What clothes should never be washed at home
Never wash at home: leather and suede items, suits and structured jackets, natural silk, viscose, coats with structured lining, occasion dresses with appliqués, and anything labelled with the professional-cleaning circle. With all of these, water and mechanical agitation cause damage that cannot be undone: leather stiffening, interfacing distortion, fibre shrinkage and permanent staining.
The list, by category
| Item | What happens if you wash it at home |
|---|---|
| Leather and suede | Water strips the natural oils. The leather stiffens, cracks and loses colour. It cannot be repaired. |
| Suits and jackets | They contain interfacing and canvas between the lining and the cloth. These shrink at a different rate, leaving the shoulders permanently distorted. |
| Natural silk | Loses its sheen and turns matt. Deodorant and perspiration leave yellow marks that set permanently in warm water. |
| Viscose | Changes texture on contact with water and can deform permanently. It shrinks far more than cotton. |
| Wool and cashmere | Felt and shrink irreversibly under mechanical agitation and heat. A cashmere jumper can drop two sizes. |
| Coats and overcoats | Lining and outer fabric shrink at different rates. The result: permanent creases and a crooked hem. |
| Occasion and wedding dresses | Appliqués, beads and embroidery come loose. Tulle loses its shape. Old stains become permanent in warm water. |
| Large duvets and pillows | Not a material problem but a machine one: the filling clumps if the drum is too small, and incomplete drying causes mould inside. |
The deciding sign: the care label
A circle on the label means the item is meant for professional cleaning. The letter inside tells the cleaner which solvent to use — information for them, not for you. An X over the circle means even dry cleaning is not allowed.
A crossed-out washtub means the item must not be washed with water at all, not even by hand.
All the symbols are explained in our care-label guide.
Borderline cases
White shirts
Fine to wash at home. The problem is collars and cuffs, where sebum builds up and oxidises to yellow. Once set, a normal cycle will not remove it — enzymatic pre-treatment is needed.
Down jackets
Can be washed at home, but they need enzyme-free special detergent and tumble drying with tennis balls, in stages. Without that the down stays clumped and the jacket permanently loses its insulating power.
Technical sportswear
Washable at home, but without fabric softener. Softener clogs the membrane pores and cancels the breathability you paid for.
What to do instead
For everything in the table, professional cleaning is the correct route. We collect from your door free of charge and return everything within 24–48 hours.
- Leather garments — jackets from 90 RON, coats from 120 RON
- Suits and jackets — two-piece suit 49 RON, jacket 27 RON
- Wedding dresses — 180–250 RON depending on the design
- Duvets and pillows — double duvet 60 RON
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash a leather jacket in the washing machine?
No. Water strips the natural oils from the leather, which then stiffens, cracks and loses colour. The damage is irreversible and requires specialised professional cleaning.
Why can't suits be washed at home?
Jackets contain interfacing and canvas between the lining and the cloth. These shrink differently from the outer fabric, leaving the shoulders distorted with no way to correct it.
What does the circle on a care label mean?
The circle means the item is intended for professional cleaning. The letter inside specifies the solvent the cleaner should use. An X over the circle means dry cleaning is not allowed either.
Can silk be washed at home?
It is not advisable. Natural silk loses its sheen and turns matt, and perspiration or deodorant marks set permanently in warm water.
Can I wash a double duvet at home?
Only if the machine is at least 8 kg with a large enough drum. In a small machine the filling clumps, and incomplete drying causes mould inside.
We do it for you
Free pickup and delivery in Bucharest and Ilfov. Clothes back in 24–48h, payment on delivery.