We’re living in a time when machine wash is the most efficient way of washing clothes. It saves time and effort for busybodies. However, not all types of clothes are machine washable. There are times that hand wash or dry clean is necessary. Other times it is obvious that you need to take the cloth to the dry cleaner. For example, boys suits or men suits need taking to the dry cleaner. The same would apply to some delicate children party dresses. The question is, how will you know if dress pants are machine washable? If they are not, what can you do to wash them?
How Can You Tell if Dress Pants are Machine Washable?
The best way to know if a pair of dress pants are machine washable is by looking at the label. The label will tell you all about the cloth, including the fabric used to make them. Aside from that, some clothes will directly say if they are safe to wash using a machine. The labels and tags will also provide additional instruction for caring for the pants.
Some labels will only have symbols, so it’s also crucial to get familiar with what they mean. There are also times when there is no label on the clothes. If that’s the case, what should you do?
Be Familiar with Fabrics
Some trousers and dress pants may have their labels torn off. If that’s the case, it’ll be hard to determine whether they are machine safe. To help you decide, you need to be familiar with the different fabrics used in making dress pants. Knowing these will give you an idea if they are washable or not. Here are some of the usual pants materials that you should know.
- Wool. Wool is a very delicate fibre. These natural fibres are a popular choice when it comes to pants, suits, hats, gloves, and scarves. Some wool dress pants are machine washable. However, you will need to use a cold water cycle and a special detergent to preserve its quality.
- Cotton. Cotton is a quite versatile fabric. Clothes made from this fabric are generally washing machine safe. However, some unprocessed cotton trousers need special care. You will need to wash it in cold water to avoid shrinking.
- Polyester. Polyester is a synthetic fibre often used for suits and pants due to their durability and versatility. They are usually safe for machine wash. To be on the safe side, wash them using cold to warm water.
- Silk. Silk is another well-known fabric used for making pants. Like wool, silk pants are very delicate. It’s best to hand wash or dry clean them instead.
Stick to Hand Wash if You’re Unsure
There are times that you may be unsure if your suit pants are machine washable. As a general rule, wool, silk, and delicate cotton are better hand-washed. You can machine wash some of these using the most delicate wash cycles. You will also need to use mild and specially formulated detergents when hand washing these types of fabrics. But if you don’t want to take a risk, it’s better not to do so. On the other hand, polyester, processed cotton, and other similar fabrics are washing machine safe. You can throw them into your washer without the worry of damaging them.
