Review and Giveaway: Dryel In-Home Drycleaning Starter Kit

I have been interested to try the Dryel In-Home Drycleaning Kit for a long time.  As a committed practiioner of DIY, rather than pay someone else to do it, I've been wondering if it would be a frugal option for dry clean only clothes.

Basically, the dryel system is a way of steam-cleaning clothes in your dryer.  You put 1-4 items of clothing in the fabric bag and include one of the damp Dryel cloths.  Then you put it in the dryer on medium heat for 30 minutes for cleaning or 15 minutes for freshening up.

The Dryel Starter Kit includes an Instant Stain Remover Pen, 2X ULTRA Concentrated Refill Cloths, a Re-usable Fabric Protection Bag, and an instructional pamphlet including coupons.  (I am covering the main system in this post, and later today I'll publish a follow-up post covering the stain removal pen, as well as Dryel 3-IN-1 Touch-Up Spray.)

I first tried out the system with these two lovely dresses that I picked up at a yard sale for when my girls are bigger.  You are not supposed to use the Dryel system on leather, velvet, suede, or fur, but since these dresses were actually polyester and acetate, I went ahead and tried it.

It was certainly quick and easy to pop the dresses in the dryer and hang them up thirty minutes later.  They came out very slightly damp and looking fresh.  They had a fairly strong, but not unpleasant, detergent scent to them, but that seemed wear off after they hung in my closet door for a day or so.

The Dryel starter kit looks like it retails for about $10, and the refill cloths for about $10 for 6.  The bag that comes with the starter kit lasts for about 25 uses.  Those prices are as good or better a deal then the $1.99 dry cleaner that I try to patronize, not even counting the gas that it takes me to get there (it's somewhat far away).  And compared to the outrageous regular dry cleaner prices, Dryel comes out way on top! 

Also, right now if you buy the Dryel starter kit at Walmart, you can get a full rebate!  There are also coupons on the Dryel site to print.

Overall, I was fairly impressed with the Dryel system.  Every mom I know hates doing short errands like the dry cleaner with kids, so doing it at home is a huge draw.  I might not entrust my most precious garments in the most delicate fabrics to the system, but those are few and far between.  For the majority of my dry cleaning needs, it seems to be a great solution.

One of you readers now gets to try their own Dryel Starter Kit without even doing the rebate, since I have one to give away here! 
To enter, please just leave a comment on this post saying why you'd like to try Dryel.  You must answer this question to enter.  Please include your email in your comment if it is not available in your profile. For extra entries, you may do any or all of the following, for a maximum of 6 entries in total (please leave a separate comment for each):

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3) Follow Frugally Blonde on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. (Leave a link to your tweet.) This may only be done once; no daily tweets.

4) Blog about this giveaway. (Leave a link to your post.)
5) Post my resdesigned button on your website (see my sidebar)

The contest ends on Thursday, September 9, at midnight. The contest is open to residents of the US only, and the winner must provide a valid mailing address (no PO boxes).  I will choose the winner randomly and notify him or her by email, and he or she will have 72 hours to respond.  Good luck!

The sample that I received and the giveaway prize were provided by Mama Buzz.  I received no other compensation for this reveiw, and the opinions are my own.