How to dry clean a delicate garment: step by step
According to statistics, in Spain, 130 hours a year are spent on washing and ironing, and they spend an average of €232 on washing and ironing their clothes. In such a way that now that we know how to wash white clothes, now we will tell you how to dry clean clothes. Until now, you may have believed that this type of washing could only be done at a dry cleaner, but in this article we show you the best tricks for dry cleaning a garment at home.
This wash consists of cleaning using a small amount of water, or nothing, to avoid damaging clothing, mattresses or other objects in the house. But you will also need different chemicals that promote this type of cleaning, most of them solvents. Take note!
Tricks for dry cleaning a garment in the washing machine
First of all, the first thing we must do is read the label of each garment before washing it, since many of them will have the indication of dry cleaning only. To carry out this procedure, it is essential not to use hot water, or you could end up damaging the fibers of the clothes and other elements if you had them.
For those who do not know, dry cleaning at home with the washing machine is possible thanks to the gentle washing program that this appliance has, at least most of them. This program is indicated for garments made of firm fabrics, that is, those that do not deform when folded or wrinkled.
If you want to dry clean a garment at home that cannot be washed in a washing machine with water, you must follow these steps:
- First, put the clothes in the washing machine and program the gentlest cycle.
- Next, put a little detergent.
- As soon as the wash cycle is finished, remove the clothes from the washing machine.
- Finally, let them rest in a flat place to dry as soon as possible. You can also put them on separate hangers.
- In addition, today there are washing machines on the market that include a specific program for dry cleaning at home, which usually consists of an active oxygen-based wash.
How to dry clean a garment at home by hand
Due to the delicacy of the fabric of certain clothes, we must use certain tricks to dry clean a garment, and it is usually done by hand so that they do not get damaged over time. But how to dry clean a garment at home that cannot be washed with water?
A clear example of garments that must be dry cleaned at home and by hand so that their fibers are not damaged are coats. These also have a large amount of fabric and, most of the time, it is usually quite delicate. To dry clean a garment at home without using a washing machine, you must follow these steps:
To start, put some soap powder in a basin with a little cold water.
Mix both ingredients very well until foam is formed.
Once the mixture of water and soap is prepared, put the clothes inside to proceed with their washing. Dip it several times so that the stains come out more easily.
Go rubbing with the tips of your fingers in the areas where dirt accumulates the most while you submerge the garment, such as the neck, cuffs and armpits.
When you have removed all the dirt, rinse the coat with a little water. To do this, empty the basin that contained the soapy water, add cold water and submerge the coat to remove any remaining soap residue.
Then, to dry the clothes you can place them rolled up in a towel to remove excess water. It is essential that you repeat this process between 3 and 5 times, and if necessary, you can use several towels until you absorb all the water from the garment.
Finally, hang the coat on a hanger or place it on a flat surface to finish drying completely.
How to dry clean at home with a cleaning kit
Another way to dry clean a garment at home by hand is to use a special dry cleaning kit for clothes. You can buy it at any drugstore, dry cleaner or supermarket, and you just have to make sure it contains a stain remover, sheets and a dry cleaning bag. The dry cleaning kit works as follows:
Start by applying a little of the stain remover to the dirtiest areas.
Then place the garment in your home dry cleaning bag and place it in the dryer on the gentlest cycle.
To finish, remove the garment from the bag and place it on a hanger to finish drying. Thus, the garment will be cleaner thanks to the moisture given off by the dry cleaning sheet that you have placed in the bag.
How to dry clean a mattress
In general, to dry clean a mattress at home, we will have to use different chemical products. However, you can use some that are not as aggressive, such as hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, drugstore alcohol or baby wipes. To do this, you just have to apply the chosen product on the mattress, focusing on the stained areas.
Also, if you want to use baking soda to dry clean the mattress, do it this way:
Sprinkle the baking soda on the surface of the mattress and, if you wish, you can combine it with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.
Let this mixture act for a few minutes and then remove it with a slightly damp cloth.
Finally, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining baking soda and moisture.
What are you waiting for to use these tricks to dry clean a garment? You will be surprised by the results!
