My drycleaning days are over
At the beginning of the pandemic when we were totally housebound, it’s pretty safe to assume that most of us spent day after day in loungewear (if we even changed our clothes at all). There are still days I’ll put on a comfy coordinated set after working out and showering, but most of the time I do put on some sort of an outfit, whether jeans or pants and a tee or button-down. But I have been sticking solely to items that I can wash on my own so I don’t have to go to the drycleaner—which basically eliminates silk, cashmere and other super-delicate materials.
I have a cream-colored cashmere cardigan that I like to wear around the house when I get chilly, and after living on my office chair for I don’t even know how many months, it was due for a wash. It sat at the bottom of my delicates hamper for about another month because I was really nervous about attempting to launder it myself—but after an encouraging email newsletter from The Laundress, I threw it in the machine with two capfuls of Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, selected the cold-water gentle cycle and crossed my fingers. 36 minutes later I breathed a sigh of relief that it was intact—and it actually looked better than ever! The cashmere was plush and fluffy again, with no shrinkage whatsoever after drying flat.
Feeling confident in my advanced laundry skills, next up was a pair of silk pants that say “dryclean only.” (According to The Laundress, most items that recommend drycleaning can indeed be washed at home, either by hand or on a gentle cycle.) For these, I followed the same protocol but used the Delicate Wash, which is ideal for silk, synthetics and blends. After hanging them to dry and popping them in the dryer to smooth out any creases, I had another success!
The Laundress also helped save one of my favorite white baseball hats, which had become stained inside thanks to my tinted sunscreen. I thought about tossing it in the washing machine to see what would happen, but instead I rubbed on some Stain Solution and let it sit overnight. In the morning, I ran the stained area under warm water and poof—the discoloration was gone! (BTW, this miracle gel works wonders on old and new stains.)
Always one to look on the bright side, the pandemic has done more than help me up my laundry game. When I think about how much money I’ll save by limiting my drycleaning moving forward, it’s a total gamechanger. Ever better, I’m happily wearing one of my favorite silk shirtdresses today—and not the slightest bit worried about washing it at home!
