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If you forgot to drop your clothes off at the dry cleaners, and the "lucky" suit you want to wear for an important meeting tomorrow is less than fresh, follow these steps to dry clean at home.Sending clothes to the dry cleaners is expensive and inconvenient, and sometimes you may even pass on buying a new shirt or blouse you have your eye on because of that “Dry Clean Only” label. But do you really have to dry clean an item marked “Dry Clean Only?” You may be surprised to learn that you can often dry clean your clothing at home. If you know how to read laundry symbols and how to hand wash clothes—especially how to wash silk and other delicates—you’re already on your way. What is dry cleaning? “Dry cleaning is a way to clean clothing using a chemical solvent rather than water,” explains Samantha Brown, a celebrity stylist based in New York City. “It’s gentler on clothes than running them through a washing machine.” The most common chemical used by dry cleaners, though, is perchloroethylene (known as “perc”), which is highly effective but also considered a likely human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. Even if you do patronize a “green dry cleaner” there are still the plastic bags and extra hangers to contend with. These environmental concerns are another reason it’s important to know when you can dry clean an item at home and when you should leave it to the professionals. “Dry Clean” vs “Dry Clean Only” Experts always stress the importance of reading care labels before cleaning your clothes and the “dry clean only” instructions are a big reason why. “Certain fabrics can shrink or distort when emerged in water,” warns Brown. “It’s important to pay attention to the labels and makeup of the fabric to determine what’s safe for the garment.” Often, though, you’ll see both “hand wash” and “dry clean” listed as options on the labels. “This is an obvious go-ahead to gently launder the item at home, preferably by hand,” says Brown. According to health and beauty expert Tonya Mann, many items marked as “dry clean” can actually be safely and effectively treated at home. “If a garment’s label doesn’t have the word ‘only’ in front of ‘dry clean,’ it’s more of a recommendation of the safest way to care for it,” she says, “But if it specifies ‘dry clean only’ or ‘professionally dry clean,’ you should take heed.” If you still want to risk it, it might be okay to hand wash. “Test an inconspicuous area, like a seam or hem, first and make sure there are no stains or damage when it’s fully dry,” Mann advises. “But if it’s an item that’s especially important to you, I’d leave it to the professionals.” In general, items that can be dry cleaned at home are those that are unstructured and may just require ironing or steaming to get them back into shape. Any garment that has a lot of embellishment, tailoring, bulk, or oil-based stains, though, is best handled by pros. What you need to dry clean at home When it comes down to it, “dry cleaning” clothes at home basically means handwashing them (or, if you’re feeling brave, washing them in a mesh bag on the gentle cycle of your machine). In addition to our guide on how to hand wash clothes, you’ll need:
Home dry cleaning kits If you’re nervous about hand washing, one of the easiest ways to dry clean at home is with a store-bought kit made just for that purpose. You can find a variety of them in the laundry aisle of your supermarket or online and they’re a great alternative to dry cleaning. Before using, though, read the package to make sure it’s safe for whatever fabric you need to clean. How they work Home dry cleaning kits work with your dryer to steam clean your clothes. They come with everything you need, including a stain remover to pre-treat garments, specially-treated cleaning cloths or pads and, often, a bag to keep your clothes protected in the dryer. Do they work? Although they may not clean as deeply as professional dry cleaners, our experts agree that home dry cleaning kits are an effective way to freshen up dirty delicates. Pros and cons Pros:
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Best home dry cleaning kits One of the most highly-rated home dry cleaning kits is Dryel Dry Cleaner Starter Set but Woolite also makes a popular one, and Mann recommends The Laundress Dry Cleaning Detox Kit, which includes four products you can use individually as well as together. Step by step guide to using home dry cleaning kits Here’s how most kits work, according to Mann:
Dry cleaning special care fabrics at home Home dry cleaning kits may be able to treat your favorite fabrics—check the package first!—but, if not, here’s Brown’s Plan B:
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Popular Videosⓘ Can dry cleaning remove sweat stains?Sometimes, thorough washing is enough to remove these stains, but sweat is very selective about the material it sinks into. Dry cleaners will help you remove the stains if your garment is dry-cleaning only. They always have the special touch that can do wonders to your important garments.
How do you get stains out of dry clean only clothes?If you address it quickly, you can likely remove it with water. However, if that doesn't work, you'll need to mix equal parts dish detergent and white vinegar. Then dip a cotton swab in the mixture and dab the stained material. You'll want to let it penetrate the stain for about 20 minutes.
How do you get deodorant stains out of a dry clean only dress?Pour cold water or soda water (quinine) on the stain. Water alone will remove some liquid stains if you address it quickly. If water alone doesn't remove the stain, make a cleaning solution with equal parts of white vinegar and dish detergent. Dip a clean cloth or cotton swab into the formula, and dab the stain.
How do you get armpit smell out of dry clean only clothes?“It cleans but it doesn't necessarily deodorize.” If dry-clean-only items can handle moisture (i.e., they're not silk), spritz the armpits with a mixture of vinegar and water, she says, and let them air dry.
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