I can't believe I made such a rookie mistake when I was shopping at the thrift store recently.
I had been looking for a bedskirt for the guest room. One that wasn't too frilly. One that was burlap-ish in color. One that wouldn't set me back an arm and a leg.
I had been to tons of places, both thrift store and (gasp) regular retail locations and could not find a thing. Just as I was about to stop looking, I finally found this linen one at the local thrift.
And they were having a 50% off sale that day. So instead of the very thrifty $.99 original price, I only paid the super duper thrifty price of $.4950 or however that divides out. Let's just round up to two whole shiny quarters.
I get my score of the year home and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a DRY CLEAN ONLY tag.
The 50% sale had totally blinded me to rule #1 in buying linens at a thrift store. If you have to pay for dry cleaning, it is not a worth it. At all.
Dry cleaning set me back $19.99 on my 50 cent find. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
(No one can ever say I over-stage my photos, because this photo makes me think of a bedroom in a convent. And no, that silver bowl under the stand is not a chamber pot.)
BTW, I paid all that money for the dry cleaning and, after two days on the bed, it's wrinkled?
I did find this little guy for $1.91 the same day at another thrift store. So that took a little bit of my thrifting shame away. Just a little.
Do you say a big fat NO to dry clean only items from thrift stores?
Anonymous
You need to check out Dryel - it's a product to dryclean at home in your clothes dryer - MUCH CHEAPER and works great!
Cheryl in Wisconsin
I use Dryel also.
ThriftDee
I buy Dry Clean Only items at thrift stores and launder them myself. I have had great luck with doing it myself.
Faye
I hate to say it too but I would have hand washed it, I've washed linen before. I also draw designs on primitive linen for my rug hooking patterns and I use the hottest setting with steam and the wrinkles come out super easy. But it is a beautiful bedskirt and I love the little collie dog! Congrats on being the 5 most visited blogs!!!
Object of Maya*ffection
O think I would've taken my chances and washed on delicate and air dried!!
LivingVintage
Oh, I LOVE the collie figurine! Great find!