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3 laundry myths: what's true and what isn't

By the Dressy team · 2026-10-30

Laundry advice spreads fast, and not all of it is true. Here are three popular claims, and what the evidence says.

Myth 1: freeze a smelly sweater and the smell is gone

Not really. Experts quoted by Apartment Therapy say freezing only makes bacteria dormant, so the odour returns once the garment warms up. Freezing is useful against moths, but it will not clean the garment. Washing, or airing it out, is the reliable fix.

Myth 2: "dry clean only" means it is fine to wash

Be careful. Under the US care labelling rule, a manufacturer must have a reasonable basis for its care instructions. A dry clean only label is the maker saying that washing could damage the item. If you decide to try anyway, test a hidden seam first, use a cool, gentle wash, and accept that it may go wrong.

Myth 3: an open zip doesn't matter

It does. An open zip can snag other clothes in the drum and damage them. Zip things up before washing.

The safe rule

When in doubt, read the care label. Dressy reads it for you and turns the symbols into plain instructions.