Interactive tool
What happened to my garment?
Choose what changed, what the label says it is made from, and the last process it went through. The result separates a plausible mechanism from a guaranteed diagnosis.
Updated 1 September 2026
What probably happened
What to do now
Before the next wash
Nothing is uploaded or saved. The answer is calculated from fixed rules in this page and stays in your browser.
What this tool can and cannot see
It can connect a symptom with common fibre behaviour: dense wool after tumbling suggests felting; a stretched viscose dress suggests load while wet; a dark shell that no longer beads may need cleaning and DWR care. It cannot inspect seam tape, distinguish a stain from fibre damage, know the finish applied at manufacture or read a label you have not entered.
For a valuable, antique, structured or multicoloured garment, stop before repeating a failed treatment. A professional cleaner can inspect construction and dye stability that this browser tool cannot.