Wash and fold or dry cleaning: which does your garment need?
Wash and fold suits everyday items that are safe in water, such as T-shirts, jeans, towels and bed sheets. Dry cleaning is for garments that water can damage: suits, lined jackets, silk, wool and embellished pieces. The care label is the final word. A circle symbol means dry clean; a crossed-out wash tub means do not wash.
What is the difference?
Wash and fold is ordinary laundering: the garment is washed in water with detergent, dried and folded. Dry cleaning uses a liquid solvent instead of water. The garment is still cleaned in a machine, but it is never soaked in water, which protects fabrics and constructions that water would shrink, distort or fade.
How do I read the care label?
The care label tells you what the maker tested the garment for. Three symbols answer most questions:
- A wash tub means the garment can be washed in water. A number or dots inside show the maximum temperature. A hand in the tub means hand wash only.
- A crossed-out wash tub means do not wash in water.
- A circle means the garment can be dry cleaned. A crossed-out circle means it must not be.
If the label says “dry clean only”, follow it. If it says “dry clean” without “only”, dry cleaning is the recommended method, and washing carries some risk.
Which garments usually need dry cleaning?
| Usually wash and fold | Usually dry clean |
|---|---|
| T-shirts, jeans, cotton shirts | Suits, blazers and lined jackets |
| Gym and sportswear | Silk, wool and cashmere |
| Towels and bed sheets | Evening and wedding dresses |
| Children’s everyday clothes | Embellished abayas and beaded garments |
| Underwear and socks | Ties, pleated skirts and tailored trousers |
What happens if I wash something that should be dry cleaned?
The usual problems are shrinking, loss of shape and colour bleeding. Structured garments such as suit jackets have linings and interlinings that react differently to water than the outer fabric, so the jacket can pucker or bubble. This damage is normally permanent.
What if I am not sure?
Put the item in a separate bag and tell us. We check the care label and the fabric of every piece before cleaning, and we will choose the safer method.
Questions and answers
Is dry cleaning better than washing?
Neither is better in general. Washing is right for everyday fabrics that are safe in water, and dry cleaning is right for delicate or structured garments. The care label tells you which one the garment was made for.
Can I send wash and fold and dry cleaning in the same pickup?
Yes. Keep the dry cleaning items in a separate bag if you can, and we will collect everything together.
Source for care label symbols: GINETEX, the international association for textile care labelling.
