Leather, acetate fibers, or suede are textile materials that you should never put in the washing machine if you don’t want them to get damaged. To help garments made from these fabrics last much longer and retain their original appearance, most manufacturers put dry cleaning instructions on their labels. If you are still not sure how to carry out this process, be sure to read the following OneHowTo.com article. On this occasion, we will explain how to dry clean a coat, one of the most delicate and difficult items of clothing to wash. Do you want to know more? Pay attention and discover the best methods for successful dry cleaning.
Steps to follow:
Step: 1
First of all, to dry clean your coat you must carefully observe its label. This is important to know both the material it is made of and to discover the best way to wash it without damaging it: If the coat is made of wool, silk, or cotton, the most recommended option will be to clean it by hand gently.
If it is made of leather, feathers, fur, or other similar materials or fragile fabrics, it is best to take it directly to a professional dry cleaner, who will dry clean it with the most appropriate products.
Step: 2
To dry clean and by hand, you should mix cold water with soap in a bucket. We recommend using a mild detergent to contribute to a non-aggressive wash for the material. Stir the mixture until it foams a little before inserting the coat.
Attention! The water should always be cold, never use hot water to dry clean as the fibers of the fabrics can be further damaged and even shrink.
Step: 3
Next, completely submerge the garment in the basin filled with cold water and mild detergent. Then lift it up and dip it back down. Repeat the movement a few times. If you notice that there is a dirtier area of the coat, such as the neck, gently rub the area with your fingertips. Once the dirt is well removed, rinse the coat with cold water. To do so, you can plunge it into another bucket of cold water repeatedly, until no soap comes out.
Step: 4
To remove all the accumulation of water, you will have to spread the coat on a towel. Roll it inside and squeeze gently so the towel absorbs any excess water. Do this with different towels, repeating the movement approximately 3 to 5 times, until the coat no longer drips water. Of course, try not to squeeze the garment, as you could damage the fabric. You must squeeze gently and delicately. Lastly, spread the coat out on a flat surface and let it dry.
Step: 5
If hand washing isn’t your thing, we recommend cleaning your coat in the washing machine using a gentle cycle. Before starting the machine wash, you should make sure that your coat can be put in the washing machine without damaging the fabric. Generally, cotton, linen or polyester are materials that can be machine-washed.
Step: 6
Once you have checked the label on your coat and it is feasible to machine wash it, you should program a gentle wash cycle that uses cold water and also add a mild detergent to preserve the fibers of the fabric. Once the wash cycle is complete, remove the coat and hang it on a hanger to air dry. Fast and effective.
Step: 7
Finally, we recommend you get a dry cleaning kit that you will find in supermarkets. Normally these kits incorporate stain removers that do not damage fabrics, as well as bags to dry clean. You can try cleaning your coat using this method if it is made of silk or polyester, as long as they are not heavily stained. In case the dirt is very encrusted, the ideal will be to take the coat to the dry cleaner.
Step: 8
If you finally use the kit, the first thing you should do is apply the remover to the stain to soften the dirt and thus remove it more quickly. We recommend that you always test the product on a small area of the material to ensure that it will not damage it. In case the stains are very big, do not try to use the dry cleaning kit, since it will be much more work for you. Ideally, take it directly to the dry cleaner.
Step: 9
Once you have applied the remover to the stain, place the coat inside the bag and add the dry cleaning sheet that you will find in the kit. This sheet will give off perfume and also moisture that will help to freshen and clean the coat during washing.
Next, place the bag with the coat in the dryer and start a gentle cycle, with low heat. When the program is finished, remove the coat from the bag and hang it on a hanger to air out and finish drying completely.
Step: 10
Remember that if you find that you are unable to dry clean your coat and you are afraid of damaging the material, it is best to take it directly to a dry cleaner where professionals will leave your coat spotless, treating it with the most appropriate products.
Tags: How to dry clean, How to dry clean a coat
