Will corduroys lose appearance from just one wash without detergent?

Good evening gents

I've just received some corduroys ( and moleskins), and I've been advised by the shop (cordings) to have them dry-cleaned as this should preserve their appearance better. I plan to follow this advise and have them dry-cleaned.

However, I've been told by someone that it might be a good idea to wash them once without detergent just to get them to shrink before finishing the legs, so they're shrunk in case I get caught in the rain or something like that, and that this one detergent-free wash won't affect the appearance.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Will they still look as good after one detergent-free wash, or is it just the act of getting them wet the first time that impairs the appearance?

Thank you in advance.

The Silverfox

Corduroy brush.

Dry clean only your good moleskin or corduroy pants, Never wash them.

Only wash casual ones that are for knocking around. They will fade and shrink with one washing.

If they're not washed and I get caught in the rain and they get soaked, will that shrink them?

even dry cleaning will shrink them a bit over a couple cleanings. a good tailor will recognize the fabric and allow a bit for shrinkage when marking for hemming.

Actually I was planning on just hemming them at home, how much shrinkage should I allow for from dry-cleaning?



The Silverfox said:

Actually I was planning on just hemming them at home, how much shrinkage should I allow for from dry-cleaning?

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So you live with Iroh? I've never noticed any shrinkage on my dry-cleaned pants. I would just hem them to the desired length.



F. Corbera said:

Corduroy brush.

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Srsly?

Shoot. I have some Ambrosi cords and was hoping I'd be able to get away w/ washing them. T4 said he's washed his... I believe he said SA usually preshrinks the pant fabric but doesn't always do that for the waistband fabric.

So PSG, are you saying it's really best to dryclean good cords even if the fabric won't shrink? I'm not sure I'd mind fading. Cords tend to look best when a little faded and abraded imho.

Btw, I sometimes hem my own pants too, SF, KOb, etc. My mom taught me how to do sew on buttons, repair small holes, and hem pants when I was a kid. Been doing it ever since.



The Silverfox said:

If they're not washed and I get caught in the rain and they get soaked, will that shrink them?

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Get an umbrella.

I toss both cords and molekins in the washer (cold water only) and dryer. If they can't handle it I wouldn't buy them. I've never had a problem home washing either. One pair of molekins I have home washed have developed a patina effect as some dye released during washing. In my opinion it added character and made them even more interesting, but that's just me.



emptym said:

So PSG, are you saying it's really best to dryclean good cords even if the fabric won't shrink? I'm not sure I'd mind fading. Cords tend to look best when a little faded and abraded imho.

.

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Dry clean if you want to keep them looking their best. Washing, you run the risk of puckering seams and fading. But, if that is what you want then.......

My two cents worth - I have a number of Cordings trousers in Corduroy and I have always washed & ironed them inside out. The trousers continued to shrink a little over three washes, by the fourth they shrank no more. The total combined shrinkage was approximately three quarters of an inch, certainly no more. I would add the wales were generally un-affected by washing or ironing, providing it's done inside out.

Washing some colours such as the tan, moss green & blue, they lost a degree of their lustre, but the red and purple were far less affected in my experience.

If anyone is after pre-shrunk cords, I can recommend Bookster http://www.tweed-jacket.com/TROUSERS.html, these will not shrink after washing.

Enjoy your cords.



Northampton Novice said:

My two cents worth - I have a number of Cordings trousers in Corduroy and I have always washed & ironed them inside out. The trousers continued to shrink a little over three washes, by the fourth they shrank no more. The total combined shrinkage was approximately three quarters of an inch, certainly no more. I would add the wales were generally un-affected by washing or ironing, providing it's done inside out.
Washing some colours such as the tan, moss green & blue, they lost a degree of their lustre, but the red and purple were far less affected in my experience.
If anyone is after pre-shrunk cords, I can recommend Bookster http://www.tweed-jacket.com/TROUSERS.html, these will not shrink after washing.
Enjoy your cords.

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+1. I've always washed my corduroy trousers in cold water, as I can't be bothered having them dry-cleaned. I wash them inside out, and iron them inside out and if the nap is in need of lifting, then I give them a quick brush. I've never noticed any shrinkage, but maybe I'm just not observant.



emptym said:

Btw, I sometimes hem my own pants too, SF, KOb, etc. My mom taught me how to do sew on buttons, repair small holes, and hem pants when I was a kid. Been doing it ever since.

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JK with the Iroh reference, but I am hopeless with a needle, and am not above beseeching my wife to do these tasks, along with the occasional darning of sweaters.
My grandmother was a seamstress at London Fog among other companies, but did not pass her skills down to my mother or me..