Clothing manufacturers are conservative in their use of the label “dry-clean only.” Many items can be safely washed at home if they’re handled with care and consideration. Some kits allow you to do your dry cleaning at home. You can use your dryer with these kits to simulate the process.
How does dry cleaning work
Dry cleaning is often the only option for garments that could be damaged by water or by being agitated by a machine washing cycle. Dry cleaners use a specific process to treat stains and refresh fibers without using water. Dry-cleaning, despite its name, uses a liquid that safely removes stains. The process is not completely “dry”.
Pretreating stains is usually the first step when you bring your clothes to a dry cleaner. Then, they use a dry-cleaning device to rotate the garment using solvents like liquid CO2, perchloroethylene, or hydrocarbon fluids. Dry-cleaning machines use a drum that rotates more gently and slowly than a home dryer. This ensures that delicate items will not be handled aggressively.
The drum rotates as the solvents react with the fibers of the clothing, allowing dirt to be loosened and filtered. After treatment, clothing is tumbled with warm air to remove any remaining solvents.
What fabrics can be safely dry-cleaned at home
Clothing manufacturers recommend dry-cleaning for delicate fabrics, garments that have intricate designs or are hand-stitched, and items that may shrink or bleed if washed in the wrong temperature of water. Remember that this is a suggestion. Dry-cleaning labels are not required on all articles. Remember to be careful with these delicate fibers.
Silk – You don’t have to send every silk garment to the dry cleaner. You can safely clean fibers by using the delicate cycle in your washing machine or by hand.
Leather and suede: You can clean leather and suede at home using a variety of spot-cleaning techniques.
Wool: Using a gentle cold water cycle and a detergent designed for wool, you can safely clean your sweaters at home. Remember to let them air dry flat, and never use a dryer.
Denim Hand-washing your denim will preserve the color and prevent shrinkage.
Linen: Items can shrink when washed in high temperatures, but you can clean 100% linen at home with a gentle detergent and lukewarm or warm water.
Rayon – Choose low or cold heat for Rayon clothing and accessories.
You can wash fabrics like nylons, spandex, and acrylics, as well as cotton, polyesters, and acetates, at home if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to use a dry-cleaning kit at home
Steam cleaning is possible with dry-cleaning kits that use your dryer.
Treat stains. The kit you receive at home will include a stain remover pen and an odor-removal spray for delicate fabrics.
Put the treated clothes and cleaning cloth into a garment bag. Include a fabric protection bag and a cleaning towel (which has a dry-cleaning solution). The majority of kits include multiple cleaning cloths so that you can reuse the bag. Make sure that no other items in the dryer are present when you start the cycle. You’ll only be treating the bag.
Turn the dryer on medium heat for 15-30 minutes.
Hang the garments to prevent wrinkles.
Is it possible to use powerful solvents for dry cleaning at home without buying a kit?
Yes! Yes! You can buy small quantities of solvents that are used by dry cleaners to spot-clean oil stains on delicate fabrics. Keep in mind, however, that many of these chemicals can be very strong. Work in an area that is well-ventilated and protects your skin and lungs.
How to safely hand-wash dry-clean-only garments
Consider washing your items by hand if you’re looking to dry-clean without a kit. Hand-washing can be a good solution for things that only require spot-cleaning, like leather or suede, or delicate clothing with a small stain.
Hand-washing an article of clothing in a large dish is a great way to clean it gently.
Treat the stain. Use the stain remover that is best suited for the fabric, or dilute a small amount of liquid detergent in water.
Submerge your garment in a cool bath of water and add a teaspoon of liquid detergent. Hands-on agitation is recommended, with special attention paid to pretreated stains.
Follow the instructions of the cleaner if you cannot submerge your garment (leather or suede) or if it has delicate details. Some cleaners will ask you to apply the solution directly to the fibers, while others will instruct you to use a damp cloth to remove the residue.
Rinse the fibers in a bowl with cool, clean water. The purpose of this step is to remove any soap residue.
Do not wring out the water when washing delicate clothing. Fold the garment gently so that the water drains back into the bowl. Then, dry the garment flat. Place the garment over a large, white towel. You can gently squeeze clothing by placing another white towel over the top. Then, roll the towels and apparel gently up to remove more water.
Lay the garment flat to dry overnight or for a longer period.
How to steam dry-clean only clothes
Hand steamers are a great tool to maintain the freshness of your clothing between washings. This is true even for delicate fibers such as silk or wool. It’s a great way to remove odors and kill bacteria without using chemicals.
If you are taking your clothes to the dry cleaners to remove wrinkles only, a hand steamer can be used at home to do the same job. It is also more gentle than ironing.
Avoid using steam to dry sequins or beads, as they can melt. Also, leathers and suedes can retain watermarks.
Hang the garment and pre-heat the steamer.
Steam the lining first. This is most commonly used for dresses, suits, and jackets.
Steam the fabric from top to bottom. Do not concentrate the steam in a single area.
Let the garment hang to cool. Steamers can leave moisture in fibers. Allow it to air dry completely before storing it in your closet.
Can I use the washing machine to dry-clean only items
Use your washer if you want to provide more agitation than you can by hand-washing. Dry-clean only fabrics can be delicately washed, but remember to follow these tips:
The appliance should be set to the gentlest/most delicate setting.
Never use hot water.
Use a liquid detergent designed for delicate clothing.
Put the garment into a delicate bag to protect it from agitation.
After washing, dry items flat on a rack or hang them up.
