Dry cleaning or washing? What the care label is really telling you
Decode the symbols on the label, learn which items truly need dry cleaning, and avoid the two mistakes that shrink or fade good clothes.
Care labels are small, faded and written in symbols, so most of us guess. Guessing is how a wool jersey becomes a child’s size. This guide decodes the common symbols and explains when dry cleaning is worth the money and when a gentle wash is fine.
The symbols that matter
- A tub with a number is the maximum washing temperature. 30 or 40 for most clothes, 60 for towels, bedding and whites that need sanitising.
- A tub with a hand means hand wash or a delicate machine cycle.
- A tub with a cross means do not wash in water at all. This item needs dry cleaning.
- A circle is the dry cleaning symbol. A letter inside it tells the cleaner which solvent to use.
- A square with a circle is the tumble dryer. Dots inside are the heat; a cross means no dryer.
- An iron with dots is the ironing temperature. A cross through it means do not iron.
Items that genuinely need dry cleaning
Suits and blazers, structured coats, wool and cashmere jerseys, silk, anything lined, pleated skirts, and beaded or sequinned pieces. Water and agitation distort the shape, shrink the fibres or loosen the decoration. Dry cleaning uses solvent instead of water, so the garment keeps its structure.
Items that only say dry clean out of caution
Many polyester dresses, cotton shirts with a bit of stretch and rayon tops carry a dry clean label because the manufacturer would rather be safe. A cool, gentle wash and a flat dry usually treats them well. When you are unsure, add a note when you book and we will check before deciding.
The two mistakes that ruin clothes
- Heat. A hot wash or a hot tumble dry shrinks wool and cotton and fades dark colours. Most damage happens in the dryer, not the wash.
- Agitation. Delicates rubbed against jeans in a full drum pill and stretch. Separate them or send them as dry cleaning.
What dry cleaning costs
Per item, with our margin included: a two piece suit is R293.00, trousers R118.00, a shirt or blouse R85.00, a jersey R108.00 and a plain short dress R118.00. The full list covers coats, skirts, gowns and traditional wear. Dry cleaning goes in the same collection as your everyday laundry, so there is no separate trip.
Not sure about a piece? Photograph the label, send it on WhatsApp, and we will tell you. Or book a collection and leave the reading to us.
Join the conversation