Start with the care label
A circle means dry clean only. A hand-in-water symbol means hand wash. A tub with a number is machine washable at that temperature. A crossed-out tub means do not wash with water at all. When in doubt, the most conservative symbol on the label wins.
Labels exist because the manufacturer tested the fabric, dyes and construction. Ignoring "dry clean only" is the single most common way good clothes get ruined at home.
Almost always dry clean
Structured and delicate pieces: wool and wool-blend blazers and suits, silk sarees and silk garments, sherwanis, heavy lehengas, anything with embellishment, beadwork or zari, and tailored coats. Water and agitation distort their shape, dull the colour, or loosen the work.
Dry cleaning uses solvent instead of water, so these garments keep their structure, drape and finish.
Hand wash or gentle machine wash
Everyday cottons, t-shirts, casual kurtas, innerwear and most synthetics are fine with washing. Delicate knits and lightly embellished cotton pieces do better with a gentle hand wash in cool water than a full machine cycle.
The risk with home washing isn't usually the water — it's heat and friction. Hot water and a hard spin shrink, fade and pill fabrics faster than anything else.
When you genuinely can't tell
If the label is missing or unclear, treat the garment as delicate until proven otherwise — especially anything you'd be upset to lose. A professional can test colourfastness and fibre before committing to a method.
That's effectively what we do on every dry-cleaning order: inspect, identify the fabric, and choose the safest effective process for that specific piece.
Frequently asked
Can I wash a "dry clean only" garment at home?
It's risky. "Dry clean only" usually means water will shrink, distort or fade the garment. If you value the piece, dry clean it rather than experiment.
Is hand washing always gentler than machine washing?
Often, yes — there's less agitation. But the bigger factors are water temperature and how aggressively you wring or spin. Cool water and minimal twisting protect fabric most.
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