If your clothes could talk, they would probably have much to say about how you need to be handling them, particularly when it comes to home dry cleaning. Just take a look at the crumply pile of suits, dresses, blouses, shirts, and pants on your bedroom chair; you will nod your head ‘yes.’ Well, they’re clothes – mute by nature. Here are the home dry cleaning slip-ups that could be damaging your garments.
Home dry cleaning mistakes to avoid
1. Tossing non-dry-cleanable into the dry cleaning machines
Before you try to dry clean any clothing item, inspect its tags. Many clothes have indications that usually tell whether they are dry cleanable or not. Most Canadians take this for granted and rarely notice the garment damage until it’s too late.
Some fabrics such as leather, silk, and wool should never go into dry cleaning machines. These fabrics don’t handle machine wash well due to the hydrophobic bonds within the bonds. So, ensure only dry-clean-only clothing ends up in a washing machine.
2. Forgetting to empty pockets
It is a good practice to check your pockets before tossing your dirty clothes into washing machines. The same rule applies when dry cleaning your clothes at home or taking them to dry cleaners. This is because foreign clothes can dissolve even in mild detergent or dry cleaning fluids and damage your garments.
3. Lack of dry cleaning expertise
Many Canadians avoid dry cleaning professionals often due to myths and misconceptions. For example, some believe that dry cleaning solutions make clothes smell bad, while others fear that their clothes will get lost in the hands of a laundry expert. Another misconception is that dry cleaning services are more expensive than buying a home dry cleaning kit, stain remover, and dry cleaning fluids.
Instead of using regular laundry soap and warm water to remove stains from garments that require dry cleaning, just take your dirty laundry to a professional cleaner who understands stain treatment depending on the type of fabric. These professionals can handle pleated shirts, delicate fabrics, dress shirts, and other types of clothing with extreme caution.
4. Aggravating tough stains
Generally, stains on dry-clean-only garments can be challenging to deal with compared to stains on regular fabrics. So, if you find tough stains on your clothing, using DIY remedies won’t help. After all, hairspray and lemon juice are not substitutes for bleach.
You don’t have to risk damaging your favorite clothing with harsh at-home dry cleaning solvents. Instead, take your garments to a reputable dry cleaner with the right dry cleaning appliance and understands different dry cleaning methods depending on fabric type. Remember, such experts knowns the best dry cleaning products for dry cleaning fabrics without damaging them.
5. Over-drying your garments
It’s recommended to space out dry cleaning days. After all, dry cleaning clothes isn’t at all the same as getting them machine washed or laundered. Over-drying your clothes could make them fade and end up getting them damaged. So, it is best to limit your home dry cleaning routine to once a month. Also, avoid using harsh chemicals when cleaning your clothes.
Final thoughts
Now you know the common home dry cleaning mistakes that could be damaging your clothes. To be on the safe side, take your expensive suits and other types of clothing to a reputable dry cleaner who implements advanced cleaning technology and has exceptional dry cleaning experience.
