How Can Laundry Shops Safely Wash Clothes That Are Not Suitable for Dry Cleaning

In the clothing care industry, dry cleaning can remove some stubborn stains and clean special fabrics, but it's not good for all clothes. If you dry clean certain clothes, they may shrink, change shape, fade, or even get damaged because of the way they are made, the materials used to make them, or auxiliary materials. 

This article will focus on the first 7 types of clothes among the 14 types that are not suitable for dry cleaning, providing laundries with targeted, safe washing solutions. These treatments enable laundries to clean clothes while keeping their original texture and lifespan as much as possible. The main idea behind them is "gentle treatment, precise protection."

1. Artificial Leather Garments

Reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned: Dry cleaning solvents will destroy the material structure of leather, causing the leather to become hard and cracked, and lose its original flexibility and gloss.

Safe Washing Method: Hand wash in water below 30°C and using a mild neutral detergent. Don’t rub and wring garments. After washing, use a towel to absorb the water and put it flat in a cool place to air dry. Don’t put it under direct sunlight or dry it in a dryer. You can apply a care agent to protect the leather after drying.

2.  Fleece-adhered Clothing

Reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned: The glue between the fleece and the fabric base can dissolve when facing dry cleaning solvents, causing large-area fleece detachment and destroying the appearance of garments.

Safe Washing Method: Hand wash in warm water (25–30°C) with a neutral detergent to keep the garment safe. Soak for 5 minutes and press dirty areas. Avoid rubbing on the flocked areas. After cleaning, use a towel to absorb the extra water and put it flat to dry, and avoid stretching during drying.

3. Coated Fabrics

Reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned: Dry cleaning can damage the coating of clothing, causing it to harden, shrink, or crack, thus losing its original function and beauty.

Safe Washing Method: Test on an inconspicuous area of the garment first and confirm the coating is stable before washing. When hand washing, keep the water temperature 30°C lower, use a low-foam neutral detergent, and wash gently, and turn the garment over to avoid rubbing the coating surface directly. After cleaning, do not wring it out vigorously. Lay it flat in a cool place to dry. Do not iron the coated area.

4. Down Jackets

Reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned: Solvents can destroy natural oils from down, causing it to clump and reducing the warmth. Residual solvents may also irritate the skin.

Safe Washing Method: It can be put into a big laundry bag and then washed in the washing machine with the "gentle mode" or "down jacket special mode". Use a neutral detergent for down jackets,make sure the water temperature is below 30°C, and wash it for no more than 15 minutes. You may add a little softener during the rinse cycle and spin at 600 rpm or less.When drying, lay the clothes flat or hang them to air dry in the shade and gently pat the clothes to make the down fluffy. After it is completely dry, it can be dried at a low temperature for 10 minutes to help it become fluffy. ​

5. Wedding Dresses

Reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned: Delicate decorations such as lace, embroidery, and beads may snag or detach due to machine washing, and some fabrics may fade or deform after dry cleaning.

Safe Washing Method: First, use a soft brush dipped in a small amount of neutral detergent to clean the stains, and then use a wet towel to absorb the foam. If you need to wash the whole dress, please wash it by hand with water temperature below 30℃ and use mild neutral detergent. Gently press to remove dirt, and avoid rubbing the decorative parts. After washing, use a towel to wrap up the excess water, put it flat on a clothes hanger covered with a soft cloth to air dry it. After drying, it should be organized and maintained by professionals

6. Garments with a High Content of Elastic Fibers

Reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned: Elastic fibers have poor resistance to organic solvents. Dry cleaning can cause elastic fibers to age and break, leading to the loss or weakening of elasticity in clothes, resulting in problems such as sagging and deformation.

Safe Washing Method: Hand washing or machine washing in a gentle mode can be chosen, and people must use a laundry bag to reduce friction. The water temperature must be less than 30 degrees, and the washing time must be less than 10 minutes to avoid long-time soaking.Let it air dry naturally in the shade. Do not use a dryer and don’t overstretch them after drying.

7. Light-Colored Cotton Garments

Reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned: Solvents may cause light-colored cotton to attract impurities, resulting in yellowing or dullness.

Safe Washing Method: Hand wash or use a cotton/linen mode on the machine, . Water temperature should be 30–40°C , and a neutral color-safe detergent should be used. Soaking in a small amount of white vinegar for 10 minutes before washing can keep the garments' whiteness. Dry the items separately in a cool area away from direct sunlight. Also, it can be dried upside down.

Conclusion:

The above seven types of clothing need special attention when washing. Laundries should strictly follow targeted washing solutions to avoid damaging clothing due to improper washing methods. In the next article, we will continue to introduce safe washing methods for the other types of clothing that are not suitable for dry cleaning, and we will provide laundries with a more comprehensive clothing care reference.