7 Things You Should Never Dry Clean If You Want Them to Last, Laundry Pros Say

• Avoid dry cleaning embellished garments since it can cause beads, sequins, and clasps to fall off or discolor.
• Materials like silk, denim, Lycra, and cashmere can also get damaged or distorted, potentially ruining the garment's structure.
• Pay attention to "do not dry clean" labels, or the dye color of your clothes can bleed and ruin them.

Once you've curated a closet filled with pieces you're excited to wear, it's crucial to maintain them properly so they last for years. To do this, you need to understand which items can and cannot be dry cleaned.

Here, two laundry experts highlight seven common materials you should avoid bringing to the dry cleaner if possible.

Garments With a "Do Not Dry Clean" Label

Garments with a "do not dry clean" label are straightforward. However, some clothing items might not explicitly say this but will feature a tag with a circle and an X through it, which means the same thing, explains James Joun, co-founder and co-chief operating officer of Rinse.

Joun, a second-generation dry cleaner, emphasizes that "do not dry clean" warnings should be taken seriously, as it indicates that the garment's dye will bleed when exposed to dry cleaning solvent, causing permanent damage.

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Embellished Garments

Clothing with beads, sequins, clasps, and similar embellishments can technically be dry cleaned, but Joun advises you to do so at your own risk. The dry cleaning solvent can cause these decorations to fall off or change color.

He adds that cleaners usually dry clean these items in separate mesh bags for protection, but it's best to gently hand wash these garments if possible.

Lycra Clothing

According to Joun, Lycra clothing or any items with plastic or synthetic rubber are not meant for dry cleaning.

These materials may warp during the drying process, he explains. The best way to care for these pieces is to hand wash them and let them air dry.

Cashmere Sweaters

Luxe cashmere sweaters should not be dry cleaned, explains Frej Lewenhaupt, a textile expert and co-founder and chief product officer of Steamery.

"The soft, luxurious fibers of cashmere can be easily damaged by the solvents used in traditional dry cleaning, making the garment feel coarse and more prone to pilling or shrinking," he says.

The best way to clean cashmere sweaters is to hand wash them with a gentle detergent. To remove bacteria and odors, steam the garments between washes or hang them outside to air out.

Silk

Silk, another luxurious fabric, also doesn't need to go to the dry cleaner. It fares better when hand washed with a mild detergent, according to Lewenhaupt.

"Dry cleaning silk can damage the delicate fibers and diminish its natural sheen," he says.

However, some silk garments are labeled "dry clean only," in which case you should follow the tag's instructions.

Cotton Shirts

Your favorite cotton t-shirt might get damaged if you bring it to the dry cleaner, Lewenhaupt shares. Cotton is quite resilient, and dry cleaning may do it more harm than good.

To ensure your cotton tees last a long time, minimize washing them and steam them between washes to remove odors and wrinkles, Lewenhaupt adds.

Denim

By now, you know that your jeans can go through many wears without a wash. But when it's time to clean them, don't take them to the dry cleaner. The solvent used in dry cleaning can strip away denim's natural texture, Lewenhaupt says.

To care for your jeans, wash them in cold water with a color-preserving detergent and air dry them, he explains.