I can't believe I made such a rookie mistake when I was shopping at the thrift store recently.
I had been looking for a bedskirt for the guest room. One that wasn't too frilly. One that was burlap-ish in color. One that wouldn't set me back an arm and a leg.
I had been to tons of places, both thrift store and (gasp) regular retail locations and could not find a thing. Just as I was about to stop looking, I finally found this linen one at the local thrift.
And they were having a 50% off sale that day. So instead of the very thrifty $.99 original price, I only paid the super duper thrifty price of $.4950 or however that divides out. Let's just round up to two whole shiny quarters.
I get my score of the year home and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a DRY CLEAN ONLY tag.
The 50% sale had totally blinded me to rule #1 in buying linens at a thrift store. If you have to pay for dry cleaning, it is not a worth it. At all.
Dry cleaning set me back $19.99 on my 50 cent find. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
(No one can ever say I over-stage my photos, because this photo makes me think of a bedroom in a convent. And no, that silver bowl under the stand is not a chamber pot.)
BTW, I paid all that money for the dry cleaning and, after two days on the bed, it's wrinkled?
I did find this little guy for $1.91 the same day at another thrift store. So that took a little bit of my thrifting shame away. Just a little.
Do you say a big fat NO to dry clean only items from thrift stores?
LivingVintage
Oh, I LOVE the collie figurine! Great find!
Object of Maya*ffection
O think I would've taken my chances and washed on delicate and air dried!!
Faye
I hate to say it too but I would have hand washed it, I've washed linen before. I also draw designs on primitive linen for my rug hooking patterns and I use the hottest setting with steam and the wrinkles come out super easy. But it is a beautiful bedskirt and I love the little collie dog! Congrats on being the 5 most visited blogs!!!
ThriftDee
I buy Dry Clean Only items at thrift stores and launder them myself. I have had great luck with doing it myself.
Cheryl in Wisconsin
I use Dryel also.
Anonymous
You need to check out Dryel - it's a product to dryclean at home in your clothes dryer - MUCH CHEAPER and works great!
Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky)
I still think it looks good and love the vintage quilt. For fifty cents I would have taken the chance on washing on cold/delicate (I'm not fond of all the chemicals they use in dry cleaning so avoid it as much as possible.)
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
I never think to look at tags either, so I probably would have wrecked it! It looks beautiful on the bed...and I love the dog, too!
Sir Thrift-A-Lot
& just wanted to say, for some reason every thrift store around here marks up dog figurines. Drives me nuts (biggest reason why I've never bought one).
Sir Thrift-A-Lot
I probably would have washed it & ruined it, I never read the tags! At least you found one when you were just about to stop looking - bummer about how it wrinkles. Great original price though.. even before the 50% discount.
susie @ persimmon moon cottage
I say Yes to your little collie figurine. It is so cute.
I just never could get along with linen clothing because of the wrinkles. I iron and iron and next thing I know it's wrinkled. How do you suppose it just wrinkles itself when it is just hanging there being a dust ruffle?
melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle
I still think the bedskirt was worth it! How many times have I ever actually washed my bedskirt?! You will probably only have to do that once! Life to the full, Melissa
Jackie K.
I'm with you, in general I avoid anything marked dry clean. Even with those at home Dryel products, I just KNOW I'll 1) forget or 2) never get around to the fussy cleaning things.
Linen, though, I may give it a go, and like others say, drip dry and iron while damp!
Lesa
If i really wanted it, i wouldn't regret the dry cleaning.......even tho I too would have probably washed it as so many have indicated. Hey, its linen......took me a while to appreciate the wrinkled look also......PLUS, it looks lovely on the bed. ENJOY