10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE FROM YOUR DRY CLEANER AND HELP YOUR CLOTHES TO LAST AS LONG AS POSSIBLE
Tell your dry cleaner as much as possible about your stain.
Even if the stain is obvious, tell us anything you know about it, including the staining substance, home stain removal attempts, and how long ago the stain occurred. Dry Cleaners use several different procedures to remove stains, depending on the fabric and type of stain. Fruit juices, egg, oily stains, coffee and other substances are difficult to remove and require special attention.
Don't allow a stain to set in.
The sooner a garment is cleaned, the more likely the stain will be removed. Do not iron stained clothes; it will set the stains and drive the soil deeper into the fabric. It is not recommended that you try home remedies on dry clean only garments. Be sure to always blot a stain and never rub.
Take note of invisible stains and tell your dry cleaner.
Sometimes stains seem to disappear when they dry. Its important to point out ALL stains to your cleaner. They'll know how to treat the " invisible " or lightly stained areas prior to cleaning. If they aren't aware of the stain, the heat of drying may permanently set the stain.
Never remove a care label.
Care labels are attached to garments for both you and your dry cleaner. Even if you never plan on having your garment dry cleaned the care label is your insurance if something should go wrong when it is cleaned ( providing you followed the cleaning instruction ).
Don't store your clothes in a plastic bag.
The plastic bag your dry cleaner uses is only to protect your garments on your way home. The plastic causes humidity to condense in the bag, weakening the fibers. Have the garments cleaned prior to storing them and do not keep them where there is excessive heat or moisture, such as in attics or basements.
Prevent prolonged exposure to light.
Many white garments are treated with optical brighteners that yellow when exposed to heat or light. Be sure not to leave these garments in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time.
Have matching garments cleaned together. Matching pieces in suits, shirts and curtains etc. should be cleaned at the same time. Normal fading may occur that the dry cleaner cannot control. Even a slight change may occur.
Protect your clothing.
Avoid if possible contact with perspiration, perfume and hair products, especially on silk items. The alcohol in some of these products can affect some dyes as well as
cause stains.
Check for tears, rips and loose buttons.
Your dry cleaner will check for these but two sets of eyes are better one and will avoid unnecessary complications if unnoticed before cleaning.
Work with your dry cleaner.
Realize that if a garment bleeds, shrinks, tears or is ruined in any way after dry cleaning, there could be a number of causes, including manufacture defects. Keep a good line of communication open with your dry cleaner to find the cause and possible solutions.
