How Often Do You Really Need to Dry Clean Your Clothing?

One question: When was the last time you took your clothes to get dry cleaned? Admittedly, I tend to wait until my garment bag is stuffed to the brim, and often consider it one of my low-priority chores. After letting my dry cleaning pile up a bit too high this month, I reached out to Rechelle Balanzat, founder and CEO of Juliette, a professional laundry and dry cleaning service in New York City. 

“Think of dry cleaning as garment care, not just a chore,” she says. “When you invest in professional cleaning, your clothes last longer, look sharper, and save you from last-minute panic when you need something polished to wear.” 

Before we get into how often you should dry clean each piece, let’s break down the process. Here’s what’s happening to your clothes after you drop them off:

“Dry cleaning is a professional cleaning process that uses liquid solvents instead of water,” Balanzat explains. “Clothes are placed in a specialized machine that gently agitates them in these solvents, which dissolve oils, grease, and stains that water alone can’t remove. After cleaning, garments go through rinsing, drying, and finishing steps—like pressing or steaming—so they come back fresh, crisp, and restored.”

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Depending on what needs cleaning, you could wait to take it to the pros. Here’s exactly how many times you should take each type of clothing or accessory to the cleaners, according to Balanzat:

• Blouses: Every one to two wears, especially if they’re worn directly on the skin (aka without an undershirt).
• Skirts: Every three to four wears, unless they’re stained.
• Dresses: Every one to three wears, depending on the fabric and whether it’s an everyday or special occasion piece.
• Suits: Every four to five wears for jackets, and every two to three wears for trousers.
• Scarves and other accessories: Every four to six wears, or sooner if they’re exposed to makeup, perfume, or sweat.

Not ready to visit weekly? There are a few things you can do to extend the use of your items. Here are Balanzat’s top strategies:

• Spot clean: “Treat spills or marks immediately with a gentle cloth so they don’t set in,” she advises.
• Air out your clothing: After wearing, hang up those clothes and keep them out of your closet—for now. Balanzat says airing out your garments can help release odors and moisture. 
• Invest in a garment brush: Garment brushes like this one remove surface dust, lint, and pollen to keep your clothing fresh.
• Get strategic with layering: Wearing layers isn’t just practical for combatting cold weather; it can also help you prolong your next visit to the cleaners. Balanzat says wearing a camisole or undershirt with a blouse, sweater, or jacket can protect any dry cleanable items from exposure to sweat and body oils.

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If you’re still overwhelmed, look for modern updates to classic dry cleaning services. For example, many cleaners like Juliette offer pickup and delivery, so you don’t have to run all over town to tackle this particular errand. P.S. After you’ve picked up your clothes or had them delivered, get them out of those plastic coverings ASAP. You can learn why, and discover more expert recommendations, in this closet organization guide.