Machine wash or dry clean RJ Classics shadbelly

[lintesia]

I have an Orange label RJ Classics Shadbelly that I can no longer put off cleaning. I confess that I take all of my show jackets to the dry cleaners even if the label says it’s okay to machine wash. But none of those jackets are the quasi-technical fabric that the shad is. I was recently told by a barn mate that dry cleaning will ruin the technical fabric… The label for my shad says it’s machine washable but also gives dry cleaning as an option. My worry about washing it in the machine (cold/delicate cycle, hang to dry) is that I will never get the wrinkles out.

Opinions? Advice? TIA!

[Tha_Ridge]

Machine wash inside out, hang to dry. Once dry, I pop in the dryer for 10 minutes with a damp wash cloth to get wrinkles out. Dry cleaning chemicals are terribly harmful, so I cannot imagine wasting the money to dry clean show clothes that have been machine-washable for the better part of a decade now.

[findeight]

On the other hand, if the label says it can be dry cleaned? If that’s your preference, take it to the cleaners. Up to you. No worries.

[Foxglove]

I used to wash all my kiddo’s show coats by hand, cold water in sink --pressing the soapy water through the fabric and special attention to grubby places. Then rinse the same way --lay flat to dry pulling seams and shoulders gently into shape.

[showy]

I wash my hunt coat version of this. Cold. Hang to dry. Looks great.

[BrownMareDon_tCare]

I have washed two different RJ Classics regular coats (i.e. not shadbellies) that the instructions said could be washed. I followed all the instructions (inside out, etc) and both times something wonky happened where the lining somehow shrank, or something shifted, and it created a weird bubble effect where the coat looked oddly lumpy. I will admit I am not very talented at washing clothes, so it very well could have been user error, but I am now hesitant to do anything other than hand wash my ‘washable’ RJ Classics coats.