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?
NanaDiana
Poor girl- Do you know I wash Dry Clean Only items all the time on the gentle cycle with cold water and then line dry? I have yet to ruin anything…but then that size project would have been pretty wrinkled probably. Well, if it you like it-it was worth it, Pam. I think it looks good. ummm…don’t you think you should have a cover on that chamber pot?’>) xo Diana
marty (A Stroll Thru Life)
Oh don’t you hate it when you do things like that. I have washed linen also and it comes out fine if you don’t put it in the dryer. So next time, just wash it. Hugs, Marty
Musings from Kim K.
The only thing that regularly gets to the dry cleaner is Emma’s band uniform. I cheat all the time with items that should be dry cleaned…but nothing that large. Love the quilt on the end of your bed.
Anonymous
like the others I was going to say for $.49 cents it sure would have been worth just throwing in the washer on gentle cycle and give it a go. I wash “dry clean only” all the time. I think they are just making a “suggestion” when they say that!!! kind of like “cover thy rear” type thing. nancy settel
longtodolist
Dry Clean Only – it depends. I, too, have had good luck washing on gentle cycle with Woolite, hanging to dry and touching up with an iron. I figure, if the price is right, it’s worth taking the chance.
DaiseyJayne.com
I never say no to linen which is supposed to wrinkle! That how you know you got the real deal 🙂 But I don’t dry clean I hand wash it and hang dry. I’d say you got the deal of the century, good shopping!!
ChRiS
i use a Lowe’s painters cloth for my bedskirt do to being a rope bed its high off the floor and i refused to pay 100 plus for a bedskirt…i love it
Olive
I would have washed it anyhoo on hand wash in cold water and ironed it. That is what I do. I wash wool, silk and all manner of things that are supposed to be dry cleaned. Occasionally something shrinks but I have little money in it. The only thing I ever get dry cleaned are heavy coats which we hardly wear here. Then, like you, I am horrified at the price.
Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME/Doublewide Decor
I would have just washed and and not put in the dryer. Of course, you would still have to iron it…which in my book is the cost of about 1,999.00 dollars!!
Ellie VanCaster
Don’t be too hard on yourself-I think it happens to all of us at least once. 😉
Isn’t that aggravating to have to dry clean-no I don’t buy dry clean only things anymore-they are not just expensive but a pain in the butt!
Diane
Love that collie figurine! I’m with most of the comments so far– try washing dry clean thrift purchases. You don’t have much to lose. I’ve done it too, and things have come out fine. Besides, I think dry cleaning leaves an odd odor.
Marissa
Eeee.. I never pay attention to the tag maybe I should … so sorry.. I do think its a nice fabric though…
Tys
Oh yes I say booo to all dry cleaning in general. Except for my husbands shirts & suits of course. BUT, I never would of thought to of checked at the thrift store… and then I might of just washed it to see what happened 🙂 Looks good in your space though… maybe some other burlap/linen decor to mask/go with the natural wrinkle that always happens.
TARYTERRE
I dry clean when necessary. lovely find. but you’re right an expensive price tag.
Pam
See, I should have taken Home Ec in high school, I was thinking it would disintegrate if I put it in the washer! The tag says that the platform (under the mattress I assume) is 100% polypropylene and the drop (from mattress to floor) is 70% cotton and 30% linen. You probably can’t tell from the photos, but it looks like the lightweight linen fabric that they make women’s dress pants out of and then as soon as you sit down in them you are wrinkled for the rest of the day. Oh, well, I’ll know next time.
Joanne Noragon
Late chiming in here, but I would have washed it, too. Then regretted no longer owning the Ironrite mangle from my childhood, making it a breeze to iron.
Carlene @ Organized Clutter
I would have tried to wash it anyway. It may have shrunk a little bit. Maybe you will start a new trend “Convent Country”!
GinaE
I say NO to any dry cleaning or anything linen. While I love the look of linen, if I wear it, I look like I just rolled out of bed. If it’s for a home item, it looks like it’s right out of the hamper. No amount of ironing, starch or dry cleaning has ever worked for me with linen, so I just don’t go there, no matter how cheap it might be.
Sandy aka Doris the Great
I buy them but wash them in cold water at home. At 50 cents, you can’t really lose!
AntiqueChase
I think you can wash linen?
Blessed Serendipity
For .50 cents I would of tried to wash the dust ruffle and if it got ruined – oh well….but that’s just me. It does look nice.
Danielle
Jill
I would have tried washing it on delicate and hanging it to dry…
Manuela@A Cultivated Nest
Love the little dog figurine!
No, I normally wash dry clean things on the gentle cycle and hang to dry. At that price I would have taken a chance on washing it in the washer – you didn’t have much money invested since you got it at such a steal.
Heather@Tatter and Fray
I probably would have washed AND machine dried it without even noticing the tag and completely ruined it. Bravo to you for being so observant! I’m sorry you ended up spending so much, but it really looks fabulous!
Jennifer
Have u ever tried dryell? I use it on stuff like that that needs to be drycleaned
Robin
Awwww, so sorry! I’m sure I would have made the same mistake. I must still be a thrifting newbie since I don’t even think to look at the tags at all. Thanks to you, I’m planning to start looking! See, your slip-up has helped a fellow thrifter learn something useful. That should take away any remaining shame you may be feeling after finding that adorable dog figure. LOL
Anonymous
I don’t know what your bedskirt is made of, but there are some fabrics that can still be laundered even though the tag says “dry clean”. I have clothing that I wash without any problems in spite of the “dry clean only” instructions. Just be careful. Do some homework/research first. Frankly, I don’t understand why manufacturers would make bed linens that can only be dry cleaned. It just doesn’t make sense to me.
Melinda
I say no to all things dry cleaning.
Sometimes you can put your washer on the gentle setting and get away with it.
You can also buy home “dry cleaning” products in the store too.
M 🙂
Jane
I’m sure I would have missed the dry clean tag and thrown it in the washer and dryer! I’m not very observant. It looks great in your room, and you made me laugh at your convent comment. When I was in college I worked at a convent over the summers….your room looks much nicer!
Jane
Shabby chic Sandy
I wash dry clean stuff too–and if it doesn’t work your only out 2 shiny quarters 🙂
Maureen
So, now you know we all cheat and wash dry clean only stuff. It is still a reasonable price for what is surely real linen. The wrinkles let you know it’s authentic.
Donna
I love linen. Wash and hang dry and then iron. Linen has a look that I love, and yes it does wrinkle. If you want non wrinkle then something with polyester is for you!
Lesa
If i really wanted it, i wouldn’t regret the dry cleaning…….even tho I too would have probably washed it as so many have indicated. Hey, its linen……took me a while to appreciate the wrinkled look also……PLUS, it looks lovely on the bed. ENJOY
Jackie K.
I’m with you, in general I avoid anything marked dry clean. Even with those at home Dryel products, I just KNOW I’ll 1) forget or 2) never get around to the fussy cleaning things.
Linen, though, I may give it a go, and like others say, drip dry and iron while damp!
melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle
I still think the bedskirt was worth it! How many times have I ever actually washed my bedskirt?! You will probably only have to do that once! Life to the full, Melissa
susie @ persimmon moon cottage
I say Yes to your little collie figurine. It is so cute.
I just never could get along with linen clothing because of the wrinkles. I iron and iron and next thing I know it’s wrinkled. How do you suppose it just wrinkles itself when it is just hanging there being a dust ruffle?
Sir Thrift-A-Lot
I probably would have washed it & ruined it, I never read the tags! At least you found one when you were just about to stop looking – bummer about how it wrinkles. Great original price though.. even before the 50% discount.
Sir Thrift-A-Lot
& just wanted to say, for some reason every thrift store around here marks up dog figurines. Drives me nuts (biggest reason why I’ve never bought one).
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
I never think to look at tags either, so I probably would have wrecked it! It looks beautiful on the bed…and I love the dog, too!
Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky)
I still think it looks good and love the vintage quilt. For fifty cents I would have taken the chance on washing on cold/delicate (I’m not fond of all the chemicals they use in dry cleaning so avoid it as much as possible.)
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!