Handwashing clothes

Pythia

Everything I buy lately all seems to be labelled handwash.
Obviously some things are extremely delicate but even the plain cotton things say handwash.
Do you think the manufacturers are just trying to cover themselves or do these things really need to be handwashed?

daiixi

Really depends on what it is and how delicate it is. If you do want to wash them in a machine invest in a washing machine bag (or even put it in a pillow case and tie a knot in the end) to stop it getting caught up with anything else in the wash. If they're not that expensive give it a whirl and see!

Cathmandooo

I'd say they're covering themselves but I agree with daiixi throw it in a washing bag thing and put it on a delicate wash in your machine. I try avoid handwashing altho I shrunk a dry cleaning only skirt recently it wasnt expensive, I'm not paying for it to be dry cleaned!! I can still wear it tho, I'll be more careful when washing it again.

Electric

Those washing nets are in Aldi from time to time.

They're a god send! I have loads of hand wash clothes too and I always bung em in those nets and set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.

I've never had any problems and to be perfectly honest I haven't the time or the inclination to be hand washing half my wardrobe!

Font22

I've come across that recently too Pythia. Bought a dress in Zara recently, fairly standard etc and it says handwash! I always take a chance though and throw stuff like that in the washing machine, have no patience for handwashing things, takes too much effort!

stovelid

Our washing machine has a 'handwash' setting, and I've used it with no disasters..

Dizzyblonde

I think they're definitely just covering themselves - life's too short for handwashing clothes. My washing machine has a lightning wash - 30 degress and takes 30 minutes- and I wash all our 'handwash only' clothes on this with no problem.

Cathmandooo

argh the shortest wash on our machine is 2 hours!!! We've got no 'worn once' or 'handwash' settings, drives me mad, stupid machine :mad:

Electric

My mum's machine is like that.

She turns the temp down to 30 degrees and then manually skips the washing cycle along (ahh I'm not explaining this well. The dial on the front of the machine ticks along as the washing cycle progresses so she turns it forward a bit to shorten the wash)

Oh and she sticks the handwash stuff in those wash nets too