Dry cleaning is one of those things that may feel necessary, but oftentimes, it can be skipped entirely.
The average customer can spend as much as $25 to $50 per visit. That money can go toward bills or other responsibilities that are actually essential (or a little treat).
Don’t let the rumors mislead you. Here’s how to safely skip dry cleaning on the following goods.
Cashmere
Ah, the typical wardrobe horror story: Your favorite sweater has shrunk irreparably in the dryer.
Cashmere isn’t cheap, so of course the last thing anyone wants to do is risk ruining it in the washer or dryer. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend money on a dry-cleaning service.
Firstly, cashmere clothing should only be laundered once or twice a season. Frequent washing or dry cleaning can ruin the fabric, according to Martha Stewart’s website.
To wash by hand, fill a sink, tub or other basin with cold water and add a squirt of cleaner designed for wool. Submerge the item in the water (and don’t mix colors). Gently swirl the item for about 30 seconds, then let it soak for 30 minutes. Afterward, rinse it under cold running water.
You have options if you don’t want to skip the washing machine, too. Put your cashmere in a mesh bag before throwing it in the washing machine and run it through on the delicate setting. Remove the item immediately after the wash cycle is done to avoid any wrinkling.
When it’s time to dry, whether you machine or hand wash, use a towel to gently squeeze out excess water. Never wring cashmere, as it can distort its shape. Then, place the garment on a fresh towel to dry.
Silk
You don’t want to ruin this luxurious fabric, and detergent company Tide has provided a guide to avoid such a debacle. The safest way to wash silk is by hand-washing. Just be sure to check the label. If the label recommends dry cleaning, hand-washing is best. If it says “Dry Clean Only,” it’s best to leave cleaning to a professional.
To hand-wash a silk item, first, fill a basin with lukewarm to cold water and add a few drops of a delicate detergent. Soak the item for about three minutes, then return to gently agitate the water to help remove any dirt. Rinse with cold water until all the soap is gone.
Use a towel to soak up the excess water, but don’t rub the item. Then, let it line dry.
Before using a washing machine, if that’s your preferred method, check the item’s label to make sure a machine wash won’t compromise the fabric’s color. Don’t wash silk with other fabrics — especially heavy ones — and place the item in a mesh bag before washing.
Add a detergent formulated for silk or delicate fabrics. (Tide notes that Tide Plus a Touch of Downy works for this situation, but there are other options that work just as well.) Wash using the delicate setting and pick the shortest wash time possible. Check the item’s label to determine if it should be washed in hot or cold water.
After washing, pull out the item and towel dry it first. Then hang up the item or place it on a flat rack to dry.
Wool
Wool retailer and certification company Woolmark tells consumers to wash their items on the wool setting of their machine when applicable, and at approximately 104 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 degrees Celsius). If that setting isn’t available, wash on the delicate, cold setting.
Whichever setting you use, be sure to use a neutral, mild detergent.
Woolmark does have licensing abilities. So if your washing machine or dryer has the Woolmark Apparel Care symbol on it, that means it’s gone through rigorous testing, and you can wash and dry your wool items with it — as long as you follow the directions on the article’s tag.
But for most items, it’s best to lay them flat to dry after washing.
You can also follow Martha Stewart’s recommended method of hand-washing described in the cashmere section.
Cotton dress shirts
It’s not worth the risk to wash a dress shirt if the care label explicitly says it must be dry-cleaned, Tide says — but otherwise, save money and wash it at home.
You’ll have to do some prep if you’re going to machine-wash it. Be sure to unbutton it, remove any collar stays, uncuff the sleeves, and double check there’s nothing in the pockets when applicable.
Always wash on the delicate setting. Use hot water for white shirts and use cold water for those with color — and never mix the two. You should also use a high-quality detergent.
Don’t put your dress shirts in the dryer, though. Doing so can wear out or damage the fabric. Instead, hang up the shirt or lay it on a flat surface to dry as soon as it’s done washing, before wrinkles set it in.
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