Without question, there are some delicate items that MUST have the special care of a good, professional dry cleaner* - I have a few items that I wouldn't dream of handling myself. However, many ready-to-wear items in your closet don't need to go to the dry cleaner every time, and some never at all.
Dryel requires a starter kit, which has a special bag that holds the items to be cleaned. Simply follow the product directions, remove promptly and let any wrinkles fall out by hanging immediately. Woolite-"The Dry Cleaners Secret" does not require a special bag. Items can go directly into your dryer, which I find to be especially convenient for larger items like blankets, pillows, winter coats, etc.
If you like a crisp crease on your dress shirts or pants, simply pull out your iron do so. Using your iron is not so much a time saver, but the money you will save by doing dry cleaning at home is worth the cost. One kit can clean up to 24 items . . . all for under $10. Have you EVER taken 24 items to the dry cleaner and paid only $10? Ive used these products to freshen suits, sweaters, blankets, pillows (including feather and down), jackets, stuffed animals, dresses, blouses, dress pants (including light-weight wool) and skirts.
IRONING
If Dante wrote Inferno for modern times, I'm convinced one of his nine levels of 'hell' would be ironing. Some people may consider it a relaxing, cathartic exercise. Not me. I avoid it like The Plague.
By simply hanging your clothing as soon as it comes out of the dryer, you can avoid a mountain of ironing. My husband's work khakis and oxford button-downs, and my knit tops, go from dryer to hanger, with a few wrinkles that drop out after hanging or being worn for a few minutes. On occasion, a collar or a cuff will look a little wonky and I'll press it. But for the most part, the iron gets little or no use.
What if you have a pile of laundry that has a bunch of impossible wrinkles? You can steam them out. I like a product called the Steam Mate, but there are others such as Mr. Steamy and Steam-n-Go. Add water to the sponge inside, toss into the dryer, and within minutes most of your wrinkles are gone. Again, hang immediately to let the soft wrinkles fall out. These short cuts are not for your delicate clothing items or for items that have complicated stains. But even if your attire requires the crispest creases with flawless fabrics that hang like a dream, you can lessen the cost and time of maintaining your more casual outfits by learning how to care for them at home. Once you get comfortable using the products, you'll be surprised at how much less money youre spending at the dry cleaner. And once you get used to responding to the dryer buzzer promptly (or using steam to do the wrinkle removing for you) you'll have gained tons of free time by avoiding the iron and ironing board.
*See the link below for fabrics and special items that SHOULD go to a dry cleaner:
http://www.howmuchdoeseverythingcost.com/costs/how-much-does-dry-cleaning-cost-cost-of-dry-cleaning/
Both of these sites offer coupons at this time:
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