The OTHER sort of hand washing!

Same here, phoenix. I use the 'delicates' setting first just to be safe but always end up bunging everything in on a 30 degree quick wash.

Apart from DH's working clothes.....nothing delicate about them!

Me too phoenix and if in doubt I put the item(s) in a net laundry bag too.
Like you I'm disaster-free so far, I've even washed an evening dress and wedding outfits on a delicates wash, hung on hangers to drip dry AND got away without having to iron, which is a bonus.

About a year ago I started a thread about washing some tartan throws that were supposed to be dry cleaned only. Everyone said chuck 'em in the machine so I did. They still look good and haven't shrunk or bobbled.

Only things I do are the bras.....otherwise the wires can do a lot of damage to inside of machine. (its quite a lot of metal ).

However, I did offer to hand wash some delicate Edwardian lace accessories, a couple of handmade 1930 petticoats and a few bits of vintage children's clothing that had been donated to our little charity. Took all day and a lot of soaking and changing of water, but was strangely satisfying to see it coming up cleaner and a lot whiter - we managed to sell quite a bit of it.

My machine has a 'handwash' programme

I usually ignore the hand wash only instructions. I tend to go by what garments are made from, then wash them accordingly, on the programme for that fabric. I have never yet had and disasters.

I enjoy doing a bit of hand washing. It takes me back to my grandma's when I was a child. She had a big sink and when she let me hand wash things there was so much water that, to me, it was like playing in a bubbly pond

I have also a hand wash programme, but also I use a silk/wool liquid and that is so good.

In the past, I used to hand wash a lot of things, now, all I do is silk scarves or any scarves really.the 30 programme that only hakes half an hour is great for everything else delicate.on the dry clean problem, I washed a pair of lined curtains a few weeks ago that said dry clean only, and they have washed in the machine beautifully, no shrinkage either.

I tend to ignore the care label instructions and just go by the type of fabric - and years of experience. I've never yet had a disaster.

I believe that the majority of clothing manufacturers warn us against all but handwash or 30deg on their care labels, just to cover their backs. I rarely see a care label which approves of tumble drying - if we all obeyed that instruction the tumble dryer industry would long since have gone out of business

I washed a 'fur' coat on a 30 degree wash. My elderly sister-in-law gave me the coat which she bought in the 60's and she was always a very heavy smoker. It 'came up lovely'!

What do you all do about washing duvets? Our King Sized one is too big to fit in our washing machine. It says 'do not dry clean' on the label. I suppose the answer is to take it to a launderette and use their big machines, but I don't think there is a launderette in our town anymore. How often do they need washing anyway? (You'd think I'd know by my age lol!)

I put some pillows in the washing machine a few weeks ago and nearly broke the machine. When I took them out and realised the weight of water they held it's no wonder my machine was groaning. I wash thin, single duvets in the machine. Do need to wash a thicker one at a laundrette but keep putting it off; drive past one most days but it's been so many years since I used one I'm a bit scared of going in and looking an idiot.

I've got a feather duvet that can't be washed so I've been putting it outside in the hot weather in the hope that the heat will kill off any dust mites etc.

Ah, thanks Tegan. Yes, if I could locate a launderette I'd be a bit unsure of how to use it after all these years!

I shall bravely go [etc etc] and report back [I might be gone some time, though].

I put my king-size duvet in the bath and 'trod' it (like with grapes)! Gave it lots of rinses. I chose a warm, breezy day and kept turning it around on the clothes line. It worked really well - it wasn't a feather one though!

I do not hand wash anything either. I mainly use the "wool" programme on my w/machine. I have not checked to see if my new one has a "handwash".

I took a king size duvet to the laudrette last year and asked the assistant for help because I did not have a clue what to do. I think I paid a c ouple of pounds to get the worst of the water out of it and then took it home and hoisted it over the dryer outside. It took at least 3 days to dry properly.

My cat's single duvet is feather and down and it washed well in my machine but took over a week to dry properly. I washed it with the duvet cover on because Tara had clawed a hole in it and I did not want feathers clogging my machine. I have also given up washing pillows for the same reason as Tegan. Memory foam ones do not appear to keep their shape and were difficult to dry.

I have also washed 100% wool throws in a wool programme with no shrinkage.

I take my king size to the laundrette for a service wash - it's happened quite a few times with toddlers in the house! It costs £15.