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Handwashing on dryclean only
CRUST Intermediate Member since 3/21/12 Posts: 87	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/24/12 5:21 AM Normally I don't give a second thought to handwashing any garment in my closet, but I have two pairs of recently purchased trousers that I'm a little hesitant about. The shell on one is 40% linen, 60% wool, the other is 54% wool, 25% cotton, 21% linen. Both should be fine to handwash, except that the lining is 50/50 rayon/acetate. Is this safe to get wet? Google is giving me contradictory answers.
tlmck3 Advanced Beginner IL USA Member since 7/11/05 Posts: 3648	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/24/12 11:16 AM Acetate tends to wrinkle/crease just about irreparably when washed in my experience. You CAN usually press it flat again but the surface retains a somewhat crushed appearance. I also handwash lots of dry clean only items but I don't handwash things with linings. It's too hard to press the tailoring details back into place properly and highly worth it to me to have the dry cleaner do it. ------ I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work. Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage St. Augustine
talesofawannabe Advanced Beginner VA USA Member since 6/25/10 Posts: 260	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/24/12 12:07 PM I hand wash lots of vintage clothes, but in general, I try not to wash anything that has rayon in it. I almost ruined a gorgeous 60's pink suit with a rayon lining by trying to hand wash it. Personally, I wouldn't wash the pants that contain wool. I hand washed a Pendelton skirt I found at the goodwill once, and while it was wearable, it changed the texture of the wool somewhat. ------ http://talesofawannabeseamstress.blogspot.com/
jenleeC   Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 6/4/11 Posts: 753	Login to reply to this post In reply to CRUST << Like this post Date: 4/24/12 9:04 PM I agree with the posters above. I will also hand wash some dryclean only items, but generally dryclean where the style (jacket, pleats etc) or the construction (lining, heavy interfacing on a jacket) would make pressing difficult. The fabrics in your garment, particularly the linen, have the potential for shrinkage, and the rayon/acetate lining would make pressing difficult. I am currently doing a 'Fibres and Fabrics' unit at TAFE and just checked my course notes - "Rayon - loses over 40% of its strength when wet - needs to be laundered carefully..distorts and wrinkles easily...poor durability". It was not all bad though - on the plus side "very absorbent, excellent drape, comfortable to wear". Acetate was similar. Both are man-made fibres. Our teacher's advice was that rayon made a good lining for garments that were going to be drycleaned but was not the best choice for lining garments that you want to wash. I would be drycleaning these, particularly if they were expensive. You will find they last a lot longer and look better. -- Edited on 4/24/12 9:15 PM -- ------ Jenny, Perth, WA

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