By: Savannah Schell | Published 11:08 AM, August 23, 2021

Although some items are best left to professionals for handling, there are also many items that are marked as "dry clean only" and can actually be cleaned at home. Many clothing manufacturers conservatively label delicate clothes as "dry clean only" to prevent consumers from accidentally damaging them.

The term "dry cleaning" is actually a bit of a misnomer, because dry-cleaned clothes don’t actually stay dry throughout the process. Dry cleaners use perchloroethylene (a liquid chemical solvent) to clean clothes instead of mixing laundry detergent with water.

It should be noted that some items are not suitable for DIY dry cleaning. These include items made of leather, suede and delicate synthetic fabrics (such as rayon) and natural/synthetic blends (including wool or silk). Suits, pleated skirts and items with sequins or other decorations are also best dry cleaned.

Before you start, it is important to determine the type of fabric you are dealing with in order to decide how to wash it. Read the laundry label carefully, focusing on the material of the clothes, not the recommended cleaning method, to determine whether to use a washing machine, dryer, or hand washing method. Clothes made of cotton, linen, silk and polyester can be safely washed at home using one of the following methods.

Before trying to wash yourself, test the color fastness of brightly colored clothes. Press a wet white towel on this piece to see if the color bleeds. If so, it is best to be handled by professionals.

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A popular option for home dry cleaning is to buy a ready-made kit that is designed to be used with your dryer. First, use the attached spot treatment to remove any stains. Next, the clothes are placed in the dryer, where the mat is pre-soaked in the cleaning liquid and then wetted by the user. The heat from the dryer basically makes the clothes evaporate, so it doesn’t need to get wet.

There are many ready-made products to choose from online, including Dryel Home Mega Dry Cleaner Starter Kit and Woolite Home Dry Cleaner, both of which are available on Amazon.

If your washing machine has a "Quick" setting, you can easily wash clothes labeled "Dry clean only" at home. First, use a detergent on any affected area. Then, put the clothes in a mesh bag. Add mild laundry soap and set the machine to "squeeze" so that the laundry can be stirred in a short period of time. Finally, lay the slices flat to dry, and then steam to remove any wrinkles if necessary.

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If you don't want to use the suit and your washing machine does not have a "quick" setting, the next option is to wash each piece of clothing by hand. First, use a stain remover to pretreat the stain. Then, fill the sink or large container with warm water and add a few drops of mild detergent. Let the clothes soak for 20 minutes, stirring regularly. Drain the water and refill the sink with cold water to rinse off the soap. Hang or lay the work piece to dry, and steam it if necessary.

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Steam cleaning is a popular alternative to traditional washing. Although this method is not suitable for heavily soiled clothes, it is an excellent choice for making suits, formal shirts, and other clothes look new between two wears. The heat generated by the steam ironing machine can kill bacteria on the fabric, thereby preventing the generation of peculiar smells. As an added benefit, steaming can also remove wrinkles.

In addition to buying a garment steamer, you can also use the "steam" setting on the iron, just keep it a few inches away from the fabric.

If a piece of clothing is soiled but otherwise clean, you only need to apply a partial treatment to the affected area, rinse it off, and let the item air dry.

By using one of these five methods, you can skip the weekly trip to the dry cleaner and save money. Hope this guide demystifies the dry cleaning process and gives you the confidence to wash clothes at home without worrying about damaging them.

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