Try This Essential Test Before Washing 'Dry Clean Only' Clothes At Home

You're separating your dirty clothes and checking the tags (machine wash cold, hand wash) and then you come across the dry clean only tag. If you prefer skipping the dry cleaner or simply don't have the time but need to get your item or items clean, it might be worthwhile to try washing your dry cleaning at home. As with any hack or trend, it's important to try this with caution, and a simple but essential step can help you tell if you really need to dry clean your laundry. The first thing you want to do is use a cotton swab to check if the fabric will bleed, as this could ruin your other clothes and linens and cause the dry clean piece to fade.

Many brands tell consumers to dry clean to help avoid faded colors in their clothes or to keep delicate garments in good condition. While it is always wise to err on the side of caution, if you have an item that could be added to a washing machine load, the cotton swab test will help ensure the color won't bleed away. This test cannot provide an accurate result of how the fabric and details will hold up in your machine, but it does give a good idea of how the color will fare when submerged in water. If you want to dry clean certain laundry fabrics at home, try this swab test before any other part of the process.

To use this test, grab a cotton swab (Q-tip) and get it wet. Gently brush the wet cotton along a very small swatch of your fabric. If dye comes off, this piece may not be ideal for your machine loads. If no dye comes off, the color should be fine, but it's still important to consider all the elements before washing a dry clean only garment. Because professionals use dry cleaning solvents rather than a full machine cycle wash, items that will bleed or could shrink, fall apart more easily, or lose their shape may be best taken to a professional. You can also add a little mild detergent and water to a small part of your fabric and dab the cotton swab over this to test the dye. 

If your fabrics don't bleed and you determine you're comfortable using a washing machine on them, use a gentle cycle and cold water. The water temperature makes a huge difference, especially on knits, silk, or other delicate materials. Detergent is also important, so use something that is gentle and non-abrasive. Hand washing clothes that suggest they be dry cleaned is another great option, as it lets you control the agitation, the water temperature, and the overall wash of your pieces. It is still wise to try the cotton swab test as you don't want to submerge any items that will lose all their color from water.