How do I know if a garment can be washed at home?

Check the care label first. As a rule: plain cotton, linen and denim are home washable in cold water; silk, zari work, pashmina, leather, structured wool, velvet and anything embellished should go to a professional dry cleaner. When in doubt, the cost of asking is zero — the cost of guessing wrong can be the garment.

Does dry cleaning use water?

No. Dry cleaning cleans garments in a liquid solvent instead of water, which is why it is safe for silk, zari and structured garments that water would damage. The Swiss Laundry uses enclosed hydrocarbon machines — never MTO or petrol.

01 · A SIXTY-SECOND QUIZ

Home wash, or dry clean?

Pick the garment. Pick the situation. Get a straight answer — including, sometimes, “wash it at home, it will be fine.”

Step 1 of 2The verdict quiz

Keep playing

The care label gameTwelve symbols. How many can you actually read?Stain emergencyCurry on silk at a wedding. What do you do first?