The truth about 'Dry Clean' labels: Home wash or pro clean?

Yes, we are happy to inform you that clothes labeled "dry clean only" do not always require a professional laundry service - and there are easy home methods that can do the job instead. Moreover, there are fabrics that you can wash at home without fear at all. "Most clothing manufacturers put a 'dry clean only' label, even in cases where normal washing at home would be perfectly fine for them," laundry experts from Dependable Laundry Solutions told The Mirror.

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The experts insist that acrylic, cashmere, cotton, nylon, polyester, denim and many wool versions can be treated at home. "I get a dizzying amount of happiness from putting clothes that say 'dry clean only' into the washing machine and coming out of it unscathed," Sarah boasted on Twitter. The New York fabric care company The Laundress takes things a step further - and details how different types of items supposedly intended for dry cleaning should be treated at home. It turns out that many of them can just go through a gentle cycle of washing with cool or cold water and a slow cycle.

Garments with designed pleats may lose their rigid crease during home washing. However, steaming afterwards should restore the folds. Wool can also benefit from using a wool and cashmere shampoo. Clothing made of viscose that is only wrinkled but not dirty can also be refreshed with a steam iron alone at home, according to the company. However, this material is generally not worth cleaning in a home laundry and should be avoided - unless otherwise stated on the label.

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Other items that are not suitable for self-cleaning are usually constructed (carefully tailored) and padded because machine washing can cause tearing or puckering around the seam areas. It is also not recommended to wash suede. More on the subject: Test yourself: do you know how to read laundry labels? The secret behind the signs on the Zara tags that will find you the perfect size

Leather clothes, which are known to be unwashable, and fur with leather are also on the list of clothes that are not intended for self-cleaning. Anything containing a polyamide material may warp or be damaged even in home care. However, to clarify, The Laundress suggests disregarding conventions only with "items that are recommended for dry cleaning" - and not with those that explicitly say "dry cleaning only".