Q: Do you pay to dry clean your "dry clean only"s ?

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I am doing the get-everything-ready-for-work shuffle, complete with loads of laundry. I always check the care labels, but here's the thing--I don't always follow the rules.

I bleach "do not bleach"s and throw "dry clean only"s in the wash. Plus my Victoria's Secret stuff used to go straight into the wash, then into the dryer. I learned that the dryer makes VS lingerie brittle and ruins the lace. It's so lacy that air drying always does the trick and it doesn't get that mildew smell the next day. I have ruined some white silk shirts with bleach and learned my lesson!

But so far, all my "dry clean only" clothes has survived the washer and dryer. Maybe it's b/c I dry clothes until it is almost dry so it doesn't get "cooked" as my husband says? Do you pay to dry clean, by those dry-clean-at-home kits, or just throw it in?

clothing laundry save-money dry-clean-only

dealwagger (rep: 9.2k) posted Apr 26, 2012

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5 Answers

Here's a helpful article:
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/970303a.cfm

Basically, you're probably fine for most stuff, but don't do it for stuff that's really stained, really matters to you, is made of leather, or is highly constructed (like a suit coat). They point out you should use cold water, a hand-wash cycle and a gentle cleaner.

Personally, I don't have much that is dry clean only. So fortunately I don't run into the issue much.

maven3 (rep: 5.17k) posted Apr 26, 2012

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Thanks, maven3! I wear suiting ensembles for work and thankfully they've been okay. I think I will switch to the hand wash cycle, I don't want to press my luck (they are The Limited and Body by Victoria brands so not the most high-end but pretty high-end to me, lol).

I also just read that Woolite is pretty gentle on clothes, but as it is more pricey I'll wait for a sale + coupon :)

dealwagger (rep: 9.2k) posted Apr 26, 2012

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For the Victoria Secret stuff, just put it in the wash like you regularly do but take it out and lay it out to dry instead of using the dryer. The dryer eats up the bras and spits out these deformed...things. Haha

arsiel (rep: 12.9k) posted Apr 27, 2012

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@arsiel Does it ever! That's what I do, air dry, otherwise nice bras and garters and those lacy thongs that should last forever are ruined in one or two washes. When I have time, I hand wash. I hate those deformed things! It makes me shudder to see that LOL

dealwagger (rep: 9.2k) posted Apr 27, 2012

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I do both. Dry Cleaning starts to get expensive so I bought a Dryel that I have started to use. I feel like the Dryel does well, but sometimes I don't like using the dryer bag that comes with it.

lilywow (rep: 7.4k) posted Apr 27, 2012

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