Dress Cleaning Question

[Janelle Young]

Hi Girls,

I just got a new dress that is 61% cotton and 39% polyester. The care label says dry clean only. Do I have to dry clean it? Could I hand wash it in something gentle and not harm it?

Thank you for any help you can give me on this.

[Christina Nicole]

You can wash it depending on the weave, finish, and treatment that the fabric received during its manufacture. You also must consider the construction of the dress, the cut of the fabric and the like. Odds are, the cotton will shrink. You may encounter other problems, too. So, in short, the answer is no.
Warm regards,
Christina Nicole

[Jodi]

I believe that you can safely wash it. Do it in cold water only on the gentle or delicate cycle of your machine. Wash it by itself or with like colors. Hang it to dry. There should be no shrinkage unless it is an extremely cheap fabric.

Jodi