On any clothing you can find a special label with catchy symbols informing us about how to wash the product. Following the instructions will allow the item to last longer. Sometimes on clothes there is the inscription “dry clean only”, which indicates that only dry cleaning is possible. It baffles some people, because how can you clean a stain without water? In fact, everything is not as complicated as it seems at first glance, so let’s figure out how to wash clothes with such marks.
Dry wash - what is it?
Dry washing is very similar to washing on a delicate cycle.
Some housewives are perplexed - how can you wash clothes without using water? In fact, everything is simple: dry washing significantly extends the life of clothes, and also guarantees their crystal cleanliness and pleasant freshness. Here you only need to know the technology of caring for the item so as not to damage its fabric.
It makes more sense to have expensive clothes professionally dry-cleaned, but this is not always possible due to the high cost of such services, service without any guarantees, or the lack of dry cleaning nearby.
Delicate fabric often shrinks during normal washing in a washing machine, so if it is not possible to use professional dry cleaning services, you can try cleaning it using a dry wash at home.
How is it done in dry cleaning?
If you are unable to clean the product yourself, or there are concerns that it may be damaged, you need to contact a professional . In dry cleaning, dry washing services are quite in demand. The laundry will help remove difficult stains, rid clothes of greasy shine, dust, and static electricity.
The cost of services varies widely. It all depends on the size of the item, the degree of contamination, and the complexity of the work. For example, cleaners will clean a knitted jacket for 550 rubles, and dry washing a long mink coat will cost 2,100 rubles.
Before handing over the item, you need to clarify whether the dry cleaner will be able to achieve the result the client needs, and whether there is a risk that the fabric will be damaged.
What clothes are dry wash only?
Clothes made from genuine leather are usually dry wash only.
Dry washing is ideal for items made from delicate or thin material: in this case, the fibers of the fabric do not tear or stretch, maintaining the attractive appearance of your favorite clothes. Therefore, you need to know which clothes will not survive washing in a washing machine:
- tweed clothing;
- clothes made of silk fabric;
- clothing made of genuine leather;
- wool clothing;
- suede clothing;
- clothes made of tough material;
- clothes with decorations (beads, appliqués, rhinestones, sparkles, etc.).
Such things may lose their original shape or decrease by one size, which will be a very unpleasant surprise for the owner. You should always carefully study the information on the tag so that you can care for your dress, trousers or shirt as correctly as possible.
Ways to care for things
In fact, by indicating on a product a recommendation for dry cleaning only, the clothing factory is saying that dry cleaning will extend the “life” of the product. But this does not mean at all that if the item is washed by hand, it will immediately fall apart or cannot be worn. You can wash it, you just need to know how.
If the item of clothing is very expensive, then it is indeed wiser to dry clean it or even have the item professionally dry cleaned.
There are fabrics that shrink during washing, so this is how he warns about the quality of the product, protecting his production. If the product shrinks after washing, then you yourself are to blame, since you did not follow the instructions, and not the manufacturer, who uses low-quality fabrics. Usually, the item shrinks the first time after washing.
Particular attention is paid to items made from delicate fabrics. For example, how to wash tweed or silk trousers. And also clothes that have decorations in the form of beads, stones and other things. Such items cannot be washed in a machine; dry washing is acceptable for them.
Dry cleaning only is suitable for clothes made of genuine leather, suede or hard materials that may lose their shape after contact with water.
How to wash items marked “dry clean only” by hand?
Pay close attention to the tags on your clothes - it’s very easy to ruin your favorite item.
If the manufacturer indicates dry clean only on the item’s label, then you must use the following algorithm:
- In a basin or other container you need to take a little cold water from the tap and add detergent. It is better to use special products for delicate fabrics or woolen items. But if you don’t have these funds, then you can dissolve a piece of laundry soap.
- You need to shake the water a little until a little foam appears and put the previously prepared laundry in the basin. Then remove and dip the clothes in water several times, rubbing the contaminated areas of the fabric with light hand movements. Finally, the item must be thoroughly rinsed in cold water until the soap solution completely disappears.
- Remove all excess water from washed laundry. This can be done as follows: place washed clothes on a terry towel, roll it up and press lightly with your hands. Then unfold the towel back and transfer the delicate item to a dry area - roll it up again and lightly press the fabric. This operation must be performed until the water stops draining.
- Place properly wrung out laundry on a flat horizontal surface and leave until completely dry. Items made from stiff fabrics can be dried on a hanger - this will retain their original shape. It should be remembered that brushes and other devices cannot be used in this type of clothing cleaning.
Are you earning enough?
Check if this applies to you:
- there is enough money from paycheck to paycheck;
- the salary is only enough for rent and food;
- debts and loans take away everything that is obtained with great difficulty;
- all promotions go to someone else;
- you are sure that you are paid too little at work.
Perhaps your money has been damaged. Read this amulet here to help relieve lack of money.
Content
Sometimes it is difficult to wash clothes in the usual way, since the manufacturer does not recommend using hand or machine washing due to the nature of the fabric. Usually, a special icon is drawn on the tag with a crossed out image of a basin or machine (the inscription dry clean only may also be present) - this means that only dry washing is acceptable.
What items can be washed in a machine?
There are no exceptions for corduroy - dry wash only
Manufacturers allow the machine to be used for some items whose label indicates dry wash only. This applies to clothing made from polyester or cotton fibers. It is also possible to wash trousers made of strong and tear-resistant material. But this method is not suitable for corduroy, cashmere or wool pants.
To machine wash cotton or polyester clothes, you need to turn on the delicate cycle without the function of periodically heating the water in the tank and spinning. It is recommended to use a liquid concentrated powder instead of a regular detergent, which will have a gentle effect on the fabric. After the cycle is completed, the washed clothes are removed from the drum and hung on hangers to dry.
What happens if you wash something that is meant for dry cleaning?
Never use hot water when washing clothes that are intended for dry cleaning only. This solution may damage the fibers or cause staining of the fabric.
Interesting materials:
How tall should a child's desk be? How tall should a first grader's desk be? How high should a child's table be? What passport do you need to travel to Israel? When to harvest cabbage? When should you harvest cabbage for the winter? What is a karmic connection? Casein what is it? Where does Russia border? Who determines the structure of the labor protection service in an organization?
Dry cleaning at home
The range of aromas is very wide, you can choose for every taste
You can try dry cleaning things yourself at home. The hardware store sells special kits that make it easy and quick to wash clothes made from delicate fabrics. They usually include a stain remover, pleasantly scented sheets, and a protective bag.
The manufacturer must include instructions with the kit: it indicates the procedure and types of clothes that can be washed using the above products. This primarily applies to silk, polyester or other items that are not heavily soiled. If there is a stain of unknown origin on the clothing, then it is better to entrust this operation to professionals.
First, you need to use a special product to remove stains, and then put the item in a bag, put aromatic sheets there and put it in the dryer. Select the delicate drying mode using a temperature no higher than 30 degrees. At the end of the program, the clothes are taken out and hung on hangers so that the fibers of the fabric are thoroughly straightened. This approach will protect the item from rapid wear.
How is it carried out?
For dry washing you will need:
- Washing machine with clothes drying function. In it, things can be processed with air.
- A special set of products, which usually includes a cover, wet wipes, and a stain remover.
You can also find kits on sale that include a gel that dries quickly, after which you just need to shake the item to remove the stain.
As before any washing, things need to be sorted. To do this, white ones are separated from colored ones, and knitted ones from silk ones. This is necessary so that the colored item does not fade onto the white one, and wool fibers do not get on other fabrics and you do not have to clean them additionally. It is recommended to place items of approximately the same size and weight in a bag intended for washing.
How to choose a clothes dryer for your home
If the item is heavily soiled, then before placing it in the washing machine, such areas must be additionally treated with a proven stain remover. If this is your first time using such a solution, then test it on a small piece of fabric from the inside out, on the seam tape, under the waistband, or in any other inconspicuous area so as not to harm the product. To do this, using a small swab, the product is carefully applied to the fabric and if after 5-10 minutes nothing happens, then you can safely apply it to the stain.
When dry washing items, follow some rules:
- Place pre-sorted items in a bag. Leave some space in it, as things need access to be fully air-conditioned.
- Place a few wet wipes with your items. During the washing process, the moisture will evaporate from them, which will protect the clothes from drying out and help straighten out creases or folds on them.
- Set your machine to Dry mode and turn it on. The air temperature and processing time should be minimal (no more than 30 minutes).
- To prevent clothes from losing their original shape, they should be carefully hung on hangers after washing.
What about washing in a machine?
As mentioned above, some pants that are not washable (as stated on the label) are machine washable without getting damaged. Products made from cotton or polyester will survive machine washing.
Items made from other fabrics (corduroy, wool or cashmere) should not be subjected to such treatment; they will not withstand it. After throwing the trousers into the drum of the washing machine, use gel formulations or capsules as powder (they cope well with stains and are quickly removed from fabrics).
Give preference to the delicate cycle , when washing is carried out exclusively in cold water. Disable the spin function. To get rid of excess moisture after washing, use a terry towel and work with it as described above. Note that if the washing process is performed correctly, your trousers will not be deformed and will become clean.
Alternatives
There are other ways to dry-clean clothes other than machine washing. You can hand wash a lot of dry clothes with just cool water and mild detergent, and you can use a hand steamer to clean clothes that you know are colorfast. Some companies also sell dry cleaning kits for home use, which typically consist of a stain remover, a dryer-activated cloth containing solvents and perfumes, and a drying bag to protect clothes during the process. However, these kits are not suitable for clothing that could be damaged by steam, including non-colored items, leather and suede or fur.
