"Dry clean only" - ways to clean these clothes at home without nasty chemicals

[Cochise]

Ds has some 'dry clean only' trousers which will need regular cleaning - not dirt as such, just, you know, boy trouser freshness issues.

I'm generally cavalier about my own clothes and just stick them in the washing machine on a gentle wash regardless.

Anyone else avoid dry cleaning? I think there are products you can use in a tumble drier to 'freshen up' clothes - any experience please? Or should I just do a wool/gentle wash?

Lakeland do a home dry clean kit which is quite good.

I tend to wash by hand a lot of dry clean stuff. It is almost inevitably fine. Except suiting

Thanks, pag. What happens to the suiting? Ds' trousers are part of a suit.

I'll get the Lakeland kit - have got an order with them to put in anyway.

it really depends on the fabric.

Wool mix suits are too risky, suiting is a bugger to iron anyway and often they are important/expensive

Various friends warned me off trying to handwash silk chiffon (though I'm guessing that's unlikely to be your DS' trouser fabric!).

lol at silk chiffon trews

Yes, he wears them to school...

Cochise's Ds and school chums

I guess it would be a good way to subvert a 'black trousers' rule .

I have to work soooooo hard to keep those silk trousers looking good. I just don't know how other mums manage.

Those boys are really working the look! You must be very proud Cochsie. I had been afraid they were more like this.

pagwatch Oh my GOD who are they?

Well, you see those trews fit in with the 'no loud patterns' requirement. Can't say fairer n that.

no idea panzee
but they are lovely

Re your original question. Dh has some "dry clean only" trousers but because they were modestly priced (i.e. cheap) I kind of totted up in my head that 3-4 lots of dry cleaning would cost me more than the trousers.

Are the trousers lined? Or pure wool? If so then I would probably dry clean them. (lined items tricky to iron as pagwatch says)

If washing them then do on minimum/wool cycle. Or better still handwash, rinse by hand and then put on the slowest possibly spin. Only use a "delicate" detergent. A harsh powder can cause small holes.

Thanks, lolly, for your serious answer to my Q. Too late at night now, but I will take a look at them and check.

Not lined, not wool, hooray! 54% polyester, 44% wool, 2% lycra. I'll do them on a wool cycle with delicate detergent.

But I will also check out the Lakeland dryclean thing.