Tip of the Day: How to cut your dry-cleaning costs

My latest bill from the cleaner (right) showed a $1.50 per-item hike for pants and sweaters. It turns out that the cost of wire hangers is largely to blame for the new price. Considering how much laundry my family can generate, I've decided to look for some ways to cut my clothes-cleaning costs.

When I worked as a sportswriter, I used to steam up hotel bathrooms and hang my shirts in there to dewrinkle them.
But I'm not on the road anymore. What's more, notes Chris Allsbrooks, a textile analyst at the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute. "Hanging clothes in the bathroom to remove wrinkles doesn't work as well as it once did, since American bathrooms have gotten much larger."

High-tech appliances might be a viable way to cut my costs. But our tests of steam-equipped washers and dryers have shown that these machines are unlikely to replace dry cleaners anytime soon.

However, we did get good results when we checked out the Whirlpool Fabric Freshener, $215, a couple of years ago. This appliance uses a pop-up steam chamber the size of a large garment bag to remove wrinkles and odors from clothes. We filled it with several rumpled dress shirts and other cotton items steeped in cigarette smoke and a cooking concoction of cumin, garlic, and clove. After we added the recommended amount of distilled water and waited about 40 minutes, the shirts emerged relatively wrinkle free, and the load smelled laundry fresh. Whirlpool is offering all shoppers a $40 discount on this device; use the code BZZ40 if you buy off the Fabric Freshener Web site.

A more labor-intensive approach to get my clothes clean for less would be to wash and iron them myself. These tips for effective ironing should make the task easier. Our report on irons reveals a number of capable models starting at $40 that combined performance and ease of use.

Another reason to consider the DIY route is that you can eliminate harsh chemicals; most American dry cleaners use the cleaning solvent perchloroethylene, or perc, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Perc has been linked to liver and kidney damage in animals and nerve damage in humans and is considered a carcinogen. Last year, California began a phaseout of perc in dry cleaning that should conclude by 2023. Read "A Perc You Can Do Without" for more information.

Choosing clothes designed to be wrinkle free could also help me cut down on dry-cleaning expenses. Our tests of permanent-press dress shirts revealed some good performers.

So I'll have to make some simple changes to look spiffy while being thrifty, but they should be worth it. Share your own ways to cut cleaning bills by leaving a comment below or on our laundry and cleaning forum.—Gian Trotta

Essential Information: "Making Laundry Less of a Chore" offers ways to clean your wardrobe.