You finally have the much-needed free time on your hands, but you have no idea what to do with it. Rather than sit and scroll through the IG feed on your frenemy, why don’t you put that time to good use and do some at-home dry cleaning?
Okay, we know that laundry isn’t your favorite chore, but we also know that those clothes you’ve been delaying taking to the dry cleaner won’t wash themselves. But you can save yourself some cash and pass time by dry cleaning at home. Believe it or not, there are some proven tips and tricks to wash those “dry clean” clothes from the comfort of your home.
Adopt these 7 tips for an easy DIY dry cleaning experience at home…
#1. Check the care label
The first thing you should do is check the care label as the instructions offer the best guide to washing the piece correctly. If the tag says, “dry clean” and your garment is made of wool or silk, you can proceed with the step following. However, if it’s made of leather or fur, then you should give it to a professional as they’ll need to use special equipment. In addition, if the tag reads “dry clean only,” you need to go to the dry cleaner.
#2. Use a stain remover
If you’re aiming to remove stains, spray some stain remover on your garments while making sure you only treat the stain and not the surrounding material.
#3. Use a short cycle
When using a washing machine at home, adjust your speed/force to delicate or short cycle, whichever has the slowest speed and force. This ensures that your fabrics get the most thoughtful care while still doing a thorough job to clean your outfit.
#4. Leverage mesh bags
If the fabric is delicate, turn it inside out and place it in a mesh bag before delicate washing. This will help your clothes stay in shape and avoid slacking and/or loose ends.
#5. Use cold water
Cold water is a necessity when on your DIY dry cleaning spree. This is usually best for washing, especially when in doubt about a fabric requirement. Warm water, on the other hand, could lead to shrinkage and/or misshapen clothes.
#6. Mix and match
Jumbling things together and walking away with a TV remote might not suffice this time. You want to be deliberate: washing silk with silk and wool with wool. Also, separate light colors from dark colors and wash accordingly. You don’t want that white shirt ruined for life.
#7. Air dry properly
Sometimes, drying with your washing machine isn’t really a good idea as the clothes could end up shrunken and totally unrecognizable. It is always best to hang clothes on a cloth line for proper air drying. In the case of wool, set it on a flat and cool surface to avoid contorted clothes. A DIY gone wrong is not the plan.
Tips:
● Deal with stains early, don’t let them soak in. The earlier the better.
● If you spill your wine on your shirt, soak it in cold water for 30 minutes or sponge the affected area with cold water.
● For most stains, pretreating with liquid laundry detergent or a prewash stain remover is effective.
● If the stain persists, use bleach appropriate for the fabric.
Go forth and try out these tips in the comfort of your home. You’ll definitely appreciate the new things learned, your increased productivity, and some extra cash saved. Thank us later.
Featured Image: Rawpixel/Teddy
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