The steam from the clothes steamer is hot, which makes many believe that giving “dry clean only” clothes a once-over with it is equivalent to a wash, since high heat can kill germs and the vapour instantly straightens out the fabric.
However, Chan said that it is not the same, as steaming the garment does not remove stains such as oil or dirt within the fabric, nor does it clean it.
“If your items are not heavily stained or are only worn for a short period of time in an air-conditioned environment, steaming or ‘Febreez-ing’ the item may refresh the garments, but it definitely does not replace a proper wash,” he added.
WHAT ABOUT DIY DRY-CLEANING KITS – DO THEY WORK?
There are many such kits readily available now, which make dry-cleaning at home a snap – that is, if they actually work.
Most of these kits are essentially a stain- and odour-removing treatment, which means they usually come with a stain-removing spot treatment, together with heat-activated scented sheets that will leave your clothes smelling fresh again and relatively unwrinkled after a cycle in your dryer.
Do they actually clean your clothes? While they may be great for a quick last-minute refresh – everyone runs into such a need now and then – they don’t clean garments as thoroughly as a professional can.
