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Regret searches for the perfect garment only to discover a small "Dry Clean Only" tag hidden in the seam. It's an all too common and frustrating experience for me.
I once threw a jacket in the washing machine, thinking a hot water program would be gentle enough for delicates. The result? A shriveled and misshapen lesson on the importance of washing clothes properly.
Obviously, it was my own negligence that led to the blazer's demise. But believe it or not, most garments with a dry-clean-only label can be washed at home, all you need is the right technique. According to Richard Neale, director of dry cleaning and laundry consultancy LTC & DTC, dry cleaning labels are often simply stuck on clothes as a precaution.
"Manufacturers often use dry cleaning labels to cover everything," he told the Daily Mail . "Whether they are necessary is often a guess."
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Of course, there is a significant risk involved in only washing dry-cleaned garments yourself, so we recommend that you follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions for anything you are particularly fond of. In most cases, however, it is perfectly safe. Just follow our tips to take the guesswork out of washing these delicate fabrics at home.
Step 1: Read the label
So you have a garment with a dry clean only label, but what else does it say? These little icons are important. Pay close attention to the type of fabric your garment is made of as this will help you determine how you should proceed .
Most delicate fabrics can be damaged by attempts at home laundering. This includes suede, leather, velvet, taffeta, rayon, and anything with fur or down. Suits, pleated skirts, and anything with heavy or oily stains are also too difficult to clean alone. It is better to leave it in the hands of professional dry cleaners.
So what's left? Heavyweight wool, silk, cotton, linen and polyester fabrics are easily washed at home. But beware: washing machines can easily damage delicate fabrics. For a detailed list of cleaning procedures, see our fabric guide .
Step 2: Conduct a sample test
If you're concerned about the fate of your garment, a random test will give you peace of mind. Pour a small amount of water (and maybe any detergent you choose to use) onto a small, invisible part of your garment, then rub the area with a cotton swab. If fabric dye soils the cotton swab, it should be dry cleaned.
You can do the same test with lace and decorative stitches. Just make sure the paint doesn't bleed there either. If you go home with immaculate swabs and the garment doesn't look damaged when you get it wet, you can start washing with confidence.
Step 3: Do the laundry
Ready for clean clothes? Choose your washing technique carefully. Hard wearing cotton, linen and polyester are generally safe to machine wash, but wool, silk and some delicate cottons are best hand treated.
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To machine wash your "dry clean only" items at home , turn them inside out and place them in a mesh bag suitable for delicate items during the wash. Machine wash in cold water with mild detergent on the gentlest cycle available. After the program has finished, take the laundry out of the machine and dry it flat.
Use a clean sink or sink to wash hands . Fill the tub with cold water and add a small amount of a mild detergent like Woolite. Mix until the water appears soapy. Dip your clothes in and out of the mixture until saturated, then gently swish them around in the water and gently rub the dirty areas with your fingers to clean.
When you are sure the garment is clean, empty the sink or sink and fill it with cold water, this time without soap. Dip the item in and out of the water until it stops foaming.
Spread the garment out on a towel to dry . Roll up the towel with the garments inside and squeeze lightly to remove the water. Unroll the towel and place the garment on a drier area of the towel.
Repeat this process until the fabric stops running, which will probably be 3-5 times. Then lay it flat to dry.
Household dry cleaning kits are another option, but they can't treat all stains the same way. If you're convinced this is the way to go, you can pick up these kits for $20 or less.
Never use the dryer!
Garments intended for dry cleaning only should be treated with the utmost care. Be careful not to stretch or twist the clothes during the washing and drying process. Keep wool away from hot or sunny places as they are particularly prone to shrinkage.
Also important: avoid the dryer at all costs! This dreaded machine turns your dry-cleaned garments into little fallen shadows of itself.
With that in mind, you can wash your delicates from the comfort of your own home. Just be smart. May you never lose the perfect blazer to an unfortunate wash again!
Dry cleaning machines for household use
Sure, there are a handful of inexpensive kits that will work with your washing machine, but if you need something sturdier, consider a dedicated product like the LG Styler. These are not household dry cleaning machines as they do not attempt to remove stains.
They are more like "clothes fresheners". They fill niches for those who want to "refresh" their non-washable garments without having to take everything to the dry cleaner.
The LG Styler ( available on Amazon ) is a rigid cabinet that uses steam and gentle agitation to remove wrinkles and eliminate odors. Our review of Styler concluded that it works quite well. However, given the huge investment, this only makes sense for a small sample of consumers.
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