I have never taken anything to the dry cleaners since they came out with Dryel. It is simple and easy to use and works wonderfully. If you have a stain normally Dawn dish detergent will take it out and then use the Dryel in the dryer as it suggests on the package.
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By gem from VA
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Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a ton of clothing that requires dry cleaning. Do you or your readers know of any ways to save on dry cleaning?
You can go to a $1.75 cleaners or you can buy the home cleaners kit.
This is a bit strange and I wouldn't try it on just anything, but automotive brake parts cleaner seems to be about the same stuff as dry cleaning fluid. I tried it on a favorite old wool cap which had become quite soiled with motor oil, grease, dirt, etc.
Dry cleaning means NO Heat. Liquids are used on fabrics that are dry cleaned. Also, the steam pressing is a key item.
I have a steam iron--that is lots of steam--and a big steamer.
I wash in cold water, air dry, then steam press for looks.
If you haven't soiled the garment or haven't had wet armpit areas --- just hang the item up- turned wrong side out- and air out. I have things that have gone a dozen wearings without any dry-cleaning. And remember that dry-cleaning often won't get out body odor when cold wash and gentle wash will. (Especially when it was loaned to someone.)
I like to hang my clothing up in a well-ventilated place with dryer sheets cut in half and placed in the arm-pitts. Just as long as there is no serious cleaning job needed this should have you clothing smelling fresh in no time!
The chemicals used at dry cleaners are very toxic. You would not want to smell them or let them touch your skin yet we let the cleaners inundate our clothes with them.
I have lived in Europe for 25 years and I have not yet once been to cleaners. Firstly they did not exist, now they are too expensive. I always factor the cost of getting there and back too.
So, I wash silk, cashmere by hand, hang outside if possible although my basement is a great spot, heat in winter and no bleaching sun in summer. You can also hang in your bathroom over night.
I put everything else except tailored suits in the cold wash, minimum wash and spin cycle and then hang them up. For tailored suits I spot clean, spray sometimes with deodorant under the armpits. Let hang in the fresh air overnight or over the weekend if possible. I have saved a ton of money over the years.
For my husbands dress shirts which were many each week I actually hired a young lady, and even paying her a decent hourly rate she was still cheaper than the laundry, plus my husband always smelled nice.
Quite frankly I hate dry cleaners. I think they should be banned.
If you have clothes (cotton) that are NOT "Dry Clean Only" but you do Dry Clean them, can you then go back and wash them? Can you alternate or is this bad for the clothes to wash them once they have been dry cleaned?
You can wash them after dry cleaning if you wish with no ill effects.
My mother used to wash certain things that had been dry-cleaned only to "freshen them up" as they were used - it worked, too. Just be careful in handling such items. Most need to be hand washed.
You are saying that you have dry cleaned a washable garment, and now you want to know if you can wash it again or if you have to keep dry cleaning it? You can wash it again. It doesn't make any difference if the fabric is washable, whether you wash it only, or dry clean it once in awhile.
Yes you can. I used to work at a dry cleaner. They cleaned all of my clothes for free. Since my washer had gone out I took all but underwear in to be dry cleaned for free. I took underwear to the laundramat to wash. After I got my new washer I took up washing everything myself again.
I decided to hand wash a 100% silk maxi dress and the black within it has run into the cream (in patches). Is there any way to spot clean the stains? Please help as I love this dress! Thanks
Try the dry cleaner. If he can't fix it, it's history.
You might try to gently bleach out the black stains with hydrogen peroxide. Leave the black areas dry, so the bleach won't run into the black, and try to bleach out the cream areas.
Is it possible to wash a slipcover that says "Dry-clean only" on it? It is 100% cotton. It's not one of those Sure-fit ones that you buy at the store, it came with the sofa. It's a loveseat that opens into a single bed. It's not really fitted, it's supposed to look "relaxed and casual" so it's loose-fitting. If it shrinks a little, I think it will still fit.
marianne:
for years i owned and operated a thrift store, i learned that there is nothing that cannot be washed in the washing machine, just do not put it in the dryer!! my best solution for a slipcover would be to go the laundromat and use one of the bigger washers as that way there is room for agitation ... good luck
cailifouhn
