100% cotton sport shirt = "Dry Clean Only" question

[neato]

I have a 100% cotton sport shirt (made by Theory, if that makes any difference). The care instructions say "Dry clean only."

Do I really have to dry clean the shirt? Is there a way to safely hand wash it? Can I put it in the washer on a gentle cycle with cold water (and not put it in the dryer, of course)?

I don't understand why this shirt says "Dry clean only" when my other 100% cotton sport shirts say I can machine wash them. It appears to be made of a more delicate/thinner cotton, but isn't cotton still cotton in the end?

Help styleforum.

 

[bullitt440]

A "Dry Clean Only" label on something as simple as a cotton shirt means the designer was too lazy to preshrink the bulk fabric prior to shirt construction or the shirt contains a fusible and/or shrinkable interfacing. It is still machine washable but I recommend setting the machine to the gentle cycle [cold/cold] and use Woolite as the cleaning agent. Air-dry the shirt afterwards. If the shirt is too stiff after it dries, run it through the dryer on the fluff/air setting. The whole point of this process is to apply as little heat as possible to the shirt while it is wet.

 

[neato]

Should I use any fabric softener? What's so special about Woolite?

 

[samurai]

Originally Posted by neato

Should I use any fabric softener? What's so special about Woolite?

Fabric softner may make the shirt look limp and fuzzy when it comes out. Woolite is good because it's mild, less likely to damage fabric.

I think the dry cleaning route is the safest. I resist spending money on this, that's why I wear T shirts a lot with a blazer.

Some might say, if you can afford the shirt you can afford to get it dry-cleaned... Larry.

 

[appolyon]

A thread from only a few hours ago:

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=68874

 

[padronlover]

I have a pair of Ralph Lauren pants that are 100% cotton but with the same DRY CLEAN ONLY label and have wondered the same thing...

I'll just put them in cold/cold next time I do laundry and report back.