Dry Cleaners

[azsnowman]

Just curious, how often do you use the dry cleaners? I have to have *some* of my uniforms dry cleaned and then, I have 'em STARCH the HADES out of 'em, I LOVE a CRISP uniform, you know the kind, the shirt and pants, when taken off, will literally stand up on their OWN

Dennis

[Miss Mary]

Hardly ever!

We drip dry over 50% of our laundry now and hand wash all sweaters. I may have a black tie type dress dry cleaned or a suit for Jim. But we both dress very casual and rarely have a formal function to attend.

When I was growing up, everyone used a dry cleaners. Mom's sent out all sorts of things - drapes, rugs, suits, dress shirts.

Things have changed haven't they?

Mary

[Janice]

My husband travels a lot, he is gone now for two weeks in Japan and China. All his slacks, sport jacket and golf shorts are sent to the dry cleaners to look crisp. When he is home, we do not send his clothes to the cleaners. He wears Docker type pants to work and lab coats. So, the only time we take clothes to the cleaners is when he gets his sport jacket and pants cleaned, clothes for vacations and cruises, party clothes, tux. Only travel clothes and meetings for John are sent.
I wash, iron and starch all his work clothes. I do not work outside the home, so find it silly to send washables to the cleaners. And, I think the cleaners are hard on clothes.

[Skywatch_NC]

My paternal great grandfather had operated a dry cleaners in an IN city where my Dad grew up and my Dad has told me a story that one time he and a friend went to the cleaners and standing on some kind of platform stuck out their necks and breathed in some fumes from a chemical vat as he says just for some kicks! Well, grandpa came over and caught 'em and gave 'em a lecture about that!!

Eric

[streetsoldier]

Just curious, how often do you use the dry cleaners? I have to have *some* of my uniforms dry cleaned and then, I have 'em STARCH the HADES out of 'em, I LOVE a CRISP uniform, you know the kind, the shirt and pants, when taken off, will literally stand up on their OWN

Dennis

My uniforms (with the exception of the cold-weather gear) were always "perm-press"; yet, I starched them (while still wet) and ironed them flat and stiff myself...just as I always "spit-shined" my shoes and belt equipment, and polished my brass buttons/snaps.

Only my dress jacket and trousers (wool) and my cold wx jacket had to go to the cleaners, and I was never happy with how these came back.

There's a certain "professional" look, and I know exactly where you're coming from...but I did it myself.

[azsnowman]

Just curious, how often do you use the dry cleaners? I have to have *some* of my uniforms dry cleaned and then, I have 'em STARCH the HADES out of 'em, I LOVE a CRISP uniform, you know the kind, the shirt and pants, when taken off, will literally stand up on their OWN

Dennis

My uniforms (with the exception of the cold-weather gear) were always "perm-press"; yet, I starched them (while still wet) and ironed them flat and stiff myself...just as I always "spit-shined" my shoes and belt equipment, and polished my brass buttons/snaps.

Only my dress jacket and trousers (wool) and my cold wx jacket had to go to the cleaners, and I was never happy with how these came back.

There's a certain "professional" look, and I know exactly where you're coming from...but I did it myself.

ABSOULETLY....the "profressional look" High and TIGHT hair cut, uniform so starched that if someone rubs up against the creases, they'll CUT THEMSELVES I do mine *sometimes* but when your clothes are MY SIZE...it takes 2 HOURS just to iron the SHIRT! 22" neck, 56" chest.....I mean, Omar the Tent Maker makes ALL my clothes!

Dennis

[gtalum]

I have two suits, and probably take them to the cleaners every other month.

[wxcrazytwo]

twice a week, $120/wk, and they have to stand on their own, nice and crisp and starched like plastic...

[Dee Bee]

My husband wears a long-sleeved dress shirt + business suit to work every day (and has evening business meetings on the average of 3 nights per week, so add more dress shirts). Of course, the suits + ties need dry cleaning. And about 10 years into his career when I was juggling 3 part-time teaching jobs and a toddler, I decided sending his dress shirts out was a capital idea....

I have a "stable" of blazer-type jackets which I rotate wearing to classes three times per week and to church or "nicer" restaurants. I have a few pairs of dress pants and blouses which are dry clean only, but try to buy mostly machine-washables. We also have a few business formal dinners per year: his tux and my dresses must be dry-cleaned.

Thankfully, the only sweaters I need down here in SoFla are cotton, which I can launder on the delicate cycle and block dry (although Kurt's few are XL and usually sent out, as well). I do have a dry-cleanable boiled wool sweater/jacket and a stroller trench coat for winter weather.

And, yes, those dress shirts are ordered extra crisp!

[stormie_skies]

Once a week....most of my work clothes (suits, dress shirts etc.) need to be dry cleaned. (Sometimes I can go two weeks or more, but only cuz I am a clothes horse and will find creative ways to go weeks and weeks without wearing the same thing twice ) But yeah, once a week. When I remember.

[breeze]

Absolutely NEVER. I don't buy anything that needs dry-cleaning.
I'd rather have that fresh-washed smell and softness of the material.
I iron my outfit, every morning, before work, while my caffeine is
kicking in!

[arkess7]

me never........but my husband has to get his work shirts done.......hes a manager so they have to look professional.......i wash his pants but he uses the dry cleaners for his shirts........i am not very good at ironing ......thank god he does go to the cleaners though or i would be up to my neck in his work clothes!!!

[O Town]

Not to much anymore, maybe some sweaters here and there. I used to work in the cleaners pressing all those uniforms. Paid well but hot as heck in there. Ugggg. When I worked there I used them alot more because of coarse it was free. I try not to buy things that say Dry Clean only on them. And living in Florida being a stay at home mom shorts and T's are the norm. Any my husband builds pools so no ironing needed there. If something needs ironed I just do it myself.

[Kim_in_MN]

Rarely - maybe 1 - 2 items a year. I have found that some of the things that state "dry clean only" can actually be handwashed or put in the washer on the gentle cycle. I tried this a couple of weeks ago with a dress, thought I had ruined it, but once it hung dry it looked good as new (of course, it is on of those fabrics that is supposed to look a little wrinkled LOL). Not only saves money, but I prefer not to get near dry cleaning chemicals if I can avoid it - I have very sensitive skin, and some of the stuff they use is very irritating.

Kim

[O Town]

I have found that some of the things that state "dry clean only" can actually be handwashed or put in the washer on the gentle cycle

Yes Kim. Like I said I worked at a cleaners for about 5 years, and alot of things that had water stains on them, they would wash and hang dry, or if it had a really bad oder. Water doesnt come out in dry cleaning only water will take out water. And the smells don't come out well with dry cleaning either. Alot of times the customers never knew, they were just happy their stuff was clean. I know the type of dress you are talking about too. But yea alot of times you can hand wash and hang dry. Only a few things really have to be dry cleaned as the tag states.