How do I get a sweaty smell out of a dry clean only item?!

[reddaisy]

What a lovely post! I have got a silk dress that is a bit whiffy after wearing it to a wedding on a very hot say. I don't want to have to dry clean it to save money and I may never wear it again. It isn't very windy here so even though it is on the line it might not be any fresher at the end of the day. I am reluctant to febreze it in case it stains. Help!

hot day not say!

Try spraying it with a bit of Febreeze (sp?) and then hanging it out to be aired.

I have used dry cleaning sheets in the past which you put in the tumble drier with the clothing item, not sure if they still sell them. These days I wash dry clean only things on a hand wash cycle in the machine and drip dry on the line, I've never had any problems, might be worth a go, especially since you aren't planning to wear the dress again.

A few years ago I gave up using dry cleaners as the only one in a 10 mile radius is an expensive chain who damaged some of our clothes and gave away my husbands tails....

I bought a steamer for around £70 and it has been a brilliant buy. It cleans, irons, deodorises and as these thieves were charging us around £20 to dry clean one of my hubby's suits, paid for itself in no time at all.

Steam certainly won't stain your lovely dress. Does your iron have a steam shot?

The other thing we do on tour is hang our concert clothes (we're both classical musicians, so lots of "fancy" clothes) in the hotel bathrooms, close the door and run the hot tap to create a lovely steam room. Takes out the smell as well as the creases.

Hope this helps.

Febreeze shouldnt stain it, i put it on my suede curtains and they were fine

I had some really useful advice on this thread with a dress I couldn't afford to dry clean.

It worked btw.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1502151-Do-I-REALLY-need-to-dry-clean

I don't know if it would work on a dry clean only item (perhaps do a sample test on the fabric first), but if you soak a piece of clothing in white vinegar and then wash it the smell comes out.

Alot of silk items say dry clean only but in fact are perfectly washable. Unless there are linings involved and unless it is a georgette then you could probably wash it. I have always washed silk and the only problem has been loss of colour.
I have also found that pure silk can take a hot iron.

Thanks everyone. I am going to try steaming it in the bathroom and with the irom and I will see how I get on. I would love to buy a steam cleaner but that will have to wait a while.

Good luck reddaisy. Just to say, I completely second what fiftyval was saying. A few years ago I washed my wedding dress in our bath tub with Ecover delicate wash, then hung out on the line. As fiftyval says, check the label. My wedding dress was only silk and chiffon - came up a treat! The dry cleaners quoted me £230....