9th Mar 2023 love2laundry Dry Cleaning

What Is a Substitute for Dry Cleaning?

If you ever need your clothes to be cleaned at short notice- whether it is a suit, evening dress, a shirt that you spilt coffee on, or a load of dirty garments- then dry cleaning may be a convenient solution for you. Your outfit will be professionally cleaned and hung, ready for you to wear.

By the year 2025, the global dry cleaning and laundry industry is expected to grow to a whopping $127 billion, showing the great demand for these services all over the world.

But if dry cleaning isn’t for you, perhaps you have wondered, what is a substitute for dry cleaning?

In this article, we will outline what you can do if dry cleaning is not a suitable option for you.

What is dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a process of cleaning clothes, without using any water. Instead of immersing clothes in soapy water, a chemical solvent is used to get rid of dirt, grime and deep-set stains.

The majority of dry cleaners use a chemical called Tetrachloroethylene (also known as perc), which is useful for cleaning very intricate and delicate fabrics that would be damaged by being cleaned inside a washing machine or tumble dryer.

At a professional dry cleaners, the clean garments will usually be pressed, to remove any wrinkles, before they are returned to the customer.

What is a substitute for dry cleaning?

When you don’t want to get your clothes professionally dry cleaned, then you will have to look at alternative methods.

So, what is a substitute for dry cleaning?

Here are a few methods you can try:

1. Outsource your laundry to a professional laundry company.

Turning to a professional laundry company is an excellent idea. You can allow the experts to take care of your laundry needs for you, without you having to do the task yourself.

We at Love2Laundry are a professional laundry company, offering services including laundry, dry cleaning, ironing and more!

Simply make an order online on our website, or through our mobile app, and we will collect your dirty laundry for you, and return them sparkling clean- all without you having to leave your home!

For a full list of our services, visit our website here.

2. Wash your clothes in the washing machine – using mesh laundry bags

So, you have decided not to get your clothes dry-cleaned today. Well, one option is to do your laundry yourself.

Before you toss your dirty laundry in your washing machine and tumble dryer, read the care labels on your garments, to make sure they are safe to be cleaned using these appliances.

We all have fragile garments which can tear easily or become damaged when they are machine washed and tumble-dried. For instance, clothes with sequins, intricate embroidery, or rhinestones.

To protect your delicate garments, we recommend investing in zipped mesh laundry bags. These are mesh bags where you can place your delicate items and ‘fine washables, such as lingerie, underwear, swimming costumes, socks and pillowcases.

Simply load your delicate items into the mesh bags, before placing them in the washing machine for a regular wash.

You can wash other fabrics inside a mesh laundry bag, such as lace, athletic wear, wool, silk, denim and velvet.

3. Pre-treat stubborn stains.

We all have those moments where a stain or two has accumulated on a garment, but it hasn’t soiled the outfit altogether. Hence, it doesn’t warrant a trip to the dry cleaners.

In this situation, we recommend pre-treating the stubborn stains, to lift the discolouration and make the outfit ready to wear again.

If the stain is greasy or oily, then sprinkle a small amount of bicarbonate of soda or cornstarch on the stain.

Use a clean cloth or clean brush to work the powder into the stain.

Wait a few minutes- this should hopefully absorb the stain.

4. Hand wash your clothes.

Hand washing is another option for you if you don’t want to get your clothes dry-cleaned.

Start by filling a tub with warm water.
Add soap powder and your dirty garments.
Let the garments soak in the water, swirling them around with your hands, to get rid of the dirt and grime.
Don’t scrub the fabric harshly, as this could damage the fibres.
Rinse and repeat.
Allow the clothes to dry fully, outdoors in the fresh air, or in a well-ventilated spot indoors.
Do not dry wet clothes on a radiator, because the damp environment could encourage the growth of mould and mildew on your clothes.

Avoid hand washing suits, coats and jackets, because the garments could become misshapen, or the colours could fade as a result.

For this reason, it is far better to have these professionally dry-cleaned, because the garments will remain in excellent condition after being cleaned.

5. Visit a launderette.

Finally, you can visit a launderette, if a trip to the dry cleaners isn’t tempting you.

When you visit your local launderette, you can use their washing machines and tumble dryers to get your clothes cleaned.

Make sure to bring plenty of change with you if you are visiting a coin-operated launderette.

You will also have to bring laundry detergent (and fabric softener if you prefer), though some launderettes do provide these at an additional charge.

How do you keep ‘dry clean only’ items clean?

Let’s set the scene: your clothes or soft furnishings have become dirty, but you can’t toss them in the washing machine because the care label says ‘dry clean only’. Oh no! What do you do next?

Follow these hacks below:

Pre-treat stubborn stains by grabbing a clean cloth and dipping it in cold water. Blot the stain gently.
If the water is not enough to lift the stain, then make a cleaning solution of equal parts white vinegar and washing up liquid. Dab a clean cloth in this cleaning solution and then blot it gently on the stain.

Avoid using at-home ‘dry cleaning kits’. Some companies entice customers into buying these products under the false pretext that they will deliver the same results as a professional dry cleaner.
You should be wary of these DIY dry cleaning kits, as they may contain harsh chemicals and fragrances that are harmful to your skin and health.

Use a lint remover and a clothing brush to remove dust, dirt and debris from your clothing- this is a simple but effective hack to extend the life of your ‘dry clean only’ garments.

Use a handheld steamer to add a professional look to your ‘dry clean only’ items. This will remove stubborn wrinkles and creases from your clothing. It is much gentler than using a clothes iron, as the steamer will not make contact with the clothing or scorch the fabric.

Fill a spray bottle with water and a few drops of essential oil, and spray this on your ‘dry clean only’ clothing to kill germs and keep your garment fresh and fragrant!

Where can I find laundry and dry cleaning services?

We at Love2Laundry offer laundry and dry cleaning services, which you can access from your smartphone.

We operate an on-demand laundry service, serving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton and Bury.

We provide a door-to-door service, so we will collect your items, wash, dry and fold or hang them up, and then deliver them straight to your door!

Across London, we also offer ironing services, dry cleaning, linen services, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.

All you have to do is make an order online on our website, or through our mobile app (available for iOS and Android).

You can choose a location and time slot that works for you, and our friendly couriers will collect your laundry items. We will then professionally clean your items and return them to you- all within 24 hours!

Our prices are affordable- for example, our ‘wash, dry, and fold’ package starts from £2.65 per kg.

View the prices on our website here.

We offer a 25% discount on laundry and dry cleaning for all new customers, so, get booking with Love2Laundry today!

How do I pay for my order at Love2Laundry?

At Love2Laundry, we are not your typical launderette. We operate a cashless system, so you will pay for your order via our mobile app or online via our website.

We accept various forms of payment including American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

No more worrying about finding the correct change, or physically dropping off your laundry items- simply input your order with just a click of your fingers, and the rest is up to us!

About Love2Laundry

Love2Laundry is one of the leading laundry service providers in the UK, serving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton, and Bury.

We have an array of services to make your household chores easy for you: we offer laundry and dry cleaning, as well as linen services, ironing, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.

Learn more about Love2Laundry’s dry cleaning and laundry services by visiting our website here.

Download our Love2Laundry app on the Apple App Store here or on Google Play here.

We hope this article has provided the answer to the question, ‘what is a substitute for dry cleaning?’

Check out our blog here to read more articles like this.