Save Money and Buy Low Maintenance Clothes
Choosing a Wardrobe that Doesn’t Require Dry Cleaning or Ironing
Aug 12, 2008
You spend enough on clothes. You don't want to add to your bill by having to cart your shirts to the dry cleaner and invest in an iron to keep them wrinkle-free.
You see a cute sweater in the sale bin at your local department store. What do you do first, hold it up to see if the color goes with your eyes? WRONG! Check the label to make sure it (a) won’t wrinkle up like a prune, and (b) force you to take out a second mortgage just to finance trips to the dry cleaner.
How to Choose a Wardrobe that Does not Require Dry Cleaning or Ironing:
- Make sure the label does not say "dry clean only." Even that is not a complete deal breaker. You can get away with washing some "dry clean only" clothes in the gentle cycle with Woolite or a similar product. But only try this if you absolutely love the garment and the price is right. And beware: the clothing may not look the same when it comes out of the wash, as it did on the store hanger. Also, try dry-clean-at-home sheets. They may not do the same job as the professional down the street, but those products are getting better all the time. One box of Dry Cleaner’s Secret will clean 50 garments for around $20. It is available at Amazon and many drug stores.
- Stay away from 100% cotton. Even that rule is not hard and fast. Many manufacturers are producing fabrics that are much more wrinkle-resistant than they were even five years ago. But if you must have a shirt that is all cotton, take a look at the care tag. If you see the word "iron" anywhere, drop the shirt and move on. Even "light ironing recommended" is not a good sign. No matter how cute that top is, you probably won’t end up wearing it because you know every time you do, you’ll have to break out the ironing board.
- Steer clear of cashmere, silk and 100% wool. Most of these items are not machine washable and have no place in your care-free wardrobe. Unless you have a special event where these materials are must-have, don’t waste your time or money. There are a lot of synthetics that look an awful lot like silk.
These days, casual isn’t just for Fridays anymore. You can get away with maintenance-free comfortable clothing that is as affordable as it is cute and carefree. You can even find some jackets that are machine washable. Still can’t live without the dry cleaner? You can save money on dry cleaning if you take advantage of coupons.
The copyright of the article Save Money and Buy Low Maintenance Clothes in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Save Money and Buy Low Maintenance Clothes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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