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?
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.
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.
TARYTERRE
I dry clean when necessary. lovely find. but you're right an expensive price tag.
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.
Marissa
Eeee.. I never pay attention to the tag maybe I should ... so sorry.. I do think its a nice fabric though...
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.
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!
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!!
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.
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
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!!
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.
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
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.
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
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