Taking clothes to the dry cleaners can be expensive. But what else can you do for those clothes that are “dry-clean only”?
Well, there are a few amazing home dry cleaning kits on the market, and we’re here to recommend you the best five. All you need is a tumble dryer. The kits do the rest!
After hours of researching expert advice, various products, and what real customers had to say, we put together this handy list. Ensuring to study each product’s purpose, method, and formula, we’re confident you’ll find one that works for your garments.
- No shrinking, stretching or fading
- Includes stain remover wipes
- Removes odors, stains & wrinkles
No products found.
- Works in as little as 15 minutes
- Biodegradable cleaning agents
- Lifts away soils & odors
- Safe four action formula
- Works on upholstery & carpets
- It’s easy to use
- Quick three-step process
- Works on most fabrics
- Removes tough odors
- Removes odors & small stains
- Gentle cleaning power
- Works in 20 minutes
The Best Home Dry Cleaning Kits of 2024
We’ve spent hours researching these products, real customer reviews as well as applying our own insight. After looking at each product’s purpose, toxicity, and value, we put together a list of five fantastic home dry cleaning kits.
Here are our five favorites!
Woolite At Home Dry Cleaner Kit
Best for Curtains
As long as you can take your curtains down from the rod, then the Woolite At Home Dry Cleaner kit will be great!
This product can clean anything except fur, leather, suede, and velvet. But this works wonders for your tricky-to-clean things — like curtains, tablecloths, blankets, and stuffed animals.
It will remove odors, stains, and wrinkles. So when you open the dryer afterward, you’ll be impressed by the results!
Plus, you can wear the garment right away. If it’s still a bit wrinkly, iron it immediately, hang it up to completely dry, and then wear it.
Pros
- Cleaning technology without harsh chemicals.
- No shrinking, stretching, or fading.
- Includes stain remover wipes.
- Removes odors, stains, and wrinkles.
- Only takes 20 minutes to use.
- Safe to use on most fabrics.
Cons
- Doesn’t clean as thoroughly as other products.
- Scent can be overwhelming.
- Not suitable for fur, leather, suede, or velvet.
Product Specs
| Best for | Curtains and other hard-to-clean products, as well as most clothes |
| Toxicity | Without harsh chemicals |
| Eco-Friendly | Uses biodegradable cleaners |
| Fragrance | Breezy clean scent |
| No. of Sheets | Six sheets, up to 30 garments |
Our Ratings
Dryel At-Home Dry Cleaner Starter Kit
Best Kit for Clothes
For your clothes, we recommend the dryel At-Home Dry Cleaner Starter Kit. It’s great for any garment that says “dry clean only,” including dresses, suits, sweaters, blouses, jeans, delicates, wool, and even cashmere.
Even better, it prevents fading, shrinking, and stretching. If you’re scarred from the time you shrunk your favorite sweater, you don’t have to worry about that with this product.
Lastly, it comes with a stain remover pen so you can pre-treat stains before beginning the process. It also comes with an odor and wrinkle releaser, which can help get your clothes to the best standard possible.
Pros
- Works in as little as 15 minutes.
- Biodegradable cleaning agents.
- Lifts away soils and odors and leaves a clean scent behind.
- Saves up to 90 percent of dry cleaning costs.
- Suitable for all types of clothing.
- Prevents fading, shrinking, and stretching.
Cons
- Not suitable for leather, fur, suede, or velvet.
- Only cleans four loads per product.
Product Specs
| Best for | Dry clean only clothes, besides silk and leather |
| Toxicity | Without harsh chemicals |
| Eco-Friendly | Uses biodegradable cleaners |
| Fragrance | Breezy clean scent |
| No. of Sheets | Four sheets, up to 20 garments |
Our Ratings
Woolite Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Best for Upholstery
While this isn’t technically a dry cleaning kit, we wanted to recommend you a product for upholstery. So instead of hiring someone to clean your furniture professionally, you can just use the Woolite Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner.
This product has four purposes: cleaning, eliminating odors, preventing re-soiling in the same area, and refreshing. It also has superb stain-lifting technology for removing urine, vomit, mud, and feces — music to pet owners’ ears everywhere!
This product is safe for pets, kids, and the environment, so you can sit back and relax after using this in your home. It works on upholstery, carpets, car interiors, and rugs. Once you’ve used this, you’ll notice that your home looks and smells cleaner than ever.
Something To Note
Pros
- Four action formula: cleans, deodorizes, deters pets, and refreshes.
- Safe for kids, pets, and the environment.
- Works on upholstery, carpets, rugs, and car interior.
- It’s easy to use.
- Built-in brush removes embedded stains.
- Tough on organic matter stains, like vomit or urine.
Cons
- It can’t get out every stain.
- It makes a mess while you’re using it, getting all over your hands.
Product Specs
| Best for | Upholstery, rugs, carpets, and car interior |
| Toxicity | Safe for kids and pets, but we recommend avoiding it if you have asthma, allergies, or respiratory issues (1) |
| Eco-Friendly | Contains dimethicone which can impact plant and aquatic life (2) |
| Fragrance | Fresh scent |
| No. of Sheets | Four pack, total of 48 ounces |
Our Ratings
Dryel At-Home Mega Dry Cleaner Starter Kit
Best for Suits
You might love taking your suits to the dry cleaners, but sometimes it’s a lengthy and expensive process. With the Dryel At-Home dry cleaner starter kit, you can get a fresh, clean suit in, well, 15 minutes! Plus, you’ll save money.
Your clothes will come out the other end clean and fresh. In fact, if odors are an issue, then this is a fantastic product. It contains a stain-removal liquid pen and an odor-removal spray.
It works on all garments and fabrics except for fur, leather, velvet, and suede. But all other materials? Jackpot!
Pros
- Three-step quick process.
- Great value for money.
- Works on most fabrics.
- Removes tough odors.
- Included spray and stain pen to remove odors and stains.
- Prevents shrinking, stretching, and fading.
Cons
- Some customers don’t like the smell.
- Not suitable for fur, leather, velvet, or suede.
- The zippers on the bags break easily.
Product Specs
| Best for | All fabrics, apart from fur, leather, and velvet |
| Toxicity | Unknown as specific ingredients aren’t listed |
| Eco-Friendly | Environmentally safe |
| Fragrance | Clean scent |
| No. of Sheets | 14 sheets, up to 70 garments |
Our Ratings
Woolite Dry Cleaner's Secret Dry Cleaning
Best Kit for Comforters
If you have bedding that says “dry clean only,” we recommend trying the Woolite Dry Cleaner’s Secret Dry Cleaning kit.
As long as the products don’t contain fur, suede, leather, or velvet — this will work on your comforters.
First, you’ll need to spot-treat stains. Then toss the comforter into the dryer with a cloth, and within 20 minutes, it’ll be clean and deodorized. It’s just that easy!
Warning
Pros
- Removes odors and minor stains.
- Clothes are ready to wear immediately. No need to iron.
- Gentle cleaning power.
- Works in 20 minutes.
- Maintains the crease in slacks.
- Leaves behind a nice, fresh scent.
Cons
- Not approved by the FDA, and it wears down fire retardant finishes.
- Some customers couldn’t smell the fragrance.
Product Specs
| Best for | Any garments except for suede, fur, velvet, or leather |
| Toxicity | Toxic levels and side effects if used improperly. Keep away from children and pets. |
| Eco-Friendly | No |
| Fragrance | Fresh scent |
| No. of Sheets | Six sheets, 24 garments total |
Our Ratings
| Product | Best | Suitable for | Eco-Friendly | Fragrance | No. of Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woolite At Home Dry Cleaner Kit | For Curtains | Curtains & other hard-to-clean products | Yes | Breezy clean scent | 6 |
| Dryel At-Home Dry Cleaner Starter Kit | Kit for Clothes | Dry clean clothes, not for silk & leather | Yes | Breezy clean scent | 4 |
| Woolite Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner | For Upholstery | Upholstery, rugs, carpets & car interior | No | Fresh scent | 4-pack (48 ounces) |
| Dryel Starter Kit | For Suits | All fabrics, except fur, leather, velvet | N/A | Clean scent | 14 |
| Woolite Dry Cleaner’s Secret Dry Cleaning | Kit for Comforters | Any fabrics except suede, fur, velvet, leather | No | Fresh scent | 6 |
Can Dry Cleaning Be Done at Home?
As long as you have a tumble dryer, yes! When you choose your dry cleaning kit, make sure you read the packaging instructions thoroughly. This will leave you with the best results and clothes that are ready to be worn straight away.
How Do Home Dry Cleaning Kits Work?
With home dry cleaning kits in general, you’ll follow a few steps.
First, you’ll likely spot-treat stains using the included stain remover and pads. You’ll then put the garments into a dryer bag with a moist towel that has been pre-treated with the dry cleaning solution.
The heat will activate the solution when you put the bag into the tumble dryer. On a medium or high heat for 30 minutes, your clothes will get clean and be ready to wear.
Are Home Dry Cleaning Kits Right for You?
If you’re wondering whether home dry cleaning kits are for you, let’s recap some pros and cons.
Pros
- Save money: You save money on dry cleaning. In fact, some dry cleaning kits come in at only $0.35 per garment, which is significantly cheaper than taking it to the dry cleaners.
- Not time-consuming: It only takes 30 minutes or so! When you take your clothes to the dry cleaners, it can be a while before you get them back. But with this method, the job is done and dusted pretty quickly.
- They clean clothes well: Home dry cleaning kits clean clothes, remove stains, and eliminate foul odors. So you’ll be wearing fresh and clean clothes again in no time.
- Great for delicates: It’s important to take care of wool sweaters, blouses, and cashmere items — and with some home dry cleaning kits, you can do just that.
Cons
- Not for heavy stains: Unfortunately, home dry cleaning kits aren’t great for removing heavy stains, especially if they’re grease or grime based. You can try to remove these beforehand using oxygen bleach or another alternative. But the dry cleaning kit itself isn’t great at doing this.
- Overpowering scents: Some home dry cleaning kits have strong smells. The chemical solvents used in some cleaning kits, or the added fragrance, can be overpowering.
- You still need to iron: Some kits can remove wrinkles. But others don’t. So don’t expect your clothes to come out of the dryer looking crisp and professional like they would from the dry cleaners. We recommend ironing the garment without steam while they’re still damp to get a wrinkle-free finish.
Warning
Choosing the Best Home Dry Cleaning Kit
Consider these important factors when shopping for your home dry cleaning kit.
Efficiency
The efficiency of a product will depend on what you need it for. We’ve broken down the dry cleaning kits into categories so you can find the best one for you. Whether you need a kit for clothes, suits, curtains, upholstery, or comforters, there’s one for you.
Make sure to consider the material of your garment and whether the product works with it.
Eco-Friendly
If you prioritize choosing green products, you might prefer to skip to our “eco-friendly alternatives” section. Although some of our top five picks are environmentally safe, they still include chemicals to do the cleaning. It’s down to personal preference how natural you want to go.
Toxicity
Dry cleaners use harsh chemicals to clean your clothes. If you choose a home dry cleaning kit, they will definitely be kinder on your clothes and skin. But this varies from product to product.
We’ll let you know the risks of each product as we go.
Fragrance
Many dry cleaning kits have an added fragrance. We’ll let you know the fragrance of each product. Definitely choose one you like the sound of so that when you wear your fresh, clean clothes, you enjoy the smell, too.
Budget
Overall, home dry cleaning kits are much cheaper than going to the dry cleaners. But they still come in a range of prices. Look closely at the listings to see the prices before you buy.
FAQs
Does Home Dry Cleaning Really Clean?
Home dry cleaning kits are well-loved by customers! The effectiveness depends on what product you choose. Some are better for deodorizing rather than deep cleaning your garments.
If you feel the clothes aren’t getting cleaned as well, you can always take them to the dry cleaners in between using these at-home kits.
What Happens If You Wash Something That Is Dry Clean Only?
The secret is: if the care label says dry clean only, there is still a good chance that it’s safe to wash at home. Manufacturers have to advise this to encourage you to protect the clothes. Plus, if you ruin the clothes at home, you’re probably less likely to buy from that brand again.
But if the fabric is made from natural fibers such as cashmere or wool, it does not need to be dry cleaned.
The only fabrics that must be dry-cleaned are suede, velvet, leather, fur, and embellished clothing.
Always follow instructions carefully if using a dry cleaning kit or making a DIY solution. Spot test where you can to make sure there are no adverse effects.
Is There an Alternative To Dry Cleaning?
Yes. But we recommend testing an inconspicuous area first or contacting the garment manufacturer for their advice.
But you can definitely try handwashing the garment. Make sure always to use a mild detergent and cool water. Always handle the garments gently and never wring, squeeze or squish the fabric.
You can also try the delicate cycle on your dryer. This will be more gentle than other cycles. Always make sure to use a mild laundry detergent so that you treat the fabric with extra care.
Lastly, steam cleaning is a good way to dry clean products. Put the garment in the dryer with a damp towel.
Run the machine for 30 minutes and let the steam lift dirt and soil from the fabrics. This is especially good for non-wool, silk, or rayon clothes.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives for Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaners use harsh chemicals, and many dry cleaning kits also have environmental or toxicity concerns.
So, if you’re looking for alternatives, check out this list:
- Use a garment steamer: These can eliminate wrinkles and odors, as well as clean your clothes. They are gentle on fabrics and work for most materials. All it takes is water — so no harsh chemicals whatsoever.
- Brush your clothes: You can get rid of surface-level dirt and soil with a clothes brush. You can also remove lint. Basically, freshen up your clothes without the hassle of dry cleaning.
- Go to eco-friendly dry cleaners: More and more places are adopting progressive techniques for cleaning clothes. Search for eco-friendly dry cleaners in your area which can clean your clothes the green way.
What Fabrics Should Not Be Dry Cleaned?
Several fabrics should not be dry cleaned, including wool, cashmere, polyester, cotton, and other materials containing polyurethanes and PVC.
Can I Use a Steamer on Dry-Clean-Only?
You can use a steamer on dry-clean-only clothes, provided they are only lightly soiled. Steaming can extend the number of times you wear the garment and keeps it smelling fresh.
How Many Times Can You Use a Dryel Bag?
You can reuse a Dryel bag as many times as you want. Fill it with a maximum of five items at a time and replace the cleaning cloths with each load.
Is Dryel Safe for Suits?
Dryel is safe for suits because it protects the fabric from the dryer’s heat and traps enough moisture to penetrate the fibers and clean them. It also reduces wrinkles.
