Fall and winter herald career coats coming out of the closet for cleaning, freshening and wearing. Many coats today are machine washable, but full-length fashion coats are almost always labeled “dry clean only.” Heed that label statement!

Fear not, dry cleaning care for garments does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Try these three suggestions to prolong the life of your coats with little effort and only a small pocket dent:

1. Develop a friendly relationship with your dry cleaner. Know the prices charged for different garment handling. Negotiate better prices either for bulk drop-offs or simply the fact that you’re a regular customer.

2. Buy a steamer. Simply steam cleaning garments at home will freshen them as well as loosen wear or storage wrinkles. Steamers are affordable and can be purchased in department stores.

3. Try Dryel, which is also affordable and available for purchase in many stores, including discount and grocery stores. A Dryel kit comes with a cleaning solution, and a large bag and fabric sheets to freshen and unwrinkle your “dry clean only” coats and other fine fabrics right in your dryer.

Unlike fabrics that drape closer to skin (intimates and blouses), suits can be worn a couple of times before cleaning – as long as you don’t drizzle spaghetti sauce down your lap at noon. Coats are even further removed from direct skin contact, so anticipate several wearings before dry cleaning is necessary. Avoid muddy splashes at street corners and you might be lucky enough to freshen your coat at the beginning of the season and merely spot clean for weeks.

Another necessity in winter also needs care. Our boots! Boots keep our feet warm and dry, and compliment our wardrobe in wintry splendor. Fashion boots take a beating and deserve special care so we can keep reaching for them year after year. The care is special, yet so easy to do.