.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: dman

Originally posted by: dirtboy
I wash everything at home, but then again, I have a set of these:

Whirlpool Duet

Fancy shmancy washer/dryer != dry cleaning... but still nice.

True, but I have a silk setting and all kinds of options that allow me to wash everything at home.

 

[nativesunshine]

I washed a pair of pants two weeks ago that said it was dry clean only...

i just air dried the pants.

it was fine...and still is fine.

just wash it..but hang it up to dry..instead of putting in the dryer.

that dryel stuff doesn't seem to work.

i tried it on my jacket...it didn't work.

maybe i was doing it wrong.

 

[Mermaidman]

Try hand washing in Woolite. (Says the wifey)

edit: And definitely do NOT put it in the dryer.

 

[dullard]

Washing silk a few times usually causes no problems at all. I have many silk shirts that I wash with my regular clothes. However, you need to realize a few things. (1) The silk will rip/tear sooner if you wash it. Basically instead of a normal shirt lasting 5 years with normal wear and tear, the silk shirt will get you 2-3 years with normal wear and tear. (2) Silk will lose its silky feel after 10 or so washes. It will start to feel more like hotel sheets than silk. What I do is wear the shirt 5-6 times between washings (unless I sweated in it).

If you are ok with those two drawbacks, then 99% of the time, you will be fine just washing it like a normal shirt. Heck you can even use detergent, warm water, and a dryer. Sure hand washing will maybe get you a few more washes, but nothing dramatic.