How to Use dry-clean in a Sentence

dry-clean

verb
  • No amount of frozen lima beans could have paid those dry-cleaning bills.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
  • All boxes ship free, and your clothes arrive dry-cleaned and ready to wear.
    — Stacey Nguyen, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2023
  • Some comforters may be washed and dried; others may need to be dry-cleaned.
    — Maria V. Charbonneaux, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2023
  • In that case, don’t stuff the machine—dry-clean or steam clean instead.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026
  • If the care tag on an area rug says dry-clean only, don't use the steam cleaner.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • Some are hand-wash only, while others can be dry-clean only.
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Just imagine having to dry-clean the same cape for decades, since the film is set in the present.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2023
  • The actual dry-cleaning process takes about one to one and one-half hours.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2024
  • This is possibly due to greater use of dry-cleaning services.
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 27 Dec. 2025
  • For care, the brand recommends hand-washing or dry-cleaning the sweater.
    — Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2023
  • Curtains made of tapestry, velvet, or silk should be dry-cleaned.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024
  • However, some must be dry-cleaned, hand-washed, or spot treated only.
    — Erica Reagle, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Always be sure to refer to the tag on your comforter, as many down comforters are dry-clean only.
    — Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
  • Almost all wool coats are dry-clean-recommended.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Some dry-clean-only items can also be hand-washed, but use proper discretion.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2026
  • To prevent holes from pest damage, always wash or dry-clean clothes before long-term storage.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
  • Typically, fabrics like leather, velvet, lace, and suede need to be dry-cleaned rather than hand-washed.
    — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
  • For extra protection, cover each of your pieces with a plastic dry-cleaning bag.
    — Austa Somvichian-Clausen, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2023
  • Because it’s made from cashmere, this jacket needs to be hand-washed or dry-cleaned to maintain its quality.
    — Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
  • That can be handy, since heavier blankets like these are often harder to clean (and in some cases, can only be dry-cleaned).
    — Kathleen Felton, SELF, 19 Nov. 2024
  • Also, any sized dry-clean-only rugs should only be cleaned by a dry cleaning professional.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But Take Note These curtains are sold as single panels and are dry-clean only.
    — Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 10 Sep. 2024
  • Workers in dry-cleaning facilities may face the highest risk.
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 27 Dec. 2025
  • Wool garments are often labeled as hand-wash only, machine-washable, or dry-clean only.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Wool garments are often labeled as hand-wash only, machine-washable, or dry-clean only.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
  • There’s a major difference between taking the steps to preserve your wedding dress and just dry-cleaning it.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 22 May 2025
  • But that’s not an option for Rajak, who relies on his dry-cleaning job to provide for his family.
    — Helen Regan, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
  • More oversized blankets, quilts, or duvet covers should be laundered or dry-cleaned before being stored for the season.
    — Dominique Fluker, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024
  • If your couch is made from natural fibers or requests dry-clean only, then this is where your DIY process ends.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Always read clothing care labels and do not presoak delicate fabrics or items labeled as dry-clean-only.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dry-clean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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