Washing dry-clean only fabric: what's the worst that can happen?

[teuchter]

I have some seat cushion covers, made from a version of this material, which is marked as dry clean only:

Malmo Marram | Lulea & Malmo | Semi-Plain Weave | Villa Nova

Semi-Plain Weave

www.villanova.co.uk

Some of these have had things like red wine spilt on them, by people who are not me I would like to add, in the past, and dry cleaning doesn't get this out.

So - I am inclined to try and wash them in water - probably quite cautiously to start with, with cold water and minimal cleaning stuff. What's the worst that's likely to happen - and is it worse than having something with a five year old red wine stain on it? For example, might they shrink, or something?

 

[nottsgirl]

The worst that can happen is they’ll be ruined. Hth.

 

[Steel Icarus]

In my experience it's the drying that fucks things up. Put these on a delicates wash, low temp, then dry by hanging

 

[platinumsage]

You won’t remove an old red wine stain by vaguely wafting it around in some cold water with minimal detergent, so I wouldn’t bother if I were you.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Some of these have had things like red wine spilt on them, by people who are not me I would like to add, in the past, and dry cleaning doesn't get this out.

Just spill red wine all over the rest of the cushion to even things out - you won't notice the stain then.

 

[editor]

I once washed a wool jumper in a regular wash and it came out comically shrunk. Well I would have laughed if I hadn't really liked it.

 

[Steel Icarus]

I once washed a wool jumper in a regular wash and it came out comically shrunk. Well I would have laughed if I hadn't really liked it.

I did the same with a quite expensive cardigan. Worn once then into the charity bag

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I have some seat cushion covers, made from a version of this material, which is marked as dry clean only:

Malmo Marram | Lulea & Malmo | Semi-Plain Weave | Villa Nova

Semi-Plain Weave

www.villanova.co.uk

Some of these have had things like red wine spilt on them, by people who are not me I would like to add, in the past, and dry cleaning doesn't get this out.

So - I am inclined to try and wash them in water - probably quite cautiously to start with, with cold water and minimal cleaning stuff. What's the worst that's likely to happen - and is it worse than having something with a five year old red wine stain on it? For example, might they shrink, or something?

A 5 year old stain isn't going anywhere. Just live with it.

 

[nottsgirl]

Well, they’re already ruined so what do you have to lose. Hit them with some Vanish and then put them in on a delicates cycle.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I once washed a wool jumper in a regular wash and it came out comically shrunk. Well I would have laughed if I hadn't really liked it.

Did that with three new jumpers, all only worn once. Washed on the coolest wash but they all shrank.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Well, they’re already ruined so what do you have to lose. Hit them with some Vanish and then put them in on a delicates cycle.

He might as well soak them in bleach first to help shift the stain - nothing to lose.

 

[DaphneM]

Soak them in a cold bath with bio detergent

 

[platinumsage]

Dye them all black perhaps?

 

[Sasaferrato]

I once washed a wool jumper in a regular wash and it came out comically shrunk. Well I would have laughed if I hadn't really liked it.

The first time Mrs Sas washed one of my army jumpers, she didn't realise it was wool. It would have fitted the cat.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Dye them all black perhaps?

Or tie-dye them - then it won't matter if anyone spills wine on them in the future.

 

[teuchter]

The worst that can happen is they’ll be ruined. Hth.

What is the mechanism by which they will be ruined, pls.

 

[A380]

You could paint the whole sofa with a brush. Works quite well I'm told. Perhaps bimble could advise?

 

[nottsgirl]

What is the mechanism by which they will be ruined, pls.

Water will destroy the fabric and change the look of it. Ie very wrinkled or something.

 

[Aladdin]

I once washed a wool jumper in a regular wash and it came out comically shrunk. Well I would have laughed if I hadn't really liked it.

Yep.
Happened me once too.
It was so small I gave it to my 6 yr old god daughter. It was practically felted...and very warm I should think.

 

[Aladdin]

I have some seat cushion covers, made from a version of this material, which is marked as dry clean only:

Malmo Marram | Lulea & Malmo | Semi-Plain Weave | Villa Nova

Semi-Plain Weave

www.villanova.co.uk

Some of these have had things like red wine spilt on them, by people who are not me I would like to add, in the past, and dry cleaning doesn't get this out.

So - I am inclined to try and wash them in water - probably quite cautiously to start with, with cold water and minimal cleaning stuff. What's the worst that's likely to happen - and is it worse than having something with a five year old red wine stain on it? For example, might they shrink, or something?

Have you tried spray on foam upholstery cleaner? You leave it on for over half an hour and sponge it off.


If you do decide to wash them make sure you put them back on the cushions while they are still damp / wet. This stops shinkage. Ideally you would do this on a sunny day and leave the cushions in their covers out to dry.

 

[moose]

What is the mechanism by which they will be ruined, pls.

The one you link to is a mix of 4 fibres, which might all react differently to immersion in water and subsequent drying. Might wrinkle, shrink, fray, lose 'body', or discolour, and remove fire retardant. But is that what yours are actually made of? You say 'a version of'?

If dry cleaning hasn't removed the stains, it's probably baked them in a little more, so they might be even more difficult to remove now. But what have you got to lose?

 

[RubyToogood]

On the one hand there are quite a lot of things that the manufacturers mark as dry clean only because they can't be bothered to test the washability.

On the other hand the fabric you link to has quite a lot of viscose in it which is notorious for shrinking.

 

[WouldBe]

The first time Mrs Sas washed one of my army jumpers, she didn't realise it was wool. It would have fitted the cat.

How did you explain that away to the quartermaster?
Put on weight?

 

[Sasaferrato]

How did you explain that away to the quartermaster?
Put on weight?

I was lucky in that the clothing storeman lived in the next doo flat, he took it away and brought me two new ones and a spare pair of boots.

 

[Sasaferrato]

The one you link to is a mix of 4 fibres, which might all react differently to immersion in water and subsequent drying. Might wrinkle, shrink, fray, lose 'body', or discolour, and remove fire retardant. But is that what yours are actually made of? You say 'a version of'?

If dry cleaning hasn't removed the stains, it's probably baked them in a little more, so they might be even more difficult to remove now. But what have you got to lose?

Does anyone remember the days when you got 'Dabitoff'? It contained trichloroethylene which is bloody toxic.

 

[JimW]

The one you link to is a mix of 4 fibres,

This is clearly teuchter's main problem, he's violated the express commands of God.

 

[JimW]

I'd go for presoak and handwashing first.

 

[teuchter]

The one you link to is a mix of 4 fibres, which might all react differently to immersion in water and subsequent drying. Might wrinkle, shrink, fray, lose 'body', or discolour, and remove fire retardant. But is that what yours are actually made of? You say 'a version of'?

Thanks, that's useful to understand.

Yes, it's exactly that material, just in a different colour. And it had a fire retardent treatment applied to it.

 

[Orang Utan]

Have you tried, you know, dry cleaning them?

 

[cupid_stunt]

Have you tried, you know, dry cleaning them?

You could try reading the OP.