[Anonymous]

OT topic started: dry cleaning, specifically when it comes to work clothes.

I dry clean my suits and pants, no problem there, but what about dress shirts? Currently I just throw all my dress shirts into my wash at home and iron them, but it seems like the dryer is starting to take its toll on the collars and other areas of my shirts.

I know dry cleaning would probably take much better care of my shirts, but it just seems so cost prohibitive to spend $15+ every week to dry clean my white dress shirts.

Anyone have any tips on this matter?

[Anonymous]

Drycleaning officewear is not deductible. Uniforms that are NOT generally worn as daily use clothing are deductible. Examples are steel toed work boots, costumes, obvious uniforms (chef's clothing, scrubs, mailman/UPS uniform, maid uniform). If you “could” wear it in a nonwork context then its not a uniform. Blouses, shirts, suits and dress shoes do not count. Same goes for casual dress work environments, say you were required to wear khakis, black shoes and a white T-shirt. Just because it is required doesn't mean it's deductible. I can't wear open toed shoes or tank tops but that doesn't mean that any closed toed shoes I buy are deductible.

“Employees can deduct the cost and maintenance of work clothing and uniforms if both of the following tests are met:

… if the uniforms are specifically required as a condition of employment, and

… the uniforms aren't of a type adaptable to general or continued usage to the extent they take the place of regular clothing. “

In nutshell, stop deducting dry cleaning.

[Anonymous]

Drycleaning officewear is not deductible. Uniforms that are NOT generally worn as daily use clothing are deductible. Examples are steel toed work boots, costumes, obvious uniforms (chef's clothing, scrubs, mailman/UPS uniform, maid uniform). If you “could” wear it in a nonwork context then its not a uniform. Blouses, shirts, suits and dress shoes do not count. Same goes for casual dress work environments, say you were required to wear khakis, black shoes and a white T-shirt. Just because it is required doesn't mean it's deductible. I can't wear open toed shoes or tank tops but that doesn't mean that any closed toed shoes I buy are deductible.

“Employees can deduct the cost and maintenance of work clothing and uniforms if both of the following tests are met:

… if the uniforms are specifically required as a condition of employment, and

… the uniforms aren't of a type adaptable to general or continued usage to the extent they take the place of regular clothing. “

In nutshell, stop deducting dry cleaning.

[fuzyfro89]

Non iron shirts will take care of most of your problem. I dry clean mine every 1-2 months (no starch) depending on how much I wear them just to get the form back, but I don't really iron.

If you turn down the heat and lightly iron your non iron shirts, they should look good as new. I do this to lightly touch up the collar and cuffs and any big wrinkles (if It gets wrinkled and I can't hang it up and wait a day). Totally Worth the investment.

Brooks brothers non iron shirts come in sale regularly every few months and I like them. All cotton so I wash them in the machine and dry them in the dryer too.

[fuzyfro89]

Non iron shirts will take care of most of your problem. I dry clean mine every 1-2 months (no starch) depending on how much I wear them just to get the form back, but I don't really iron.

If you turn down the heat and lightly iron your non iron shirts, they should look good as new. I do this to lightly touch up the collar and cuffs and any big wrinkles (if It gets wrinkled and I can't hang it up and wait a day). Totally Worth the investment.

Brooks brothers non iron shirts come in sale regularly every few months and I like them. All cotton so I wash them in the machine and dry them in the dryer too.

[Author]

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