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Today I'm sharing how I take care of my clothes and how I wash my dry clean only clothes at home. Even though I have many dry clean only clothes, I never go to the dry cleaners. This saves me money, is better for the environment and gentler on my clothes. I've been using these methods and products for years to keep my wardrobe looking as good as possible, for as long as possible.
WASHING & DRYING AND WHY I NEVER DRY CLEAN
It’s estimated that 90% off all “dry clean only” clothing, can be laundered at home. A fact many of us are unaware of, at least I know I was until. That is, until I started on this journey of filling my closet with beautiful pieces in gorgeous materials that I can wear for years.
I remember the moment vividly when I purchased my first silk shirt and was researching how to care for it. The tag said “dry clean only” but my limited budget, even more limited time and concern over the environmental impacts of dry cleaning didn’t allow for regular trips to the dry cleaners so I set out to find an alternative. Thanks to the bounty of the internet I discovered The Laundress and their endless array of products and tips designed to care for your wardrobe at home - even cashmere and silk. After a bit of research, I bought my first wash and have never looked back. Since then, I have tended to my wardrobe at home and as a result, I have saved money, been kinder to the environment (dry cleaning uses very harsh chemicals that are terrible for our planet and can degrade delicate fibers too quickly) and have enjoyed the benefits of putting care, time and energy into everything I buy.
WOOL & CASHMERE
To make the process of laundering my clothing at home as simple as possible, I break things into categories based on the materials. Let’s start with wool & cashmere.
The first thing to know about wool & cashmere is that they don’t need to be washed as often as we think. Unlike some other fibers, sweaters can be worn quite a few times before undergoing a deep clean so I only wash mine occasionally. When the time comes to wash them, I do so with the Wool & Cashmere Shampoo by filling my Wash Tub Basin with cool water (never use hot because it can shrink your sweaters) but you can use your bathtub or sink - just make sure it’s clean!
Next, I follow the instructions on the bottle and add 2 capfuls of detergent, swirl it around in the water with my hand and submerge the sweater. Once the sweater is in the basin I’ll agitate it with my hands and then let it sit for up to 30 minutes - longer depending on how dirty the sweater is. Once the time is up, I’ll come back and agitate the sweater some more to make sure it’s nice and clean and then remove it from the basin, run it under cold water to rinse (again never use hot water) and then press it gently together to remove excess water. If I have a lot of water left in the sweater, I will roll it in a towel like a burrito. This takes out an incredible amount of water and does so gently.
To dry the sweater, I never place it in the dryer. The heat will cause your sweater to shrink, degrade the color and misshape it. Instead, I always dry my clothes on a drying rack. Once the sweater is dry, typically over night, I will steam it to release any wrinkles and then spray it with the Wool & Cashmere Spray which is antibacterial and helps extend the lovely smell and keep odors at bay in between washes.
SILK, LINEN & OTHER DELICATES
For silk, linen and other delicates, I use the same method I do with my sweaters, but I wash those a little more frequently and I use the Delicate Wash. Like my sweaters, also air dry these pieces and I will also spray my delicates with the Delicate Spray in between washes to keep them fresh and lovely. Also, though I don’t personally do it I know that some people actually wash their silk and cashmere in the washing machine on the gentle cycle and in a Mesh Washing Bag.
EVERYTHING ELSE - COTTON, JEANS ETC
For everything else (cotton t-shirts. jeans etc) I machine wash on the gentle or hand wash cycle, and air dry them on my drying rack. I also like to wash my clothes (especially jeans) inside out in order to preserve the dye.
STAIN CARE
It doesn’t matter how careful you are, life always has a way of interfering with our best laid plans and in the case of our clothes, that means stains. I used to be intimidated by stains but since learning how to properly care for my clothing, I am able to handle just about anything life throws at my clothes. Below, I’ve embedded a snap shot of my general stain care practices so that you can easily refer back to it in the future.
For tannin and protein stains (wine, fruit, coffee, ink, etc.) I spot treat as needed with the Stain Solution before laundering as usual
For stubborn spots, I mix the stain solution with the All-Purpose Bleach Alternative, brush it in with the Stain Brush and let it sit before laundering as usual
For hard to reach areas like collars and armpits, and dirt, grease, and oil based stains I use the Wash & Stain Bar because it’s easier to work into the marks. I then let it sit before washing as usual with the corresponding detergent. This product in particular is fantastic for those pesky collar marks that can show up on white shirts and doing this has allowed me to keep my white shirts looking fresh for years
BASIC UPKEEP, MENDING & TENDING
Now let’s go over the basic upkeep I do to ensure my clothes stay looking fresh. First in this category is handling lint and pet fur. I have 3 pets and as a result, a lot of fur haha. I used to use a lint roller but have since stopped because it was never that effective and they’re incredibly wasteful. Now, I use a Cashmere Brush that effortlessly removes lint, is so much better for the environment because it isn’t disposable and feels so much fancier - which I love.
Next, is dealing with sweater pills - those pesky little balls of fibers that collect around wrists and armpits of your sweaters and cause the whole thing to look worn and ragged even if it isn’t. To handle these, I use a Sweater Comb and hold the fabric taught while running it in one direction along the fabric. This quickly removes those pesky pills and leaves my sweaters looking fresh.
Last but not least is to have a small sewing kit on hand to handle minor repairs like loose buttons and unraveling hems. Even if your sewing skill level is virtually 0 like mine, knowing how to do minor repairs is very helpful to ensuring your clothes always look their best.
STORAGE
The last thing I want to go over is some basic storage tips that can help extend the life of your clothes and ensure they don’t lose their shape or get eaten by moths.
Hang vs Fold: First up is hanging vs folding. You never want to hang your sweaters. Doing so can cause them to lose their shape and stretch out. Instead, you want to fold them or roll them neatly and place them on a shelf or in a drawer. I also prefer to hang my silks, blazers and jackets, trousers and skirts and fold my jeans and t-shirts. I also like to place a few Lavender Pouches in my drawers and closet to keep thing smelling lovely and help ward off moths
Hangers: Next I want to talk about hangers. I use and love slim velvet hangers because they take up less space than larger wooden hangers and offer grip for my silky pieces that would otherwise slip off of the hanger and end up on the floor. Also, I recommend having sturdier hangers with first shoulders for your heavier, tailored coats to ensure they keep their shape
Storing Out Of Season Clothes: I actually no longer store out of season clothes and instead I like to have everything out all year long. Jason and I share 1 small closet and a bureau that easily houses my entire wardrobe but if you have less space or just benefit from having seasonal clothes out of site, I recommend storing them in a breathable container like the Canvas Under Bed Storage Bag. These are breathable and allow air to circulate in and out which inhibits bacteria growth that can damage and discolor your clothing. When I was using these regularly, I would store them under my bed or at the bottom of my closet
