Clothing tags with “dry clean only” or “dry clean” indicate limited cleaning options, but “dry clean only” warns against using any other method due to fabric deterioration. The purpose of cleaning instructions is to help consumers properly care for their garments and save money.
When reading the instructions found on clothing tags, people may see the phrase “dry clean only” or “dry clean only.” Many people believe that these instructions are interchangeable, but that is not really the case. There is a difference between fabrics, and more care is often needed for clothes marked “dry clean only.”
The primary purpose of the clothing label is to help the owner understand what must be done to properly clean the garment. In some cases, placing the item in a washer and dryer on specific cycles is perfectly acceptable. However, there are some fabric blends that require special handling. Clothing manufacturers typically rely on research to help determine which cleaning methods will result in maintaining the integrity of the fabric and allow the garment to be usable after the cleaning process.
Test methods help determine which types of cleaning are best for the material. For example, if the cleaning instructions state that the garment can be machine washed, the label will say “machine washable.” If it needs to be machine washed in cold water only, the label will likely state this specifically. The idea is to alert the person doing the cleaning to any method that may cause a significant chance of fabric damage.
This is where the phrases “dry clean only” and “dry clean only” come into play. Seeing any of the phrases immediately tells the garment owner that there are limited options when it comes to cleaning the garment thoroughly and safely, without the possibility of damaging the material. In this case, machine washing is generally not available for any garment that is marked with any of the phrases. However, there is a key difference between the two designations. A garment that is marked “dry clean only” is made of a material that demonstrates a tendency to deteriorate when cleaned by any other method. It is a clear warning that other cleaning methods should not be used.
Rather, the purpose of the “dry clean” designation is to leave open the option of some form of home washing and drying for the garment. Since it has been shown that the material involved does not necessarily deteriorate and the shape of the garment will not change due to hand washing and air drying, this designation is intended to convey that gentle cleaning methods of this type may be acceptable for the garment. . At the same time, the best method is to dry clean the item of clothing.
The purpose of cleaning instructions is that they are intended to assist the consumer in the proper care of garments. By doing so, the garment will last much longer and the owner will get much more satisfaction from the purchase. Understanding this subtle difference between dry cleaning instructions can save homeowners money that would otherwise be spent replacing ruined clothing.
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