Yes, You Can Wash 'Dry Clean-Only' Clothes at Home—Here’s How to Do It Right

Outsourcing chores can sometimes add an extra item to your to-do list, as is the case with dry cleaning. Having your clothes professionally dry-cleaned requires two errands: one to drop off your garments and another to pick them up.

At-home dry cleaning methods can save you money and time, and there’s a good chance you already have all the necessary materials on hand. Here are three methods to remove stains, dirt, and odors from your favorite delicate pieces.

Method One: Hand-Washing

Clothing manufacturers often err on the side of caution when writing care label instructions. Still, many dry-cleaned items are safe to hand-wash at home, except for certain items such as wedding dresses, suits, and garments with lining, leather, fur, pleats, or major embellishments.

For this method, you'll need a stain remover, gentle laundry detergent, a towel, a drying rack, and a steamer.

1. Spot-Treat Stains

Pretreat any stains. Start by scraping off the stain residue, then blot it with cold water and a gentle detergent. If the stain persists, consider applying a stain remover.

2. Prepare the Water

Fill a clean sink or tub with cold water and the appropriate ratio of gentle detergent. Refer to the recommended amount on the manufacturer’s packaging. If the amount isn’t clear for such a small load, use about one teaspoon.

3. Soak the Garment

Submerge the garment in the water and gently swish it to create suds. Let it soak for 20 minutes, and then drain the water. As an optional step, repeat steps two and three, but use fabric softener instead of detergent.

4. Rinse

Rinse the garment under a stream of cold water. Gently press it against the sink to release any excess water.

Step 5: Dry

Lay the garment flat on a large towel and roll it up. Press on the rolled towel with the garment inside to further release excess water and wrinkles. Allow the garment to air-dry on a flat surface or hang it to dry on a garment rack. Hanging it to dry can prevent wrinkles, but laying it flat prevents the delicate fibers from stretching.

Method Two: Vodka Spray

While hand-washing is ideal for delicate garments with heavy dirt or stains, spraying them with vodka is an excellent way to remove odors and bacteria. It’s also a good option for cleaning pieces that aren’t safe to hand-wash.

For this method, you will need an empty spray bottle, vodka, essential oils (optional), a hanger, and a drying rack.

1. Mix the Solution

Fill a spray bottle halfway with vodka, then top it off with water. If you'd prefer, add a few drops of essential oils to mimic the scent of laundry detergent.

2. Spray the Garment

Hang the garment on a drying rack to ensure easy access to both sides. Thoroughly spray an even layer of the solution on the garment until it's lightly damp to the touch. Turn the garment inside out and repeat this process.

3. Dry

Allow the garment to air-dry on the drying rack. If you want to further assist with odor removal, let it dry outside, but avoid placing it in a sunny area to prevent the color from fading.

Method 3: DIY Dry Cleaning Kit

You can purchase a dry cleaning kit specifically made for at-home dry cleaning, but it’s relatively easy to make your own dry cleaning solvent. Regardless of the route you take, you’ll use the dryer to assist the cleaning process.

For this method, you'll need a mesh laundry bag, stain remover, a medium-sized bowl, and a white washcloth. For a DIY solvent, you'll need distilled white vinegar, laundry detergent, borax, and essential oils (optional).

1. Pretreat Stains

Inspect the garment for stains. Blot any stains with detergent and cold water. If a stain persists, use a stain remover. Always do a patch test to ensure the stain remover is safe to use on the garment.

2. Make the Solvent

In a medium-sized bowl, mix 3/4 cup water, 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 teaspoon laundry detergent, 1 teaspoon borax, and 5-8 drops of essential oil (optional) to create the solvent. Immerse the white washcloth in the solution, wring it out, and place it in the mesh laundry bag.

Step 3: Dry

Add the garment to the mesh bag with the solvent. Run it in the dryer for 20 minutes on a medium heat cycle. Lay the garment flat to finish air-drying.