I machine wash my silks, cashmere, wool, etc.

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#16
I have never ever risk throwing my silk and expensive clothing in the washing maching so I have always handwashed them. Does that mean handwashing is even better than dry cleaning? I just recently stopped handwashing all my silk and expensive items because I thought dry cleaning would be better for them. But according to you ladies here, it is not?
 
#18
Dry cleaning is the worst for clothing, it is too harsh.

I throw delicates and cashmeres (not at the same time!) into the washing, in mesh bags, on the delicate cycle. Flat or line dry.

My cashmeres, silks, and lace items all have lasted over 10 years (unless I outgrow them or a moth eats them.)
 
#19
Sparklybags said:
I handwash a lot of my dry clean only items but I have a few silk items i'm scared to incase the water damages them! Do you all just wash all fabrics??
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Yep I wash everything. Even the things that are supposed to be dry cleaned.
Silk and cashmere I hand wash. Wool garments I use the special delicates program of my washing machine and cold water. So far everything works fine, no problems, shrinkage, or piling. Just make sure you use really cold water and special detergent.

Example: I have silk /cashmere shawls I hand wash once a year and they are like knew. The colors are vibrant and there is no damage.;)

I take to the dry cleaners only coats, dh's suits, wool blankets and throws.
 
#20
lily25 said:
Yep I wash everything. Even the things that are supposed to be dry cleaned.
Silk and cashmere I hand wash. Wool garments I use the special delicates program of my washing machine and cold water. So far everything works fine, no problems, shrinkage, or piling. Just make sure you use really cold water and special detergent.

Example: I have silk /cashmere shawls I hand wash once a year and they are like knew. The colors are vibrant and there is no damage.;)

I take to the dry cleaners only coats, dh's suits, wool blankets and throws.
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Great tips! Which detergent do you use for your silk/cashmere stoles?
 
#21
OK....so this is my method for machine/hand washing delicates:
Cold water/light load
Put in item, but leave the lid up
Let the machine wash the clothes for a few minutes
Turn it to medium or full load/warm water
Use this running water to rinse out my delicate items
Put in regular clothes to wash
Lay delicate items on a towel and roll them up to get out excess water
Hang dry!
 
#22
LVjudy said:
Great tips! Which detergent do you use for your silk/cashmere stoles?
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I use a brand called Soflan, IDK if it is available everywhere...



There are 2 kinds one for hand washing and one for hand washing & machine wash.
Sometimes if the garment just needs a little freshen up and is not actually dirty I will just put it in some cold water with softener, no detergent at all.
 
#24
I hand wash bras and hose.
Blouses and other gentle wash items I put in the washer on gentle with cold water and woolite.
I've mostly gotten away from silk blouses because I found them to be kind of a chore to take care of.
 
#25
I tried handwashing one "dry clean only" item at a time. The woven and knitted silks shrunk enough to concern me, so they'll be going to the dry cleaners. The rayon knits came out OK, but I was warned not to crunch them and to carefully shape them afterward.
 
#27
Jahpson said:
LOL! What is so hard with taking some warm water, gentle detergent and soaking the garment for an hour and then rinsing and hanging to dry? LOL
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what about when every load you do, half of your clothes are delicates?
i have a LOT of wools and silks. washing 20+ pieces every week or so is not time saving at all....
i am probably too young or poor to be "investing" in nice material as i do not want to pay for the dry clean...but if i find cheap products made of wool/silk, i'm buying it!
 
#28
I'm bumping this thread to ask what may be a very basic question:
If a silk blouse says "Professionally dry clean" is that the same as "Dry clean only"? I ask because if a garment tag just says "dry clean" but not "dry clean ONLY" then I would just hand wash it, but I'm not sure if "professionally dry clean" means I would ruin it by hand washing.
 
#29
i think dry clean = professional dry clean...
my experience was silk didn't shrink when i hand washed it...
but chiffon did shrink....i also tried to take it to dry cleaning, it also shrank and the texture also changed a little.
 
#30
Dry cleaning isn't great for your clothing, but there is little choice when it comes to certain items. I am thinking of heavy winter coats, wool pants, and blazers.

I machine wash my silks. I always dry clean my cashmere (I don't have much of it. The winters have been pretty mild for me wear my few pieces often.) There have been some wool items I've thrown in the washer. Most are ok, but I noticed a sweater that shrunk a bit.

Of course I always line dry a majority of my non-casual clothing.
 
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