Skip The Dry Cleaners: This Kitchen Essential Can Get The Job Done Right At Home

There's nothing more disappointing than reaching for last year's winter coat to notice a stale stench and a dry-clean-only tag. Without the option to toss the garment in the washer, you may think you're doomed to wearing a stinky coat or waiting until you find the time and energy to take it to the dry cleaner. Fortunately, a simple kitchen staple you may already have on hand can remove bad odors and bacteria from all your dry-clean-only garments that aren't safe to handwash. That hard-working essential? Vodka.

Freshening clothes with a vodka spray is a well-known theater trick that's used on costumes that can't be hand-washed, and it can also work on your delicates. Because vodka has a high alcohol content that can kill bacteria, it removes the bad smells associated with the said bacteria (like body odor). In fact, it works so well that even Martha Stewart uses vodka to eliminate unwanted home odors. If you're ready to give your garments a refresh, the steps to making a vodka dry-clean spray couldn't be easier.

If you're wondering what really happens if you add dry-clean-only laundry to a washing machine, the answer is likely damage. That's what makes this simple, at-home spray such a useful solution. To freshen your delicate clothes with vodka, all you need is a spray bottle, unflavored vodka (the cheap kind is totally fine), and water. Fill your spray bottle with a mixture of equal parts vodka and distilled water. Hang the garment and lightly mist it with the vodka solution, concentrating on areas that tend to hold the worst smells, such as the armpits, crotch, or feet. Then, allow the garment to air dry. If you have an exceptionally delicate piece of clothing, spot-test a small patch before treating the entire garment to ensure the solution doesn't cause damage.

While vodka does an excellent job of freshening and removing odors, it won't remove dirt or stains. In this case, a deeper clean might be needed. If you're wondering how to dry-clean laundry fabrics at home, spot-treating, washing on the delicate cycle, or using an at-home dry-cleaning kit can work in some instances. However, for extremely delicate or highly embellished fabrics, professional cleaning may still be the best option. Either way, keeping this vodka spray on hand is an easy, inexpensive way to freshen delicate garments between professional cleanings.