Things You Should Never Pay to Dry Clean

AN ONGOING LIST

by Marissa Zumbo, July 2020

We’ve been lied to.

We were told by peers, by clothing tags and by our dry cleaner that we need to dry clean clothes.

Well, I’m here to tell you that in 99% of cases “Dry Clean Only” just means handle with care.

Yes, there are specific ways to treat different kinds of clothes and items, but you don’t have to spend a fortune at the dry cleaners to do it.

Here’s just a few of the things you should never pay to have dry cleaned:

#3 Button Down Shirts

When you take your button downs to the dry cleaners, the cheapest and most used option isn’t dry cleaning them. It’s a wash and press or a wash and hang—and that starts at $3.50 a shirt! Both options clean the shirt as well as dry cleaning, but you can get this done at Big Waves Laundromat or do it at home. Just wash your shirts in cold water with a high quality detergent. Take the shirt out of the washer the second it’s done, grab it by the shoulders and give it a shake. Then put it on a hanger to dry. For extra smoothness you can iron it, but it’s usually not necessary!

#18 Down Comforters

You just need a large enough washer! And optionally, some dryer balls (which laundromats usually have). Just stuff your comforter in the jumbo washer, set the water to cold, add a gentle detergent and hit start. Why dryer balls, you ask? They bounce around while your down comforter is washed, which keeps the feathers from settling into one soggy spot. When the washer’s done, take your item out and lay it out flat or hang dry.

#49 Down Pillows

Did you know that the pillows you lay your head on at night should be washed 2-4x a year? Lucky for you, most down and fiberfill pillows are machine-friendly. Wash two pillows at one time to keep the washer balanced. Use warm water and a gentle cycle. If possible, add on an extra cold water rinse and spin cycle. Only a small amount of detergent necessary. Tumble the pillows dry on low heat, fluffing and turning them often. If they smell a bit odd, leave them in the sun for a few hours. Fluff them up, put on a pillow case and you're ready for bed!