Dry Cleaning Know-How
Get the Most Out of Dry Cleaning Services
Dry cleaning is an easy way to maintain some of your more costly garments. Some garments we buy have labels that clearly indicate they need to be dry cleaned. There are some important things to keep in mind when deciding on what items to send out to dry cleaning.
What Does “Dry Clean Only” Really Mean?
Manufacturers are only required to list one cleaning method on the care label of a garment even if other methods exist. So, manufacturers will typically indicate the easiest method that is least likely to cause any damage to the garment. Dry cleaning is usually a safe option, but many items whose care labels say “Dry Clean Only” can actually be hand washed at home.
Do It Together
One mistake many consumers make with dry cleaning is with two-pieced suits. Females sometimes send out the tops or blazers of two-pieced suits in order to save some money on their dry cleaning bills. Since tops can soil more quickly from perspiration than pants or skirts, they simply have the tops cleaned after every wearing and send out the pants after multiple wearings. This can create a problem because the color of the items that are more frequently dry cleaned might pale a little in comparison to their matching pants or skirts. This attempt to save money might actually cost you in the long run if you have to buy new clothes sooner because of the discoloration. If you have a two-piece set in the same color, make sure you send out both items together for dry cleaning.
Watch What You Buy
If you want to reduce the number of items that you send out for dry cleaning, consider your clothing purchases more thoroughly prior to purchase. Technology has kept up with consumer demand, and there are many clothing items on the market that can be machine washed but that look very presentable and dressy. Some sweaters that have labels requiring dry cleaning can sometimes be washed by hand.
Store Them Properly
Another important tip to keep in mind concerns how you store your clothes once you bring them home from the cleaners. Do not store your clothing in the plastic bags that the dry cleaner uses. These plastic bags can damage or cause your garment to yellow and decrease the life of your garments. The above tips can allow you to get the most out of the dry cleaning services you use, and you should find them very helpful.