Dress cleaning help!

Georgiegirl256

onlyroz wrote: »

If it's dry-clean only, why don't you just take it to a dry-cleaners? Most will do a same or next-day service.

Maybe the OP hasn't got time to pop into town? Maybe it's too expensive? No doubt they'll be a premium for same day cleaning too. I would assume she has thought of that but ruled it out for whatever reason, hence she's asking here.

I've heard of vodka being used for removing stains, so I can see why it might be effective on removing odours too.

Bicarb is another good product for removing odours too.

onlyroz

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Maybe the OP hasn't got time to pop into town? Maybe it's too expensive? No doubt they'll be a premium for same day cleaning too. I would assume she has thought of that but ruled it out for whatever reason, hence she's asking here.

I've heard of vodka being used for removing stains, so I can see why it might be effective on removing odours too.

Bicarb is another good product for removing odours too.

Thing is, they're getting a free loan of a dress so are presumably saving a ton of money. I don't use dry-cleaners that often but I would have thought that £10-15 should do it - a similar cost to the bottle of vodka that some people are suggesting, and far less than the cost of replacement if the dress gets damaged from some of the more outlandish suggestions listed here...

j.e.j.

I would think more like £20-30 but still cheaper than ruining the dress and having to replace it!

tyllwyd

How about hanging it in a steamy bathroom for a few hours before airing it - the steam might help carry away some of the smoke smell.

j.e.j.

Seriously, if it's cigarette smoke it'll take some shifting. I bought a bag 2nd hand once, which stunk of smoke (as I found out when I got it home). I tried everything, from bicarb, to brickettes (!) Nothing worked, and I ended up having to throw it out.

Georgiegirl256

onlyroz wrote: »

Thing is, they're getting a free loan of a dress so are presumably saving a ton of money. I don't use dry-cleaners that often but I would have thought that £10-15 should do it - a similar cost to the bottle of vodka that some people are suggesting, and far less than the cost of replacement if the dress gets damaged from some of the more outlandish suggestions listed here...

It matters not if the dress was free or was paid for, it's still another £15-£20 to folk out that a person might not have. Maybe they do, who knows? But, I can't see anything wrong with asking here for some advice. I assume someone might only use the vodka method if they had one in the house, or like you say, it'd be a similar cost. It was just a suggestion, as a lot of people do actually have some already.

Georgiegirl256

j.e.j. wrote: »

Seriously, if it's cigarette smoke it'll take some shifting. I bought a bag 2nd hand once, which stunk of smoke (as I found out when I got it home). I tried everything, from bicarb, to brickettes (!) Nothing worked, and I ended up having to throw it out.

That's true. I bought a top off eBay once and it absolutely stunk of BO and cigarettes. Nothing I did to it would clear the smell and so I ended up chucking it in the end up.

Nicki

How is the dress smelling now Devils vixen after a day in the fresh air?

devils_vixen

Thanks for all the replies. I did not receive the dress until late last night so did not have time to arrange dry cleaning - if I'd received it before hand then I would have! It's better though I can still smell it. I had it out on the line for a few hours then brought it in and hung it up in the bedroom next to a plug in. I've now got it hanging in the wardrobe with the tumble dryer sheets and placed a few inside the bag too.

geerex

Unrelated, but reminded me of this:

an essex girl walks into the local dry cleaners. she places a garment on the counter "i'll be back tomorrow afternoon to pick up my dress" she says.
"come again?" says the clerk, cupping his ear.
"no" she replies. "this time its mayonnaise"

:rotfl: