weareborgswife

I was given a huge sample fabric ring (like from a design store) and it has some 100% silk swatches, and some really soft poly fabrics and poly/cotton mixes... they all say Dry Clean Only... what is the down side if they were to be washed?

A several of the pieces out make great little lovey dolls/animals, but unwashable kids toys are

There are so many varieties I can't just do a test wash...

Concern is the colors bleeding into one another... I would probably pre-wash anyway, but don't want to end up with a mess of muddy fabrics...

Thoughts?

Angela

I have a polyester dress that says Dry Clean Only. I took a chance and hand washed it and hung it to dry and it cleaned up beautifully. No bleeding or getting mis-shapen.
I also had a really soft "dry clean only" polyester coat (Oh, how I loved that coat!!) When I lost weight it was too huge on me so I was going to donate it to the thrift store. It was horribly dirty because I only got it cleaned once a year. I decided that I had nothing to lose and threw it in the washer on delicate and washed it. I can't remember if I dried it on delicate or if I hung it to dry..... I don't recall having it hanging in my bathroom so I must have dried it. *sigh* I wasted so much money over the years having it cleaned. I could have beeen doing it myself the whole time ... and more often!!!!!!
That is my only experience. I don't know how helpful it was.......

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Angela ~ Mom to two great girls (18 & 13) ~ Novice at many different crafts ~Master of none
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weareborgswife

Thanks Angela- That's what I was thinking... polyester is pretty durable- that's why it was invented wasn't it?

May give it a try with one piece tonight and see what happens.

libbie52

Wash it....I have washed wool to make it a washable vest, as my boyfriend would not bother to take it to the cleaners. It will shrink or bleed.......or both.

mamarose22

Try cutting off a small piece of fabric from a corner, wash it and see how it works. Sometimes you can prewash fabrics even though it says dry clean and this way if it is shrinkable it will be preshrunk. Many years ago, my mother had some silk fabric that was to be drycleaned. She washed it in cool water with some coarse salt to contain the bleeding before sewing it into a blouse for me. I never had any trouble after that.

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luvkadcl

The only thing in our house that goes to a dry cleaner is my husband's suit. I wash everything. You can even search, "How to wash..." My husband has 2 winter jackets that say dry clean only. They washed and dried beautifully. I bought a long white formal dress on ebay for $8 for my daughter for a dance. It said dry clean only. I called for prices and it would have cost over $15. I washed it as someone recommended online. Very gentle wash for only a few min. I did a rinse and quick spin. I hung it to dry and it didn't even wrinkle.

I have seen many dolls/stuffed toys say wipe clean only. So if the fabric doesn't wash well, you could add a disclaimer.

Cindy