What happens to clothes that are dry clean only but you wash them?

Question

I have a shirt I wear to work but it is dry clean only and right now i cant afford it. What would happen if i washed it in the gentlest cycle on my machine?

Answer 1

it may depend on the material.  wools will shrink, some cottons will, linens will wrinkle and some silks will bleed color along with wrinkle. that is just some of the reasons.

if you have to wash it, don't use the machine.  hand wash and get yourself some woolite.

Answer 2

Legally, manufacturers need to list only one method of cleaning on the tag, so when it says dry clean only, that may not be true.

What is the fabric content?

Answer 3

i've done it and it was ok.

Answer 4

It depends on the fabric. It could do a little more damage than dry cleaning, or it could raise those little pills, or it could ruin the garment. I have a linen shirt that just faded a tiny bit when I washed it.  

Answer 5

it would become wrinkled and stiff.

Answer 6

depending on you r machine and the fabric you may be ok look up your waher and dryewr online or look in your manual for what it says your delicates involve also if its something u worry about and dont have the money maybe you should add a bounce sheet and put it away till you can afford to dry clean or buy dryel I think its called you put ur clothes in a special bag that dry cleans your clothes at home in your dryer you could also just buy a steamer or hand wash them in luke warm water rinse in cool water hang to dry blow dry them after using ur hand to take out any wrinkles use cool air or light heat  

Answer 7

I would wash it on the gentle cycle with nothing else in the washer then hang it to dry.