Dry Cleaning alternatives

I recently bought a few things from charity shops which need to be dry cleaned. I can't really afford to have them professionally cleaned and I also can't stand the smell of dry cleaned clothes. Is there any way I can wash them at home without damaging them? One item is a black woollen skirt (100% wool) and the other is a 50% wool, 50% manmade black coat. Any ideas?

wmpdd3

With the wool skirt it could shrink and not just all over but it could shrink totally out of shape. With this I would spay lightly with fabrize or fabric conditioner mixed with a little water and hang on the washing line for a few hours.

The coat, you may get away with, but the buttons / trims may not be wash proof, If it was mine, I'd remove the buttons then wash on a wool wash with wool detergent. No spin then dry flat until just damp then hang on a good quality and reshape and let dry completely.

compsys

To be honest I wouldn't risk it. I find that items usually say 'dry cleaning only' for a reason.

I remember putting a lovely silk tie into the washing machine a few years ago on a really delicate cycle, no spin, and with only a tiny bit of washing powder and it came out ruined!

It may not be much consolation if you're genuinely completely skint but normal dry cleaning these days isn't THAT expensive. Yes, if you have a suede jacket or a leather jacket that needs special treatment it can be quite pricey, but if you have an item that doesn't need any particular special care then I find dry cleaning prices reasonable enough.

You'll kill yourself if you try to save a few bob by washing your items and they come out ruined....

It's not just the money, but the awful smell......I remember getting my school blazers dry cleaned and I couldn't stand the smell which seemed to last months and months. I think I might get the skirt dry cleaned, as I found out it's only about a fiver and I wouldn't really be able to smell it, but not sure about the coat. It is only from Penneys originally, so it's not expensive or valuable (and it only cost me a fiver from the charity shop), but it's cute and warm enough that I don't want to wreck it.

I wouldn't put it in the washing machine, as I only have normal cycles which are too rough/hot, but I was thinking of trying to handwash it in the bath or something, in cold water and handwash detergent. Bad idea?

wmpdd3

I'd say that was a worse idea because you have to beat the water outta it.

Newer machines than mine have handwash or baby wash cycles that bearly wek the stuff, try that.

I agree with silk, I'd never risk it. I once left a top on the washing line to air and it rained and it was ruined....