Sometimes clothes require extra special treatment and you can’t just throw them in your washing machine for a quick wash. This is usually because their fabric is extremely delicate, and the washing machine may very well do some damage to them. This is when dry cleaning can be a perfect option to take care of dirt or stains on your delicate garments. It’s important to mention that Ariel recommends dry cleaning by a professional for the perfect result, but if you’re ready to take matters into your own hand and at your own risk, read on and find out how to dry clean at home.
6 steps on how to dry clean in case of spots and stains
1
Check the care label
The first thing you should do is to check the care label. If the tag says, “dry clean only” and your garment is made of wool or silk, you can proceed with the next step. If it’s made of leather or fur, you should definitely seek help from a professional, as they’ll need to use special equipment.
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
Put your clothes in the dry-cleaning bag
Take a dry-cleaning bag and put your garments in it. Make sure you don’t overload it, though, leaving it half full is optimal. Also, pay attention to only putting items of similar colours in it to avoid colour transfer.
4
Add the sheet
Unfold the dry-cleaning sheet completely and add it to the dry-cleaning bag.
5
Put it in the dryer
Set your dryer to medium heat and put the cleaning bag in for 30 minutes.
6
Unload
Don’t let garments sit in the dryer for too long, as they can get wrinkled easily. Take them out, remove them from the bag and hang them out.
How to dry clean at home by hand
If you don’t have a dryer, you can still try dry cleaning at home. Just follow these simple steps and enjoy the feeling of fresh clothes.
1
Check the care label
Again, check if your garment is made of a material, such as silk, that can handle dry cleaning. If it’s made of fur or leather, you should seek help from a professional cleaner.
2
Prepare a solution
Mix some laundry detergent, like Ariel Matic Front Load, Ariel Matic Top Load or Ariel Matic Liquid Detergent with cold water and wait for it to dissolve. If you’re washing silk and you have silk detergent, it could be a great option too.
3
Wash
Put the clothes in the solution and gently wash them by hand for no more than 30 minutes. Try to limit the wash time to 30 minutes tops, as too long exposure to water can damage your garment.
4
Dry
Gently wring your clothes and air dry them. Try using a flat surface to lay them out instead of hanging them out to dry.
Dry cleaning at home with a washing machine
1
Check the care label
Check the label as always, and if it says “dry clean” instead of “dry clean only”, you’ll be able to wash it in your machine. This is usually the case with cotton, polyester, nylon, and spandex clothes.
2
Use a laundry bag
Take a bag for your delicates and put your garments in it. Turning your clothes inside out might help protect them even more.
3
Choose cold water
Washing in cold water helps avoid unwanted size and shape changes. Not to mention, you’re saving a lot of energy, and thereby money.
4
Use a short cycle
Use your delicate or short cycle, whichever has the slowest speed and force they use for washing.
5
Dry
When the cycle is finished, unload them and air dry them. Avoid using the dryer, as the machine can shrink their clothes easily.
Dry cleaning different garments at home
Coats and jackets
If they’re made of a material that allows them to be washed in the machine, put them in a laundry bag for delicates, and wash them with cold water. Make sure the check the label, though, and take them to a professional dry cleaner if necessary.
Suits and blazers
If the care label says your suits and blazers can be dry cleaned, use a dry-cleaning bag, put a dry-cleaning sheet in it, then use the dryer for 30 minutes on medium heat.
Dresses
Check the care label and if your dress can be machine washed, make sure you’re using cold water and a short cycle while your dress is in a laundry bag for delicates. If it can only be dry cleaned, using a dry-cleaning bag with a dry-cleaning sheet would be the best choice.
Blankets
See if your blankets are made of a material that allows them to be washed in your machine. Use cold water and a short cycle that doesn’t apply too much speed and force. If your blankets are too delicate to handle machine washing, put them in a dry-cleaning bag with a dry-cleaning sheet and use your dryer for 30 minutes on medium heat.
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