We’ve all seen it — the “dry clean only tag” on an item of clothing. And we’ve all probably had a similar thought: “Do I really need to take that seriously?” Sometimes it can be hard to tell what should be dry cleaned, and what can handle being tossed in with your regular laundry.

The good news is that “dry clean only tag” doesn’t mean you have to add an extra errand to your day anymore. Our dry cleaners in San Diego can pick up whatever you have that requires dry cleaning, along with your regular laundry, and return it to you properly cleaned.

So what types of clothes should be dry cleaned?

• Silks
• Suits
• Leathers and suedes
• Rayon
• Clothing with embellishments
• Anything with intense or set-in stains
• Items with pleating 
• Pieces that have a lining

Read on to learn why it’s important to let our San Diego dry cleaning team tackle these items.

Silks

Silk is incredibly delicate, so it requires careful cleaning. While you can hand-wash some silks at home, darker-dyed silks can bleed and stain other materials, so it’s a good idea to it to the pros.

Suits

You can handle small spot treatments or refreshes at home, but when your suits need a full cleaning, be sure to have them dry cleaned. Professional dry cleaners can ensure they’ll keep their shape and last longer than if you washed them yourself.

Leathers and suedes

These delicate materials have the potential to crack, shrivel, and even shrink in your typical home washers and dryers. To make sure you get years of wear out of your favorite jacket, bring it to a dry cleaner.

Rayon

While you can wash most durable synthetic fabrics at home with your regular laundry, avoid washing anything made with Rayon yourself. Rayon can shrink or deform in a typical washing machine, so you’ll want to have it dry cleaned instead.

Clothing with embellishments

If you’ve ever tried to wash a shirt that has sequins or beading on it, you know how easy it is for the embellishments to snag or rip in the wash. Have it dry cleaned instead and preserve your clothes’ dazzling details!

Anything with intense or set-in stains

If your items have widespread stains or stains that have set in for more than a few days, it may be time to call in professional reinforcements. Dry cleaners have access to powerful cleaning tools that can work their magic on intense stains better than traditional washing machines and detergent can.

Items with pleating

Most pleated details are created with heat and will lose their definition with time and improper washing. Dry cleaning can ensure your pleated items stay crisp, and revive fading folds with re-pleating tools.

Pieces that have a lining

This is often considered the number one rule of dry cleaning: if your item has an inner lining (think jackets, formal dresses, skirts, etc.), it should be dry cleaned. Traditional washing can damage these linings, so it’s best to let the pros handle it.

If you have items that need dry cleaning in the San Diego area, schedule a pick up with us today! We’ll pick up your items from your home or office, dry clean them using our environmentally-friendly methods, and drop them back off. You don’t even need to be there when we stop by — our LNDRY Team Member will handle the pick up and drop off for you!

For more information about our San Diego dry cleaning services and prices, click here.