What happens if you wash a dry-clean only shirt?
Answers:
You may be able to hand wash it with little or no issues but its the drying that ruins it. DON'T put it in the dryer!! Hang it up soaking wet and let it drip dry.
Other answers:
It might shrink!
It might shrink!
if you wash a dry-clean only shirt, you are screwed, nothing more, nothing less
If you wash it, by all means, do not dry it in the dryer! Hang it on a hanger and let it air dry, or lay it out flat on a towel to let it dry on its own. It may shrink, but if it doesn't, make sure that you "pull" it back into shape before you wear it. You also may have to iron it.
Time to buy a new shirt genius.
It may get screwed up. If you have to hash it in a washer wash it on the delicate OR hand wash cycle in probably cold water. hope this helps.
it'll probably be ruined
It depends on a lot of factors (type of fabric, water temperature, machine dry or hang dry, etc.). In my case, when a dry-clean only shirt was washed in cold water nothing happened, but I would not suggest trying this out. I think I got lucky.
It really depends on the fabric. Some clothing that says "dry clean only" cannot be dry cleaned at all. Clothing manufacturers put this on the label because it makes people think that it is of higher quality. 100% cotton usually bleeds in dry cleaning. Anything with paint or glued on beads cannot be dry cleaned because the chemical eats the glue. Acetate should be dry cleaned as it keeps the shape better. Anything with a lining should also be dry cleaned.
It will shrink and you will be out of a blouse...
I dry clean almost everything (my guys' tuxes, everybody's suits, my good dresses, scarves, etc.) at home in the dryer with Dryel. I love the stuff and have used it for years. If I watch the timer and immediately remove and hang things after the cycle is finished, I don't even have to press them.
I hand wash all of my silk knit tops and Softwear pants (my daily wear) and cashmere and/or wool sweaters. Sometimes if I have a lot of sweaters to clean all at once (like after this weekend's trip to Whistler) I may dry clean a load, but I too prefer the way they turn out when I hand wash them. Sometimes on a beautiful sunny day, I will have a crazy spell of sweater washing and hand wash tons of sweaters and block them on towels on the back deck to dry.
It really depends on how you wash it.
Usually, washing in cold water, then hanging to dry or tumbling with no heat in a dryer is safe. If you're going to, though, hand washing might be better than machine washing. (NEVER use heat in a dryer for "Dry clean only" clothes - the combination of being wet and the heat from the dryer is what makes the clothing shrink)
If you're really worried, it's better to play it safe, and send it to a dry cleaner.
I get away with washing those kinds of shirts in the kitchen sink with a little liquid detergent and rinse with cold water, then get a skirt hanger with the clamps and clamp the shirt to the hanger and hang it in the bath tub to dry. if you put the shirt in the dryer you are SOL