Paying to Clean Clothes In the Dry Way

Last year about this time I started working in a clothing store in the mall. I used the job and the discount to justify buying a lot of expensive clothes because they were “investment pieces” (not a thing, by the way).

I wanted to be the kind of person that only bought “classic” clothes that would “last” so I bought all these wool pants and skirts and sweaters and also lots of silk (because silk is so durable, you know). I wore the clothes for two months and then decided I should probably have them cleaned so I took them to a place and did that.

I cannot recall how much I paid to retrieve my clothes (my mind is very good at erasing terrible memories). But I retrieved them and wore them some more and then it was summer so I stopped wearing them. Real Simple says that you should get your clothes dry cleaned and then put them away for the summer in a dry place, maybe wrap them in tissue. I did … not do this.

And now winter is coming, and I must decide: Will I clean these clothes again? Will I wear them until I can’t anymore because of stench and coffee stains and wrinkles (I also don’t have an iron) and then just consider them sunk costs? My friend M. says she puts off taking her clothes to the dry cleaners for this very reason but that, “Every so often I’m like, Okay, I just have to spend $150 on dry cleaning. And then I do and then I’m sad.”

Dreadful. This is a terrible place I’ve put myself. I’m only buying cotton, evermore.


Support The Billfold

The Billfold continues to exist thanks to support from our readers. Help us continue to do our work by making a monthly pledge on Patreon or a one-time-only contribution through PayPal.

Comments