Before dry cleaning, clothing was washed by dressing up a phalanx of backyard laundry scarecrows just before thunderstorms. Today's Groupon lets you do away with sopping straw men and clean your clothes the new-fashioned way—with science: for $10, you get $20 worth of dry cleaning at Middleton Cleaners on University Avenue.

Using only natural starch in its cleaning products, Middleton Cleaners removes unwanted dirt, grime, and stains from clothing without leaving behind chemical smells and residue. The company’s dedicated stain slayers cleanse soiled pants, sweaters, blouses, skirts, suit coats, and collared shirts, restoring the vitality of their youth when they could frolic and roam free across department store prairies (each $7.25, plus $1.35 for silk items). Two-piece suits and plain dresses can be pressed back into service just in time for a fancy party or professional prom reenactment ($14.50, plus $2.70 for silk).