https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:55:50 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-560277 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:20:55 +0000 Lisa 560277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am like MaryK and will wear trousers and blazers multiple times before taking them to the cleaners. Sweaters or tops I handwash myself. I do try to limit my dry clean only items when it is a top or dress, because I like to wash items against my skin right away. Items that I can layer or do not sweat against (blazers, sweater with a LS T underneath) I don't mind dry cleaning because I only do this once or twice in a season. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-560252 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:57:02 +0000 Meredith1953 560252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I put it back on the sale rack if it says "dry clean ONLY" unless it is an item I will wear very infrequently since I hate going to the cleaners. Frankly I don't wear much daily work clothing next to my skin that can't go in the washer and dryer. Special occasion dresses or nice coats and dress slacks would be an exception as they don't need cleaning that often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-560143 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:28:27 +0000 MsMaven 560143@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cold water hand washing is much better for silks than the dry cleaners. My structured silk, cotton and woolen clothing goes to a green dry cleaners--I don't notice any smell. I also cold water wash silk, cashmere and woolen knits.</p> <p>I'm also sensitive to fragrances. Can't stand Dryel or the Woolite version. Airing the clothing out after cleaning doesn't seem to help that much.</p> <p>I hate it when a simple cotton item (not a tailored jacket, for instance) is labeled Dry Clean Only. Unless it is a print with colors that might run (and why are manufacturers using these anyway?) I either wash the item or just let it stay in the store. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-560061 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:18:51 +0000 Anonymous 560061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Disclaimer: I have never used Dryel for any of my DH's suits. They are too expensive to mess up &amp; replace. I have, however, used Dryel to freshen the dresses that my 3 daughters wore when they were flower girls in a family wedding. Nothing happened to the dresses, so I was impressed. That said, I still think the clothing manufacturers want to avoid lawsuits and that you can hand wash or machine wash (on gentle cycle; cold water) many "dry clean only" items. I personally don't hand wash anything! Too much trouble with a large family and many loads of laundry to do every week. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-560054 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:14:11 +0000 Heather 560054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am the dry clean queen. Seriously. I even dry clean F21 items. I try to wear things as long as possible before sending them to my BFF David (my DC dude). </p> <p>So looking at labels doesn't have any baring on whether I purchase a garment or not.</p> <p>Read: I hate to iron. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-560047 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:07:58 +0000 shoppingisfun 560047@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am much more likely to avoid handwash only items than dry-clean only. I live right by a dry cleaning place that charges under $3.00 per item, and turns items around in under 24 hours, so it's not that big of a deal for me to do dry cleaning. Handwashing, on the other hand, I'm really lazy about. I'll usually end up handwashing the item once or twice, and then just throwing it in the washer thereafter. If it dies....it dies. I can't handle handwashing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-560035 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:54:04 +0000 Isabel 560035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think that Ruth is probably correct about the labels really being disclaimers to avoid lawsuits. Growing up, my made all of our clothes. Including our Winter wool coats. And she washed everything by hand. We just didn't do dry cleaning. Though I would never chance that.</p> <p>Also, regarding the smell...I am extremely sensitive to smell. I get migraines and asthma attacks..yet for some reason, the Dryel smell doesn't bother me. You could always air it out before wearing, that might help. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-559510 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:27:16 +0000 nicoleb 559510@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use and love dryel. I also always check the fabric content even if the tag says "dry clean only" to discern if i really feel this is the only option. </p> <p>Basically, i don't let a little tag stop me from buying an item i love! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-559458 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:47:43 +0000 Jonesy 559458@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree that steamers are fab! Taylor, I'm sure your hubby admires how lovely and put together you always look, so what's a few dollars for dry cleaning, eh? Alicat, you're right: if something is drenched in sweat, I don't think Dryel is going to cut it! Luckily most of my work clothes do not get sweat-soaked :). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-559450 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:42:43 +0000 Anonymous 559450@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am constantly on the lookout for washable summer dresses. I live in a very hot climate, and I'm a sweaty Betty -- I can get soaked walking across a parking lot! I don't think Dryel would cut it for my warm weather clothing.</p> <p>I dry clean some, but I'm not crazy about the chemicals involved. One of my neighbors uses an environmentally friendly cleaner; I need to ask her about that. It advertises "Perc free wet cleaning." I might make the switch. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-559430 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:29:48 +0000 K. Period. 559430@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I dry clean anything that says I have to and that has a lining. I never dry clean knits unless they have leather buttons. Lesson learned the hard way: leather buttons will always bleed. And they will bleed not only on the sweater they are attached to, but everything else. </p> <p>I knit, so I'm actually a little fascinated that only knitters seem to know about Eucalin. That's a wool wash that you soak your woolens in and then squeeze them out. The soap contains a little lanolin to condition your sweaters. It is amazing stuff. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-559377 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:24:11 +0000 taylor 559377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My husband jokes that the only thing that goes in the wash is my undergarments:)<br /> He may have a point, but I have invested heavily in my clothes and like them to stay pristine and new/fresh looking:)<br /> Plus I have ruined a lot of beautiful items because "I can hand wash this" attitude has cost me dearly:(<br /> I do own a proffessional steamer that I LOVE!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items/page/2#post-559376 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:21:17 +0000 Makrame 559376@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I machine-wash and hang-dry a lot of silk items and some other "dry clean only" things but take lined jackets and skirts to the dry cleaner. I used to avoid anything that could not be gently washed but decided it was not worth it because the fit of lined, dry-clean only jackets is often better. I had too many baggy or wrinkly cotton or knit jackets that I bought simply to avoid dry cleaning that I finally decided to bite the bullet.</p> <p>I was thinking recently that I am getting tired of ironing all the air-dried items so perhaps I should consider investing in a steamer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559372 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:12:56 +0000 Jonesy 559372@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I see lots of you handwash stuff. I get good results usually, but I find that it takes more time/effort for me to do that vs. Dryelling (yes, I just made a verb :). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559344 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:36:35 +0000 MsMary 559344@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I handwash, hang dry, and use the steamer on all my silk blouses. I wear my dry clean only pants, skirts and jackets multiple times before sending them to the cleaners, which I do maybe twice a season per garment at most. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559338 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:27:02 +0000 Sarah A 559338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do a lot of handwashing for items marked dry clean... If I was working I wouldn't probably I would just send them off with DH things. But as a SAHM I can't justify the expense and dryel doesn't seem good enough for toddler food and mud type stains. I suppose most people just don't wear their nice things around the kids but I like looking/feeling pulled together! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559318 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:01:24 +0000 Anonymous 559318@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm convinced that a lot of manufactuers slap the "dry clean only" label on just to avoid lawsuits. They probably figure (and rightly so) that most people don't know how to launder their clothes properly. I never could figure out, for example, why a polyester garment is dry clean only these days. My mom, a professional seamstress, always washed everything (including dry clean only items) in the washing machine in cold water on gentle cycle. The only items that were not laundered in this manner were suits and garments that had linings made out of acetate or other fabric that my mother knew would possibly get damaged if machine washed. Many dry clean only items can be placed inside a zippered pillowcase and machine washed in cold water on gentle cycle. Always drip dry or dry flat, depending on the fabric.</p> <p>I just find it easier to avoid purchasing dry clean only garments. I do own a few, but they are dresses and blouses that do not get worn on a regular basis. The items I wear on a regular basis have to be wash and wear. I just don't have time to be messing with dry cleaning. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559283 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:43:53 +0000 Isabel 559283@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I worked, I used Dryel. I liked it. Now I only dry clean my wool outer coats and Dryel wool blazers once a year. Otherwise, it has to be machine washable or handwashable. For practical reasons and, for me, environmental reasons. I do own some silk shirts and they are hand washable - on purpose. This was one of the main reasons that I never bought a Halogen pencil skirt. It was dry clean only. Instead, I found something similar in a similar color ( at JCPenney ) that is machine washable and fine for my lifestyle.</p> <p>I will make exceptions for a dressy pair of black pants or a dress. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559265 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:38:09 +0000 Jonesy 559265@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like many of you have your own systems perfected! It's interesting hearing everyone's different approaches.</p> <p>I guess I just can't resist silk (I just bought a pair of patterned silk pants!), so I needed to come up with a solution...hence, Dryel for me.</p> <p>Thanks for all of the replies! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559260 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:36:43 +0000 RoseandJoan 559260@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't own a dryer otherwise I would be stocking up right now! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559249 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:30:46 +0000 bj1111 559249@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>for me, the main drawback to dry cleaning is the smell, even after the items have been well aired. handwash drip dry cool iron if needed. but hubby does the laundry so whatever he's doing works.</p> <p>also febreeze to freshen between wearings. i dry clean once or twice a season for thise items that can't be hand washed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559238 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:23:10 +0000 Kirti 559238@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sylvie: Me too! I also try to get my alterations done there since it is so much cheaper! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559236 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:22:10 +0000 Anonymous 559236@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use Dryel to refresh my jeans between washes and it works quite well. I have not used it on silks or wools. I take those to the cleaners.<br /> As far as avoiding dry cleaning, I wish I could. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559233 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:19:33 +0000 kellygirl 559233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Totally guilty of looking at the tag which reads "Dry Clean Only" and putting it back on the rack! It's one of the first things I check when I look at clothing at the store. I'm just so "wash and wear" these days that it verges on the tragic : ) It does help me limit my purchases though so I guess it's not all bad. I'm interested in trying Dryel--I guess I'm going to have to pick up something that's DCO. ha! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559232 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:19:02 +0000 Suz 559232@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hand wash my silks and wools or even put in the machine on the delicate cycle, sometimes in a little mesh bag. This works well for me. I don't avoid clothes if they say "dry clean." I just ignore the advice! </p> <p>I do take my jackets and wool coat to the dry cleaners. But I rarely need to clean them. I sometimes "spot clean" a jacket by hand. </p> <p>I have never used Dryel but it sounds intriguing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559227 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:15:50 +0000 ManidipaM 559227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like Diana, I tend to handwash a lot of supposedly 'dry clean only' fabrics in mild shampoo. This is true of almost all my silks and many of my woollies. Indeed, some of them even go into the delicates cycle of my washing machine, in COLD water and with shampoo instead of laundry detergent. </p> <p>What does go to the cleaners: my leather jacket, wool coat, water-resistant mac, quilted jackets, silk cotton (NOT the same as a silk-cotton blend) quilts --- and a few brocades, where the metallic threads would get kinks in the washing otherwise.</p> <p>I don't own a dryer though, so everything drip dries or dries flat after a spin-dry. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559224 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:13:49 +0000 EmilyC15 559224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do avoid dry-clean-only items, because I like my clothes to be clean...but I also don't like the high bills for dry cleaning in my area. Dry-clean-only items do wind up in my wardrobe anyway; I wear with care and bite the bullet on the cost. </p> <p>I'm great at hand-washing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559216 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:09:59 +0000 modgrl 559216@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There is a smell when it first comes out of the bag but it disappears quickly. I agree with the advice to air it out. I'm also not a fan of scented detergents or anything else. This one is slightly strong when it first comes out of the wash when it is a little bit damp. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559211 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:05:41 +0000 Sylvie 559211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Kirti: I haul aall my Indian clothes to India and get them cleaned there. I just can't imagine trusting someone outside of India to know how to clean them without destroying the embroidery, beading, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/avoiding-dry-clean-only-items#post-559193 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:56:06 +0000 Kirti 559193@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I did not know what Dryel was! But it sounds like an affordable alternative to dry cleaning. If I could find something like this here, I would use it for my silk kurtas! I'm not so sure about saris though. I'd still dry clean them, I think. </p>