If there is a dry-cleaning problem, we have seen it and conquered it. Sometimes we’ve had to be quite creative with our solutions. Today, these solutions are called “hacks”.
Because these hacks have worked so well for us, we decided not to keep them a secret. Instead, we are sharing them with you below.
Make a Vodka Spray
No, this is not a new drink. You don’t have to be a drinker at all to enjoy vodka. Who knew it could be used to help your clothes smell better? We did!
All we do is put vodka in a small spray bottle. There is no need to dilute it with any other liquids. Take that smelly piece of clothing and lightly spray it with the vodka. The alcohol crushes bacteria that cause odors. This can give you a few more days of wear before dropping it off at the cleaners.
Make the New Feel Old
New t-shirts and sheets never quite compare to the softness of worn-in fabrics. Now you can make new pieces feel like you have had them for years. All you need is a bit of salt, water, and a bucket. Fill a bucket with 1 quart of water and ½ cup of salt. Submerge the shirt in the saltwater and let it sit for three days. Once the three days are up, wash the shirt as you normally would in cold water. Voila, that brand new material will feel like you’ve had it for years.
How to remove pilling from clothing
You may be asking, “What the heck is pilling?” You know those little fuzzies that never go away, that when you pull one-off, you find even more, especially in areas that rub together? That is pilling.
Yeah, we don’t like it either. So, we searched, and found, several ways to resolve the pilling problem:
Tape––Any tape should do, but duct tape is king when it comes to sticky. Cut a piece of tape and press the sticky side of the tape against the fabric. Then peel the tape off the fabric to reveal the fuzzies you collected.
Shavers and Brushes––These are not the type of shavers and brushes used for grooming purposes. The ones we are talking about are made specifically for getting rid of nasty fuzz balls. All you must do is first, purchase an electric clothing shaver or a lint brush or both. Lay the fabric flat. Run the shaver or brush over the pilings to collect them. It’s that simple.
Prevention– To lessen pilling, taking advantage of professional dry cleaners for pilling-prone fabrics at least once or twice. They have special treatments that can reduce the number of fuzz balls that accumulate on your clothing.
Pilling may also be reduced by treating your garments gently, limiting wash time and by turning clothing inside out before laundering.
Be Careful Who You Wash With
We love all clothing. But there are some pieces that just can’t get along with others when being laundered. Washing heavy-duty denim jeans with dainty, lacy underwear may not turn out well. If the lace gets caught on the button of the jeans, it will be thrashed around, eventually tearing.
That big, bulky blanket can smother that new, expensive camisole. Or the washer itself can become a hazard to a bra that escaped from its mesh laundry bag, wrapping it so tight around the agitator you must cut it out. That’s not friendly at all.
So, when you do your laundry, separate items by their delicacy.
Know When to Stop
There are tons of tricks and tips online about how you can DIY your dry cleaning at home. Before you grab that expensive coat and try to get the wine stain out yourself, take a minute to answer these questions:
- Who wrote the online tip? A tip written by a professional dry cleaner or someone in the laundering industry is much safer to try than if it is written by someone without professional experience.
- How much did you pay for the clothing? If your item costs a lot of money, do you want to take a chance of ruining it by trying a DIY tip?
- Are you good at DIY? Be honest with yourself. If you are not the best at following directions or like to wing it halfway through a project, trying a DIY dry cleaning tip may not be the best idea.
After answering these questions, you may find the best solution is to stick with the professionals, like the ones at Prestige Cleaners. Letting the pros do the dirty work can save you time and money that could be spent on other hacks around the home.