Did you know that dry cleaning companies have a deal worked out with clothing companies?  Dry cleaning companies pay clothing companies to put dry clean only on their tags.  Most items even if they say dry clean only don't need to be.

Material such as suede and leather can't get wet so they have to be dry cleaned.  Wool can be washed but hand wash it.  It's the spin cycle that shrinks wool.  Almost everything else can be washed in cold water and mild detergent.  If the tag does say dry clean only the best bet is to air dry.  Lay it flat, hanging can stretch some fabrics. 

If you question an item, look through your clothes that you wash and dry.  If the item is made up of the same materials than it's a good chance that the item can be washed. 

Rayon is a tricky one.  A lot of clothing has rayon in it.  But look at the percentage.  3,5,10% rayon is ok to dry in a dryer.  Anything above 20% should be air dried.  It will shrink.

Washing clothes doesn't need to be so difficult.  Just sort according to color and wash cycle if need be.  I wash according to articles.  I wash all my pants together.  Pants are usually heavier fabrics which can handle faster washing cycles, so any heavy fabrics I wash with my pants.  I wash towels in another load, shirts in another, whites always keep seperate otherwise they will grey.

Check out your labels and compare.  You might find that a lot of those dry clean only items aren't much different than your other clothes.  It could save you quite a bit of time and money.

If this helps read my other guide Simple Stain Removing Tip.

Thanks for reading

Val