How to Dry Clean at Home With a Kit
- Inspect Your Clothes Before you use a dry cleaning kit, look over the garment to check for holes, loose threads, or visible stains.
- Treat Stains Use the stain remover provided in the kit to pretreat any visible stains. ...
- Button and Zip ...
- Let the Dryer Do the Work ...
- Prevent Wrinkles ...
- Remove Wrinkles and Create Crisp Lines
Is there a way to dry clean at home?
A popular option for at-home dry cleaning is purchasing a ready-made kit that's meant to be used with your dryer. First, use the included spot treatment to remove any stains. Next, place the clothing in the dryer with a pad that's pre-soaked in cleaning solution and then dampened by the user.
How can I dry clean at home without a kit?
Place your soiled garment in a mesh bag. Use a gentle laundry soap, adding your soap to the detergent dispenser or directly to the drum of your washing machine as directed. Run your washing machine's express cycle, which agitates your clothes for less time overall. Hang the garment or lay flat to dry.
What can I substitute for dry cleaning?
Green Dry Cleaning AlternativesHand Washing Ah yes, the classic hand washing technique that is always a handy option in a pinch when our favourite item of clothing dodged the weekly wash. ... Professional Wet Cleaning Another eco-friendly dry cleaning alternative is wet cleaning. ... Wash Bags.
How do you manually dry clean?
To dry clean clothing, start by placing garments inside the dry cleaning bag that came with your dry cleaning kit. Next, unfold the dry cleaning sheet and place it inside the dry cleaning bag before zipping up the bag. Then, put the inside your dryer, set it on medium heat, and let the dryer run for 30 minutes.
Can I hand wash a dry clean only?
You can't handwash dry clean only items. But if it says, “dry clean only,” obey the label and take it to the pros. The last thing you'll want to do is ruin your perfectly fitting “dry clean only” rayon skirt or your favorite “dry clean only” silk tie by chancing it at home.
What happens if you wash something that is dry clean only?
What might happen if you wash a dry clean only garment? The garment could shrink – not just a little, but significantly. Some garments will shrink 2-3 sizes or more; drapes can shrink to half their size. Your garment might stretch out of shape.
How do you wash dry clean only without dry cleaning?
How to Wash Dry Clean Only ClothesAlways use cold water and a gentle laundry detergent.Wash the dry clean only item by itself. ... Clothing made with wool, silk or cotton can be gently washed by hand. ... Use the gentle cycle if you're using a washing machine. ... Above all, don't use the dryer and avoid excess heat.More items...
Is dry clean only really necessary?
Here's a simple rule: items with the label Dry Clean, don't have to be dry cleaned. This is simply the manufacturer's recommendation. But if it says Dry Clean Only, you must obey!
Tips
You can use the dry cleaning kit on dark items such as jeans, to prevent them from fading and prevent the color from bleeding onto other clothes when you wash them in the washing machine.
About this article
This article was co-authored by Safir Ali. Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Before you get started, it’s important to establish what type of fabric you’re dealing with in order to decide how to launder it. Read the laundry label carefully and focus on the material the clothing is made of rather than the recommended cleaning method to determine whether to use a washing machine, dryer, or hand-wash method.
OPTION 1: Use a dry-cleaning kit
A popular option for at-home dry cleaning is purchasing a ready-made kit that’s meant to be used with your dryer. First, use the included spot treatment to remove any stains. Next, place the clothing in the dryer with a pad that’s pre-soaked in cleaning solution and then dampened by the user.
OPTION 3: Hand wash with mild laundry soap and water
If you don’t want to use a kit and your washing machine doesn’t have an “express” setting, the next option is to wash each garment by hand. First, pre-treat stains using a stain remover. Then, fill your sink or a large container with warm water and add a few drops of gentle dish soap. Let the clothing soak for 20 minutes, agitating it periodically.
OPTION 4: Use a clothing steamer
Steam cleaning is a popular alternative to traditional laundering. While this method doesn’t work for heavily soiled clothes, it’s a great option for freshening up suits, dress shirts, and other items between wears. The heat generated from a clothing steamer kills bacteria on the fabric, which in turn prevents unwanted odors.
OPTION 5: Spot clean and hang to air out
If an item of clothing is stained but is otherwise clean, you can simply apply a spot treatment to the affected area, rinse it, and then leave the item to air dry.
Stains, be gone
Ellen is a freelance writer and astrologer, covering fashion, mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, sex and dating, and astrology.
What Does "Dry Clean Only" Really Mean?
Personally, I’ve always just thrown my clothes into the washer and hoped for the best, unless it was something super delicate. This system has serviced me well for the majority of my laundry life. Part of this is pure luck. Another part is that “dry clean only” is actually a pretty flexible rule.
Step One: Pre-treat the stain
Spilled wine on your silk blouse, or found a mystery stain on your favorite cocktail dress? If you think you’ve ruined your favorite garment forever, think again. If it’s a fresh stain, you can remove it by taking a clean cloth and dabbing at it (no rubbing) to soak up any extra stain, suggested Ek.
Step Two: Wash your garment
There are two ways to go about laundering, depending on whether you have a washing machine. If you have access to a washing machine, place your garment in a mesh bag, which will protect your clothing from getting tangled during the cycle.
Step Three: Let it dry
This step is a little misleading, as you don't want to "dry" your clothes in the usual sense: not under any circumstances should you put your dry-clean-only clothing in a regular dryer. Not only could delicate pieces get damaged from all that tumbling, but it also creates wrinkles and can shrink your cotton, wool, and denim pieces.
How to Refresh "Dry Clean Only" Items at Home
If you want to extend a garment's life between dry cleanings, you have two options: use a dry cleaning kit or take the DIY method.
The Products You Need to Dry Clean at Home
Amanda Garrity Editor Amanda Garrity is the editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion.
How to wash dry-clean only clothes in the laundry
If you have access to a laundry machine with an express setting, here’s how to do it:
How to hand wash dry-clean only clothes
If you’re only washing one piece, or if your washer doesn’t have an express setting, you can also hand-wash your dirty, dry-clean only clothes in your kitchen sink:
How Does Dry Cleaning Work?
Nearly three thousand years ago, the first dry cleaners were described on a Mycenaean clay tablet. At the time, dry cleaners used grease-absorbing sand and dirt to remove tough stains.
How Much Does Dry Cleaning Cost?
An average men’s shirt costs $1.85 to dry clean, while a woman’s shirt costs an average of $5. Suits cost $9.50 to $12.50 to clean, and long coats cost an average of $15. Women often pay more for their dry cleaning because their clothes are more likely to have special seams, extra buttons, trims, silk, and no-crease slacks that cost more to clean.
Can You Wash Dry Clean Only?
Most likely, you can wash your dry clean only clothes at home. Dry cleaners use basic water to wash about one out of four items because these items do not need specialized dry cleaning. You might not want to risk washing a $200 suit at home, but a $2 garage sale blouse is worth the risk.
What "dry clean only" actually means
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How to get started with at-home dry cleaning
Before you get washing, you need to check your garment's label and take note of the material.
How to wash dry-clean-only clothes by hand
Filtered or distilled water (hard water can turn your clothes a funky color)
The bottom line
Dry cleaning doesn't necessarily need to involve a professional cleaner and a pretty penny. Depending on the material you're working with, this elusive process can be done at home using relatively simple methods. The best part? The better we take care of our clothes, the longer they'll last, making our wardrobes more sustainable.
