Not drycleaning, not fluff and fold, but ... launder and press?

February 6, 2024 9:30 AM

I have a pile of women's jersey shirts (business casual) that are machine washable and dryable, but they need pressing to look presentable. I would like to outsource the washing and ironing/pressing. My drycleaners said they only do "fluff and fold" (cheap, but no ironing) and "drycleaning with spot removal" (expensive). Is "Launder this and then press it" possible these days, and what sort of establishment offers it? (Large city, US).
posted by bluesky78987 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Maybe try this with your ZIP? https://www.google.com/search?q=launder+and+press+near+me
posted by adekllny at 9:59 AM on February 6

Best answer: Try a full service laundromat, not a dry cleaner. Some will offer Ironing as an add-on charge to a standard wash & fold service.
posted by Ardea alba at 10:06 AM on February 6 [3 favorites]

Not an answer to your question, but have you tried using a steamer? I don't think my iron's been used since I got one ~ eight years ago (except for smalls, like napkins and such.) So quick and easy.
posted by kate4914 at 10:19 AM on February 6 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Laundromats that offer laundry service usually offer ironing, so I would just ask more places!
posted by amaire at 11:04 AM on February 6

Best answer: I don't know your location, but in the Mid-Atlantic we have ZIPS which is a really affordable per piece dry cleaner. When offices and biz clothing usrd to matter I'd get my pantsuit/skirt suits AND shells/shirts washed there. They did an amazing job on jersey shells, shirts, etc
posted by atomicstone at 11:05 AM on February 6

In this very specific case with this specific type of garment, I will second a recommendation for steaming. With the right steamer appliance, such garments need very little attention to loosen wrinkles. And I'm not just trying to save your money here (although it'll quickly be a money saver); if you have to go more than 5 minutes out of your way to find the prior-mentioned full-service laundromat you would need for "wash & iron" service, you'll save time because steaming takes less than 10 minutes for 5 shirts.

What hasn't been mentioned is that your bathroom + hot water shower is an ersatz "steamer" and often works for light-duty garment loosening (although significant creases will be a tough job; may need a water mister applied the day before, plus passive drying). Try that first.

Also, some dry-cleaner places with wash & fold service offer "shirt on hanger" service which is exactly what you want, so perhaps make a few phone calls to see if it's offered in any such nearby cleaner. Note that it's typically not that much cheaper than full dry-cleaning, but it is lower-cost & easier on your clothes.
posted by brianvan at 11:08 AM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Wash and press is a pretty basic service that most laundry/drycleaning places should offer. Before I moved into a place with a washer and dryer, I used to have the cleaner around the corner wash and press all my button-up shirts. Usually you can specifically whether you want the shirt on a hanger or folded, whether you want starch and how much, etc.
posted by slkinsey at 11:31 AM on February 6

Best answer: Almost all standard business shirts (like everyday white or blue shirt, tie, jacket) are "wash and press" and they cost 1/3 of what dry cleaning does. Every dry cleaner I've ever used has two prices for shirts, depending on the requirements of the material, like rayon or weird blends. Maybe because they are not standard shirting material (if I am reading "Jersey" right), your cleaner insists on dry cleaning it. I'd say find a place that will do what you want - it is not unreasonable.
posted by bensherman at 11:50 AM on February 6

Best answer: Agreed, I would not use a place that could not simply press a garment. Absolutely no reason to put something through the wear/chemicals of a wash or dry clean cycle if all it needs is pressing. Now, I wouldn't expect it to be much cheaper than an actual cleaning, because the pressing is the most labor-intensive part. But I would find someplace else. Are they running their own plant? Possibly they send everything out and don't have the ability to get a particular garment pressed. In my experience, the storefronts that don't do their own cleaning don't do as good a job and (obviously) take longer.
posted by wnissen at 3:05 PM on February 6 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My dry cleaner does "just pressing" where i bring them a pile of stuff ive washed (mostly button downs) and then they just press. You might want to look for a dry cleaner that has like a mens shirts "in by 9 out by 5" advertisement- they are usually equipped for this kind of request.
posted by zara at 8:17 AM on February 7