Fabric care
Does “dry clean only” really mean only?
Sometimes it is a legal minimum, sometimes it is the truth. How to tell which one you are holding.
Usually, yes — and the exceptions are narrower than the internet suggests. A “dry clean only” label is the manufacturer stating the only method they will stand behind. Ignoring it sometimes works, but the failures are permanent, and they cluster in predictable places.
Where washing goes wrong
- Structure. Blazers and suits contain interlining and canvas that shrink at a different rate to the shell. The garment does not just shrink — it buckles.
- Dye. Deep and hand-dyed colours, common in sarees and festive wear, bleed in water in ways solvent does not cause.
- Embellishment. Zari, sequins, beading and glue-set stones do not survive agitation.
- Fibre. Wool felts. Silk loses its finish. Viscose can shrink dramatically on first contact with water.
The safer middle ground
Most garments do not need cleaning as often as they get it. Airing a blazer overnight, brushing it down, and spot-treating a mark will extend the interval between cleans considerably — and fewer cleaning cycles is better for the garment than any particular choice of method.
When it does need doing, dry cleaning at BubbleIQ starts at ₹99 per piece, with blazers at ₹249 and a two-piece suit at ₹299. Garments are inspected and spot-treated before cleaning, then pressed and finished.
Related services
- Dry Cleaning See details
