Great 'slash the cost of dry-cleaning' Hunt

Tinkywinks108

I used to be very fussy with my clothes - I'd handwash and dry clean all clothes that stated so on the label. Then I had a child - less money/time/care for such things, so I now machine wash ALL my handwash and dry clean clothes on a low temperature. I'm now gutted when I think back to how much time and money I've wasted on handwashing and dry cleaners!

aloiseb

I used to work in a charity shop and we never sent anything off to be dry-cleaned that I can remember......we did however have a steamer, and all the clothes which looked nice ones would be steamed before being put out in the shop.

Given that the cost of dry cleaning is so high, how do you suppose the charity shop would make any profit?

milkybars

I also worked in a charity shop and if it was too grubby and so wrinkled the steamer couldn't sort it out, it got bagged up for the rag man!

Anyway... I have a 100% acetate (woven material) ball dress. I don't have a tumble dryer but after some extensive googling I found out that it's best to avoid heat at all costs. Now the large glass of white wine that got spilt on my dress hasn't caused any wrinkling and no obvious shrinking either. Has anybody hand washed acetate fabric and their garment lived to tell the tale?

I usually hand wash or pillow case wash (on coldest, shortest, delicate setting of washer) and have never had any problems. The one time I took an evening dress to the dry cleaners, they had me sign a disclaimer, charged me £40, didn't get the stain out and made the area where the stain was all bobbly. I hand washed same item at home, stain came out but bobbles remained! I was fuming, £100 dress and £40 for nothing at the dry cleaners.

So with my views tarnished... I'm considering hand washing this acetate dress... any experiences?

milkybars

To answer my own question above... Can you hand wash dry clean only acetate fabric? Yes

I took a leap of faith with a bath of luke warm water and the smallest amount of cheap (apparently it's less abrasive) hand wash solution. No soaking just a slosh about and a very good rinse in luke warm water again. Then hung over a towel and pushed bodice area into shape. It dried over night and the very small creases that remained were removed by hanging in the bathroom to steam.

Austin_Allegro

jhodgel wrote: »

Where do I get a steamer from cheaply? as I now hand wash all my dry cleaning clothes and this seems like it might be a bit easiler than llllleaning over the sink/bath. How does the dirt raise out in the steam? don't get it thanks

I got mine from John Lewis I think. I did have a real cheap one that I bought online, but it fell to bits.

I think the theory is that odour, grime etc becomes vapourised in the steam, in the same way your skin gets cleaned by a sauna. It also kills any bacteria in the cloth and hinders the matting of fibres which causes 'shine' on elbows, seat etc.

Heavy visible dirt needs to be brushed off though. I just got into the habit of brushing my suits every time I take them off.

milkybars

Please be careful doing this... some of the cheaper hand held steamers spit hot water out. This can be bad for certain fabrics and leave a mark.

Nanaof2

I run a business selling & hiring Prom & Evening dresses.
When a dress comes back from hire I take it home & wash it on the silk wash of my machine @ 30 degrees using Woolite & fabric conditioner & if stained I add one of the stain remover/colour magnet sachets.
I usually turn the dresses inside out especially if they have beads & sequins on them.
At the end of the wash I give them a light spin then dry them on an indoor airing rack.
No ruined dresses so far doing this.When I take them back to the shop I use my steamer to get creases out but they are never badly creased.
Also the beads don't fall off in the washing machine doing this. The reason they say dry clean is often because the chemicals used melt beads & sequins etc whereas washing doesn't.
Hope this helps someone to save some money.

rhiannon1234

I am currently trying to clean a dress at home that the label says is dry clean only. It is 97% cotton 3% Elastane. I put it in washing machine on cold water rinse. It is now hanging up to dry. Another website recommended once it's dry 3 minutes in the tumble dryer on low setting to get the wrinkles out. Any thoughts?
Am unsure about ironing as it is ivory colour - don't want to risk dirtying it at all!

AvonNewbie

I have a Jasper Conran evening dress that I have borrowed from a friend. It is part of the bridal range and was reduced to £20 from £220. It still has the tags on but the bottom is covered in shop floor marks. The label says specialist dry clean only but do you think it would be ok to put it on a delicates wash, the way I usually do all my dry clean only clothes?

It is made from:
Outer - 75% Acetate, 25% Polyester
Lining - 100% Acetate

rachelandgromit

Does anyone know roughly how much it costs to get a coat dry cleaned at Johnsons - tried looking on website but no price? I've never had anything dry cleaned before and this is my only dry cleaners and it was a friends coat I borrowed so don't want to risk any other way.... I'ts only a Matalan one but want to give it back clean...

Thanks!