Dry cleaning everything is expensive. Washing everything ruins your good clothes. The right answer depends on the fabric, how the garment is built, and what the care label says.
What's the actual difference?
Laundry uses water and detergent. It's excellent for cotton, linen, polyester and most everyday wear. Dry cleaning uses a professional solvent instead of water. It removes oils and grease without the swelling, shrinking and dye loss that water causes in some fibres. It isn't actually "dry" — it just doesn't use water.
How to read a care label
- A tub symbol means it can be washed. Dots show the maximum temperature, and a hand in the tub means hand wash only.
- A crossed-out tub means do not wash with water.
- A circle means dry cleaning. Letters inside (P, F) tell the cleaner which solvent to use.
- A crossed-out circle means do not dry clean.
Usually safe to wash
Cotton shirts and T-shirts, jeans, everyday kurtas, cotton salwar suits, polyester blends, bedsheets, towels and gym wear. Laundry by the kg is the most economical option for these — see which plan suits you.
Usually needs dry cleaning
Silk, wool and cashmere, velvet, suits and blazers (the inner structure warps in water), embellished and embroidered pieces, sherwanis and lehengas, leather and suede, and anything labelled "dry clean only". See dry cleaning in Ranchi.
The grey zone
Rayon and viscose often shrink in water. Linen washes well but can lose crispness. "Dry clean recommended" (not "only") usually means the item can survive a careful wash, but may lose some finish — our premium sensitive wash is made for these. When in doubt, dry clean anything you'd be upset to lose.
Not sure? Send it anyway
Every SpinWash order is inspected before cleaning. If something in your laundry bag should be dry cleaned, we'll separate it and let you know. See our full price list.