How to dry clean at home

How to dry clean at home

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.