The Authority on All Things About DryCleaners!

Do you have FANCY shirts?

2011-12-08T08:04:00.001-08:00

My favorite shirt at the moment is Robert Graham. . . But preferences change quickly. What I do know is often these cotton shirts can cost $200, $300, $400+ each! That is quite an investment.

The best deal at your local drycleaner is cleaning a standard men's cotton dress shirt. In the industry it's known as a "commercial laundry." However, I learned a long time ago that everything has a trade off. In this case it is the wear and tear on your shirts. And if you have fancy shirts, you may want to reconsider having them cleaned this way.

Better cleaners will scrub the collars and cuffs before putting your shirt in the wash. All cleaners will wash the shirts (detergents may vary) and then press the shirt. I do not call it ironing because it is not ironing. These shirts will not go into a dryer. They are dried by the pressing process which is a big hot metal plate, the size of a standard mans shirt, that clamps down on the shirt. This results in a crisp smooth finish that many people love. However it is hard on the shirt. The life of the shirt that is cleaned this way is between 36 and 52 washings.

Any shirt with fancy buttons or snaps, tapering, loose plackets can be damaged by this process. Many shirt materials such as corduroy, linen, seersucker or flannel cannot be processed this way without being damaged (or looking really bad) and only shirts that fit on the special machine can be processed this way.

When I was first entering this industry I had the opportunity to visited the New York Turnbull & Asser store (where they make fancy shirts.) I asked them "why they put those little bubble in the tip of the collar, when all commercial laundry equipment just flattens it right out?!"

By the look on the associates face, I had just said something horrible.
It was clear he thought the drycleaner (me!) was irresponsibly cleaning their shirts. The Turnbull & Asser people fully expect that every shirt would be cold water wash, gently dried and hand ironed. This service is often 3 times as expensive, or more!

So here is a HUGE disconnect between the maker of the clothes and the cleaner. I believe in an effort to provide value, the cleaner has unknowingly done a disservice to their customers.

So how much should you pay to have your shirts cleaned?
Well, that depends on your preferences an how long you want them to last.

What is your time worth? Hand ironing takes time, and time is one resource that we can't get back!
When in doubt, ask your cleaner - we are here to help you take care of your wardrobe.

Clothing Storage Tip

2011-08-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last night I was at dinner and the subject of drycleaning came up.
We were discussing the basics when I mentioned that you should never store your clothes in the plastic bag that the drycleaner puts over your clothes. That bag is just meant to protect your clothes on the journey from the cleaners to your closet.

My friends were so surprised by my statement, I thought maybe I should tell more people.

I can think of three major reasons why you should never to store your clothes in plastic (drycleaners call it poly)

1. The plastic that drycleaners put on your clothes is a petroleum product. It is a chemical that outgasses. These gasses can and will permeate your clothes. I have had customers bring clothes back because of the unpleasant odor. They believed it was a residual drycleaning solvent smell. I had to assure them that we do not use traditional drycleaning solvent - so drycleaning chemicals were not the cause of the odor.

2. The plastic captures moisture that can foster the growth of molds and/or mildew. These can ruin your clothes and infest your closet!

3. The bag can trap atmospheric gasses that can cause color change on your garments over time. Fume fading often hapens in closets over time - but leaving your items in the plastic will accellerate this process

How should you store your items?

If it is heavy, like a bulky sweater or knit dress. Don't store it on a hanger. Gravity does a lot of damage! I like to roll the items with a piece of acid free tissue and wrap it in a clean peice of material - like an old pillow case.

In the closet, that same pillow case works wonders. Cut a hole in the top and put it over the item - it protects it from light and dust and will cause no harm. A clean sheet will also do the trick.

And perhaps the most important question. . . . what to do with all that plastic?
Film plastic is not currently being recycled in most areas - so before putting it in the recycle bin - you may want to call and make sure it is being accepted and not just put in the land fill. I always recommend giving it back to the cleaners. The better ones have a recycling plan, and if they don't - the more people that return the plastic, the more likely they will be to consider it.

Check out my blog "take the plastic back" from a few years ago:

Take the Plastic Back!

Thanks - and have a great day!

Men's Wear Classics

2011-06-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Fashions come and go, but laughing makes you feel great!

So you think all Drycleaners are the same?

2011-04-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

A new customer asked why he should pay me more than his usual dry-cleaner to have his $2,400 hand-made suits serviced; a good question in these times. While I don’t like to answer a question with a question, I asked him why he had this wonderful suit on my counter and not on that of his normal dry-cleaners. His reply was “Well, the suit has lost it's shape, feel and body”, so I answered his question:

"The difference you pay for is experience and investment in equipment, materials and staff, and the overall quality that produces. We always make sure we are up-to-date with developments within the textile industry – manufacturing and materials, and cleaning techniques and products. When it’s worthwhile we invest in new equipment and ensure our staff know how to maximize its capabilities."

I find that this is a common thought. You grab your dirty suit or dress and run to where ever the nearest drycleaner is located. Its just a drycleaner, right? They all do the same thing, right?
Here are 6 reasons I could think of why All Drycleaners Are Not the Same!

1) Did you know that there are no requirements (other than a business license) to become a drycleaner? You can pretty much just put up a sign and be open for business, with zero knowledge or experience! Drycleaning is one of the few businesses I can think of with NO requirements. There are many trade associations that help drycleaners educate themselves - I would never choose a cleaner that was not affiliated with at least the DLI (Drycleaning and Laundry Institute).

2) Textile care is complicated. The drycleaner has no control over how a garment was made, how it has been cared for in the past, or what sort of stains and soils are on the garment. We often don't recal spilling that 7up on our favorite blouse when we are dropping the blouse at the cleaners a week later. Or perhaps all those shirts have been sitting in the back of a car baking for a week while on route to the cleaners.
And care labels are notoriously inaccurate - you can imagine the trouble an inexperienced cleaner could have.

3) Experience, training and on going education is crucial! Drycleaning machines come with “factory standard” computer templates. A good drycleaner will have those programs customized for they types of clothes (sweaters vs cushions) and the weather (hot dry weather verses rain). It takes experience and training to customize key aspects of the cleaning process: rotation of the drum, spin speed, solvent temperature, drying temperature etc. A good operator will also distill 80% of the solvent with each load; this is more expensive but it makes sure the solvent is perfectly clean and pure each time we process clothes.

4) The kinds of equipment available to drycleaners is as varied as the drycleaner operators. There are high tech wetcleaning, drycleaning, tensioning, the list goes on and on. Some of this equipment is very complicated and expensive. Knowing how to use the basic equipment properly is one thing, but investing in the best equipment shows the quality of the operator.

5) Then there is the soap! The soap we add to the dry-cleaning process is the best you can buy in Europe, not the cheapest. This affects the “feel” of the garments, improves their antistatic properties, enhances the brightness of the colors and also offers better stain removal properties. Without getting too technical, it aids dirt particle suspension properties - the soap helps to suspend the dirt particles in the solvent and stops them being re-deposited on to other garments, causing “greying”.

6) Tracking software: A cheap drycleaner can use a regular cash register and staple tags to each garment, then manually assemble and bag an order after cleaning. A better cleaner will use a high end technology that prevents human error (and mis-assembly's), allows you to sign up, pay and check orders on the internet, and use less resources for the packaging process.

So the next time you are considering using a discount cleaners - think about all the things they must be neglecting in order to keep that price low. And try asking a few questions.

A Consumer Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Drycleaning

2011-03-05T07:56:00.001-08:00

I just read a great article in a Miami newspaper and wanted to share.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-drycleaning-guide-20110304,0,1866198,full.story

This article does a good job of talking about manufacturing issues where the drycleaner is often blamed, color loss during cleaning is one example. They also talk about a few instances when the manufacturer was fined. One note: in the US, all wearable garments are required to have one method of cleaning on the care label and a content label. It is NOT required to be correct.

I recommend that you look for a cleaner that does not rely on the care label. He should read the care label, but the cleaning method should be based on the Drycleaners experience and testing the garment before cleaning.

Care labels are often wrong and any drycleaner worth their salt will use a care label as a guideline only!

Why going to the cleaners in the rain can ruin your clothes

2011-03-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

Where I live we have been having more rain than usual. I commented to a friend that people don't go to the Drycleaners when it's raining. She quickly corrected me. According to her, once we are used to the rain, it no longer deters us from things we need to do.

I began to think about why I thought rain and Drycleaning was not a good mix. . . True, water can cause spots on some silks. I always recommend to my wedding gown clients NOT to bring in their gown on a rainy day unless necessary. . And I insist on protection! Why do I feel so strongly?

So, there you are at the cleaners. You get out of your car with your lovely cashmere sweater or wool suit, and dash into the cleaners to avoid getting drenched. The clerk behind the counter takes your garments, gives you a receipt and puts your items in a bag.

It's done, right? It's out of your hands. . . Or is it?

Here is the danger. . . Drycleaning is "dry". This means there should be no water or moisture in the process. If your cleaner is sub par, and does not air dry your clothes before cleaning, shrinkage, color damage and wrinkling will occur.

So today's tip, don't take wet clothes to the cleaners.

Drycleaning with gasoline: Do not try this at home!

2010-11-30T08:09:00.000-08:00

I love these old safety videos! Hope you enjoy

Drycleaning has probably been around since the advent of textile clothing. There are many stories about the origin of drycleaning, all centering on a surprise discovery when a petroleum-type fluid was accidentally spilled on a greasy fabric. It quickly evaporated and the stains were miraculously removed. In spite of the name, drycleaning is not completely dry. Fluids are used in the drycleaning process. In the early days, garment scourers and dryers found several fluids that could be used as drycleaning solvents, including camphene, benzene, kerosene, and gasoline. These fluids are all dangerously flammable, so drycleaning was a hazardous business until safer solvents were developed. In the 1930s, percholoroethylene or *perc*(a nonflammable, synthetic solvent) was introduced and is used today in many drycleaning plants. Other cleaning solvents have been added, and still others are currently being tested. Silicon (GreenEarth) and CO2 are two arguably more environmentally benign solvents - but they are still being tested. Driven by concerns about perc and other drycleaning solvents, has resulted in a sophisticated machine-based process called “wetcleaning” which uses water as the solvent. Wetcleaning is done in specially-designed machines that have to be operated by garment care professionals. While professional cleaners have always employed some form of water-based cleaning methods, often by hand, these historic methods bear little resemblance to the new machine-based wetcleaning process.

Top Ten Ways to Protect Your Clothes from Mildew!

2010-09-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

Because the climate where I live is relatively humid, I see many clients with mold/mildew issues in their homes, offices and in their closets.

As molds grow, they cause considerable damage. They leave a musty odor; they discolor fabrics; and sometimes they eat into them until the fabrics rot and fall to pieces. They also discolor leather, paper and plastic!

Mildew and mold have many similar characteristics, but they are different types of fungi, and are often different in color and texture. They both grow in similar moist, warm environments. Mold is more often found in foods, and mildew in paper, your shower and fabrics. However both can be found anywhere there is warm moisture. Mold is often black, green, red, or blue while mildew is usually gray or white (often a dusting of light dots).

Here is my Top Ten List: How to protect your clothes from fungus!

1) Protect your health first! Do NOT shake out anything that has mildew or mold on it, inside your house. You will just be spreading the spores. Take it outside. Sunshine and fresh air will kill the mildew.

2) Mild dry heat discourages mildew. Use dehumidifiers or leave a light bulb turned on in areas where the fungus is most likely to breed (sorry, it must be an incandescent bulb to create heat)

3) Mildew thrives in plastic. Remove clothing from plastic drycleaning bags immediately! There are other reasons not to store clothing in plastic, but this should be enough!

4) Mildew needs dirt or dust to survive. Check your clothes for spots/stains every time you hang them up. Clean your clothes anytime you do not plan on wearing them for a while.

5) Clothes need to breath. Keep about an inch between your clothes (don't cram them in - that will create wrinkles anyway). Keep your closet door open or ajar to help with air flow. Ceiling fans are a great idea in a closet!

6) NEVER hang clothes in your closet, unless they are completely dry.

7) Stuff your shoes and handbags that you don't wear daily with a little tissue. Check the tissue when you discard it, it could be an early warning signal.

8) Position your closet well! If you are building or renovating a home, avoid using outside walls as closet walls, and avoid putting closets near or in bathrooms.

9) Opt for paint, not wall paper on your closet walls.

10) If you see mildew/mold, act early and quickly! There are many pre-bottled solutions on the market today that help to remove mildew from different surfaces. These solutions have specific instructions and should be followed carefully.

2 more notes:

DRYCLEANING CAN REMOVE MOLD. However, if you put your garments back in a storage area with spores in it, the fungus will return quickly. Drycleaning WILL NOT, however, get rid of mold damage. Often mold damages the color or material. This results in damage after drycleaning (color loss, tears, interfacing issues, etc) that wasn't there before cleaning.

OZONE can be used to eliminate the musty odor of the fungus. Not all cleaners have access to this, or even know about it. Be sure to ask for it if you are cleaning items with a musty smell.

The drycleaner and film plastic. . . . Great News!

2010-08-21T13:40:00.001-07:00

Most people are aware of the environmental issues related to grocery store plastic bags. Some cities have even talked about charging a fee, similar to the redemption fee on aluminum cans, as a means of discouraging their use. And many folks have taken it upon themselves to start using reusable bags when grocery shopping.

If you are using re-usable grocery bags, I commend you!

Plastic and the drycleaning industry has long been a concern of mine. More so than the solvents - In my opinion. Solvent is 99% recycled in drycleaning, and the remaining 1% should be hauled off and properly disposed. In a home washer, all the water goes straight down the drain along with the soils and detergents. This opinion is arguable, but it's my opinion.

Single use plastic on the other hand, that really concerns me. I have noticed lots of drycleaner using plastic bags with the "ECO" printed on them. This also concerns me.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. . . . . writing ECO on something really doesn't do anything.

I am providing here the breakout (pro and con) of the options available. One option I am not providing is giving back the clothes without protection. I know this is the best option. . . . and it is how it was done before about the 1950's. The cleaner would remove the clothes from the hanger, and hand it to the customer without a bag! Amazing!

-- Biodegradable: Not available in the drycleaning industry. Corn based and not crystal clear. May degrade on the clothes even if it were avail.

-- Degradable: Available and many cleaners are using it. Plastic breaks down into fine particles, then is around for 100,000s of years. NOT RECYCLABLE!

-- Reusable mesh garment bags: Pricey, and not cleanable. Most of these bags are advertised as environmental, "Bring in your dirty clothes, then convert it to a garment bag" Well, They are really disposable because they are not woven and therefore not cleanable. They also tend to tear, causing damage and lost clothing.

-- Recycling: You need to find a manufacturer who will use the product. At a recent business meeting our local trash hauling company made the public statement that "There are currently NO manufacturers using film plastic, so all film plastic is being put in a landfill". ---

THANKFULLY I did some research and that is not true. There is a market for film plastic, mostly in China. I found a manufacturer in Nevada that would purchase film plastic from my facility directly. I have decided that this is currently the best option. I am installing a bailer next month and will be actively collecting film plastic from all the cleaners and dryclean customers in town.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about film plastic:-)

New app to help with dry-clean errand!

2010-07-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

I am a long time Verizon user and have been longing for an iPhone for years! Recently, I purchased an iPad. And I love it! Unfortunatly, my burning desire for an iPhone has only increased as I experience the usefulness and fun aspect of the iPad applications also known as apps. From google goggles, to star gazer, from vuvuzuela to pull my finger, these apps range from the useful to the silly.
Apps are elegant and fun to use.

So what does this have to do with Drycleaning? Well, I just ran across the dry-clean only app! I have downloaded the lite version for the iPhone on my iPad, and so far, it looks pretty useful. Enter in your receipts when you drop off your items. . . And get a push notification 2hours before your pick up time.

Pretty cool!

If you want true convenience, get pick up and delivery Drycleaning service -you can still use this app for that.
So far, this app only has rated 2 stars. I was so excited that it existed, I wanted to share immediately.

Click here to read about this app: http://www.nightclubapps.com/2010/04/23/dry-clean-only-nightclub-apps-review/

If you have any experience, positive or negative, with this app please share with us!
Thanks and happy cleaning!

Have a problem with odor in you clothes? Read this!

2010-06-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

I ran across this article and thought it some of you may benefit from this information.
I posted my 2 cent response, and was impressed by all the ideas.

It's mostly accurate, but please don't use infused vodka for removing odor, and use caution on any dry-clean only garments.

http://corporette.com/2010/06/08/when-drycleaning-just-doesnt-help/

Ruined Clothes: What does a drycleaner owe you?

2010-05-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware!

I ran across this article this morning that I thought was well put together and a good reminder for all drycleaning consumers. It was fair and had all the right information. In a nutshell, a woman took her sample wedding gown into a cleaners to be cleaned before the wedding, and it came back ruined. She is now out over $1000 and the cleaners is doing nothing.

Ruined Clothes: What does a drycleaner owe you?

One important thing not addressed was; How much did Gigi's French Cleaners Charge for the gown cleaning?

Now I know on the surface, this looks like the cleaner is all wrong. And maybe he is. But all cleaners are not alike. It takes a tremendous amount on training to clean gowns that are intentionally manufactured to not be cleaned (hence "spotclean only")

In 2010, a full wedding gown cleaning should cost between $200-$400 dollars. That's how much it cost to be able to 1) afford the proper training, 2) take the time necessary, 3) honor the error and cover the cost of any possible damage. The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists has members that can replace panels, and have even ordered replacements for brides (from damage by the client that was irreparable).

When taking treasured items into a cleaner, YOU should 1) check the reputation of the cleaners - the BBB website is an easy way to see, 2) ask a clothing boutique (in this case she could have asked where she purchased the gown) and 3) Remember, you get what you pay for. I believe if you that spend less than 8% of the new cost of the clothes - you may not be getting the service you should. For example: If you have a $1000 Armani suit, and you are paying less than $80 to have it cleaned. . . . then you may just end up getting what you paid for, a ruined suit with no compensation.

10 Things Your Drycleaner Wants you to Kow! Here is a GREAT article!

2010-04-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

Usually when there is a dry cleaning article in the general press, it is very negative. However in this case I want to show everyone I meet the article.

The only downside is the name. Rather than "10 things your dry cleaner won't tell you" I would call it "10 things your dry cleaner wants you to know!

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Shelter/Organizing-Cleaning/10-Things-Your-Dry-Cleaner-Won-t-Tell-You.html

Shopping Know-How for Men: Greater Rewards in Less Time!

2010-03-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Since this is a blog about drycleaning, I am going to focus on those most common garments that must be drycleaned: A sport coat and dress slacks.

Identifying issues before you buy, can save you a lot of grief at the drycleaners and save you money in the long run!

SPORT COATS: There are 6 (or 7 depending on how you count) major issues you should address before you buy a sport coat (and that does not include how it looks and feels when you try it on)!

1. Lapel Roll

Lapels are meant to be rolled, not pressed with a crease.
ALL jackets are meant to have the lapel roll to about one inch above the top button.
Gabardine and soft wools are hard to train to roll, do not buy if it does not roll properly!
If you wear your jacket open frequently, you should also avoid these fabrics, the material will gain a new "memory" over time and likely not roll properly after a while.

2. Back Collar Felt

The back collar of the jacket should always cover the felt below it.
Before buying a jacket. check to ensure this is the case! It usually appears fine when hanging on the hanger, however it may be different when you try on the jacket (a good reason to bring a companion when you shop).
If the felt has been cut or fitted poorly, it will show below the collar.
Posture may also create this unfortunate condition.
If you see progressive shrinkage with drycleaning, ask your cleaner to steam, stretch, and reblock the collar to cover the felt.

3. Fusible vs. Sewn Construction

The fusing process usually uses an interfacing, an adhesive, and material.
This process gives the jacket a clean, smooth line and is commonly used with gabardine and tropical-weight fabrics.
Adhesive will ALWAYS break down eventually. In time or after several years, the glues just give up.
This results in a bubbling or puckering most commonly in the front area.
There is some debate over what causes this - but I am certain it is just the chemical nature of adhesives!
Price does not dictate the quality of fused construction. However fused construction is typically less expensive than a sewn construction jacket.
If you want your jacket to last over 5 years, I recommend not purchasing a fused jacket
The Problem with Sewn Construction? The lining is typically made of a different material from the jacket. So after several cleanings, different rates of shrinkage cause a rippled effect.
-- A decent tailor can normally correct this problem.

4. Two-Button vs. Three Button Jackets

ALWAYS keep the extra buttons that come with your jacket!
The traditional 3 button jacket (made famous by Brooks Brothers) presents a special problem: the top button is usually hidden under the lapel roll. However, since most cleaners machine press the lapel, you will be left with a circular button impression! That is quite unsatisfactory! (if you have any 3 button jackets, go check and see if you have that ugly button impression).
I recommend removing the top button if this is the case. You can's see it anyway, so why not avoid having your cleaners mess it up?
If you want to wear a three-button as a three button, please get a designer jacket that was designed to be a three-button jacket.

5. Single Breasted or Double Breasted

Single-breasted jackets are easy to wear and have less material than double-breasted jackets.
A single-breasted jacket can be worn unbuttoned and still look neat.
Double-breasted jackets may not be the best choice for a shorter man with a full build.
Double-breasted jackets are designed to be worn buttoned at all times! Wearing them unbuttoned not only looks bad, but it can damage the lapel roll.

6. Fabrics: The fabric you select will have a tremendous impact on the life, wear and cleanablity of you clothes!

LOW MAINTENANCE: 100% Wool wears longer than blends. Fall and Winter weaves (flannel, tweed, herringbone, etc) are the easiest to maintain because they are 100% wool, wrinkle resistant, and respond to brushing after wearing (you should always brush your wool jackets after wearing!)

Blended Fabrics that contain some polyester are wrinkle resistant but tend to shine faster. Fabrics with a nap or texture show less soil and tend to press well.

Of the cotton fabrics, seersucker is the most durable and least labor-intensive. Some seersucker can be washed, although drycleaning is more gentle.

HIGH MAINTENANCE: Thin, summer cotton may feel great, but it wrinkles easily. And frequent pressings of a light color will cause the jacket to wear more quickly.

Lighter fabrics also show perspiration and may have more damage due to perspiration - be sure your jacket is lined if you have a summer jacket!

Natural fibers do not hold color! So a brightly colored linen, or cotton jacket, besides needing to be pressed frequently and damaged by perspiration, will fade. And if you get a stain, there is a high likely hood it will not be removable without pulling a little color. This leave a light spot where the stain used to be! NEVER RUB A STAIN ON THIS MATERIAL - You will be left with a damaged area!

Gabardine - can shine easily, and if it is heavy weight - often has fusing issues.

Superfine Wool - also known as Super 100, Super 120 and even Super 180. This is very delicate material and not a good idea for an everyday suit. It wears easily and most quickly at the elbows.

Camel, cashmere and silk blends - not for everyday wear. These materials should be cleaned on MANUAL drycleaning cycle and are therefore expensive to clean. If your cleaner is not charging for these items, beware!

Raw "nubby" Silk - Pill easily, Difficult to clean (fading and stain removal - this is also a natural fiber),

Suit and Dress Slacks: Pants take more abuse than the jacket does, and they are typically drycleaned more often than the jacket. Consider the fabric (discussed above) when you are purchasing your pants!

GOOD IDEA: When you buy a suit, purchase an extra pair of slacks at the same time!

Whew! This is already longer than I intended. Now you know why none of my friends take me shopping! Take my advise, and you will be enjoying your purchase for years to come.

Did You Know . . . Drycleaning is Actually Wet!

2010-02-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

Drycleaning actually uses solvent instead of water for the cleaning process. The solvent contains little or no water, hence the term “dry cleaning.”

Drycleaning (by one story) was discovered in 1825 when a Frenchman named Jean-Babptist Jolly knocked over a lamp, spilling a petroleum-type fluid onto his tablecloth. Jolly noted that the fluid removed a stain on the fabric. Dating back to mid-1800’s, past drycleaning solvents have included naptha, kerosene, benzene and other flammable, dangerous chemicals. Advanced petroleum-based solvent was developed as an alteternative in the early 1900s, and in the 1930’s perchloroethylene (“perc”) was introduced as a nonflammable solvent. Today, perc is one of the most common solvents in drycleaning.

I refer to “perc” as traditional drycleaning. Because of spills and environmental and health concerns, perc has recently come under EPA scrutiny. Alternative solvent are now becoming more common, such as Green Earth (a silicone solvent) or new versions of petroleum solvents.

To Hand Wash or Dryclean? 5 Secrets to Success when Hand Washing!

2009-11-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

I am getting this question regarding "hand wash vs dryclean" more often and the answer is more complicated than you may expect. Some items hand-wash beautifully! But there are risks.

I always recommend you take your items to the drycleaner!

Why? 2 reasons: 1) Cleaning items always involves (at least a small) risk. And a trusted drycleaner has the experience and training to minimize these risks - and - worse case scenario - if something were to go wrong, a reputable drycleaner should help resolve any issues. and 2) How much is your time worth?

Many items people believe are dryclean only, really are not! Cashmere and many silks hand wash beautifully! That said - here are the solutions to the most common issues in hand wash!

RULE #1: NEVER HAND WASH AN ITEM WHEN THE LABEL READS "Dryclean Only" or "Do Not Wash!" They mean it! And beware the trim and other add-ons. Often a label will read . . . excluding trim (watch for this with leather trim!). I recommend not buying garments with labels like that - it means there is no way to clean that garment!

Risks: Water is a harsh solvent. Water may cause fabrics or linings to shrink, colors and trims to bleed, older fabrics, or heavily soiled (old stains) may rinse our with holes. Certain fabrics do not wash well - acetate and velvet come quickly to mind! And I would leave any leathers to the professionals. It is always a good idea to test a garment before committing the entire piece into the bath!

5 factors to consider when Hand Washing:

1) Stains: When you clean with water, BEWARE! If there are stains, and you do not remove them, they are likely set for life!

2) Pilling: Unfortunately, the price you pay for a sweater and whether or not it will pill are unrelated. Expensive garments are often made from poor quality yarn fibers that break easily. You can reduce pilling by turning it inside out before dipping - dry flat. A razor or shaver can do wonders. I do not recommend the stone or tape, both of which can make the problem worse.

3) Wrinkling: Hard wrinkles are normally created in the dryer. Do not overdry clothes - they should be slightly damp when they come out of the dryer AND do not overload the dryer OR your washer! Line drying can cause the same issue - the sun can overdry and/or bleach your clothes. Often these wrinkles become permanent! Wrinkles should be removed promptly - especially in knits - Once set they may become permanent.

4) Color Fading: Natural fibers do not hold color! That is why jeans fade so easily. Silk is also a natural fiber. Today's polyesters are amazing, and I would recommend that if you prefer black or navy shirts, to consider one of the new blended materials. Cold water and light drying (see above) are also recommend!

5) Color Bleeding: This applies to both trims and black (red or any bright color) and white prints. The only way to be sure is to test. And then you still can't be sure! Dyes are supposed to be fixed by the manufacturer - but often this doesn't happen. You can fix the color by soaking it a color fixative, but it is not always possible. I recommend consumers take item that fails back to where you bought it - I never understand why people forgive retailers for selling non-cleanable items. If more people held clothing manufactures accountable - perhaps the problem would lessen.. . . . .

Whoops - guess cleaning is in my blood, and I can't help having a (strong) opinion on the matter!

Save Time & Money, Read Garment Care Labels!

2009-09-07T08:45:00.001-07:00

Did you know that in the US, the FCC requires that all wearable garments must have a care label attached, that offers at least one method of cleaning the garment?

There is no law that the method stated need be correct, but that at a minimum, law requires clothing manufacturers to try and give consumers a method to maintain the item. While this may sound odd, it is better than many other countries that require no such thing!

When you go shopping for clothes, take a moment to look at the care label. You can save yourself time, money, aggravation, and disappointment.

Most garments have a written care label, a content, and a symbol. All 3 give valuable information.

A few examples of written care labels:

Do not launder, do not dryclean, spot clean only: These items cannot be cleaned, so be prepared. This is often the case for polypropylene jackets or fancy gowns with lots of ornamentation. There are some cleaners that specialize in these sort of garments, however, it will all be by hand. Don't expect miracles on the stains, but do expect to pay a lot of money for cleaning, if you have that kind of cleaner in town!

Cold water wash, cool iron: This one is fine if you are doing your laundry at home. But if you are buying a shirt that you expect to have laundered for under $2 or $3 dollars, this wont be it. In fact, if you take it to the drycleaner - it most likely (not always) will be considered dryclean. This is one of the many reasons women are charged more for blouses. Does your blouse have this care label? Then the cleaner will likely dryclean it!

Do Not Dryclean: Clear enough, but if you do take it in for cleaning - point it out!

Clean by zirchonian (or wedding gown method): I have no idea what that is (I suppose I shouldn't admit that, but I have never met anyone with a strong explanation!). I think some old time wedding gown manufacturer tried to trade mark his "cleaning method" and got the name on care labels. Genius marketing! I read it the same as wedding gown method, which, I take to mean "BE VERY CAREFUL!" I love cleaning fine gowns, and many people are surprised that I wet clean at least 50% of the gowns, silk included. Beads, and other adornments often make gowns uncleanable in traditional drycleaning and the trains get incredibly dirty when dragged on the floor. Water is a great solvent for food and wine!

How and Why to Read The Material Content

For labels that say cool water wash, the next step is to look at the fiber content. If the garment is over 50% polyester - well that's plastic and it will melt in commercial laundry

Spandex (usually 2% to 5%) Also plastic, it needs a "cool" iron. This translates into drycleaning prices. Again, if you do your own shirts at home - its no problem. Home irons are always cool. But cotton blend shirts cannot be cleaned for a commercial laundry price!

Rayon, tensile, viscose these are all derived from plant materials and considered dryclean only, cool iron materials

Metallic, This is a new material being used in very fashionable circles that is giving the drycleaning world headaches. Typically the care label is dryclean only. At this point, I would not buy a garment with metallic. The problem is that metal and material shrink and stretch due to temperature in very different ways. This can create a very wrinkled look. Sometimes that is the intention and sometimes it is not. As a drycleaner, metallic is the one material that bothers me, because there is a good chance that the care symbols will be wrong! This is because the manufacturers are still trying to figure it out. They had the same issue with Spandex when it was first introduced, and I know that a lot of angry customers blamed their cleaner for a manufacturing issue!

Let's Get Sweaty!

2009-08-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Here it is, August already. What is a drycleaner to talk about? How about sweat? During the hot sticky summer months (like August and September where I live), going outside means that I am most likely going to sweat. Did you know that sweat can damage your clothes!? And that it is among the most difficult stains to remove from fabrics?

Now, you may be wondering, SO WHAT? It's just sweat, WASH IT OUT!

Most people think perspiration stains are no big deal, and that they can be easily removed in the laundry. Well that may be true some of the time, However perspiration stains are among the most difficult stains to remove from fabrics.

CONSUMER TIP: If you sweat in your clothes, clean them as soon as possible.

Perspiration not only stains fabrics, but the chemicals contained in it can affect dyes resulting in color changes. Although perspiration is mostly water, it contains a vast variety of chemicals all affected by the individuals own body chemistry; diet, medications, ingested, etc. Perspiration also contains fats and cholesterol. Perspiration can permanently stain protein fibers like silk and wool. Although the staining most commonly occurs in the underarm areas, it may also be found around the waist, on the back panel of a garment or inside the neckline.

Tears on the backside of men's shirts are often due to fibers weakened by perspiration - and I am talking all types of shirts here, cotton, rayon, silk, etc. By waiting even just a week before cleaning, your clothes can be damaged by perspiration!

Don't make the same mistake I did!

2009-07-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

This is going to be more like a confession. A "do as I say not as I do."
Tonight I am going to a rather formal, rather large birthday party charity event. I was very excited!
So yesterday I went to my closet to get out a beautiful black dress that I only ever wore one time. You know the dress. It makes you look and feel wonderful. The perfect dress that you looked for for years - then found it felt even better when you wore it.

Well I got it out, and to my horror, there were some dirt marks on it.

I had put the dress away last year WITHOUT CLEANING IT.

I know why I did this:

it looked clean
I only wore it one evening
and dry - cleaning is expensive.

The thing is, I know better. I work in drycleaning. If anyone wants their clothes to last - they need to clean them before storing:

Soils left in material attract insects that can damage material.
soils left in material oxidize over time and become more noticeable and harder to remove.
soils left in material can pull color over time.

So now, as I mourn my perfect dress and prepare to go out and buy a new dress for tonight, I share this story so that you can learn from my mistake. Buying a new dress is much more expensive than the cleaning cost would have been - and that doesn't include the time or stress of running around last minute. . . . . OK well the last minute part may be a different problem.

The moral of the story: Clean your clothes before putting them away for storage!

What you should know about the Clean Show!

2009-06-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

I just got back from New Orleans and am so excited about all I saw and heard about. I had never been to New Orleans and loved the chance to see the city (and the swamp, which I highly recommend seeing if you get the chance!).

It took me 2 days to walk the entire show - and I am going to present the few things that the general public may be interested in:-)

I thought the entrance to the show was very striking this year, so I included a photo for you!

The number one theme that ran through this show (besides clean of course) was a move to be more environmental. In an industry that is constantly under attack for toxic chemicals, detergents, plastics, etc. I loved seeing everyone trying to be green!

From green detergents for use by the cleaners to green detergents to sell to the drycleaners customer. The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists was touting their ZeroCarbon wedding gown preservation. There were two degradable plastic vendors and at least 4 reusable garment bag companies. I think the Green Garmento is a marketing warrior. They managed to get their bags as part of the Swag bag given to the stars at the Oscars!

However, I thought the Green Earth people took the prize for the best display. They provide an alternative solvent to drycleaners from the traditional perc (perchloroethylene) or hydrocarbon drycleaning solvents. It is a silicone solvent (D5), similar to the chemical used in many hand lotions and beauty products. Check out the Green Earth booth:

Green earth also is working on a laundry method that would use 90% less water! Check out this article http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=74090

Finally, I want to share with you that I was on a panel at the show talking about automation. I was one of two cleaners selected because of using so much automation in our plant. There were also 3 vendors there provided these sorts of solutions. I found it interesting that the main sales pitch seemed to be reducing labor and cost - understandable. But I tell you what. . . . Automation allows a drycleaner to track garments and customer preferences better. AUTOMATION ALLOWS THE DRYCLEANER TO PROVIDE A BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE!

Thanks for reading:-)

How do you choose a good drycleaner?

2009-06-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

One excellent way to find a cleaner is to look for one that is a member of industry groups and participates in both community (for example the BBB or Chamber of Commerce) and industry (Drycleaning and Laundry Institute, California Cleaners association) groups.

These groups share information and best practices so everyone who participates is a winner! On-going training is a must!

Like any industry, there are constant changes that conscientious drycleaner will keep up with; new types of garments, new and better equipment and techniques and better methods of communication.

This month is the Drycleaning Industries largest event. The CLEAN SHOW! Read more about this at http://www.cleanshow.com/.

I will be there - and I am presenting on a panel along with other respected cleaners.

It is both an honor and a responsibility:-)

The Truth About Green Cleaning!

2009-06-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Lets talk about green. I hear again and again from consumers that want "green" cleaning.

I often hear consumers wanting to avoid the toxic and carcinogenic dryclean solvent that is profiled in the news every few years. If your cleaner is conscientious - rest assured, no matter what solvent they are using, that drycleaning process is gentler on the environment than when you use your washer at home.

Over 99% of the solvent, soils and detergents are recaptured in the drycleaning process. These are disposed of in proper facilities. Solvent is added to the system on a monthly (or less frequent) basis. Compare that to the water and detergents that go into our sewer systems every time someone runs a washing machine. . . . what type of soils are in the clothes? Are the loads full? Normal detergents are full of phosphates that are very damaging to the environment.

YOU CAN HELP your drycleaner help the environment:

According to Green is Sexy http://www.greenissexy.org/2009/05/30/go-wireless-4/, 3.5 billion wire hangers go into U.S. landfills every year, and they sit in there for over a hundred years; reduce that number by returning your hangers (Gently Used!) to the drycleaners. The next time your non-washables travel to the drycleaner, BYOH – your drycleaner will thank you (hangers are expensive) and so will the Earth!

And by the way, take the plastic back to your cleaner, or to your grocery store. It cannot be recycled in most home recycling programs!

Thanks!

How to get smoke out of your garments

2009-05-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since my last post. As you may have seen on the news, Santa Barbara had a devastating fire called the Jesusita fire. Over 30,000 people were evacuated and 80 homes were lost. This event touched the lives of everyone in Santa Barbara.

Now the cleanup process is underway. One aspect of the cleanup is textile restoration services. What is that? Well, if your home survives but was in close proximity to a fire, you will most likely have an insurance claim. And your claim will likely include smoke damaged clothing and linens.

When you call your insurance company and place a claim, you will be assigned an adjuster. Normally the adjuster will come out to take a look. The adjuster will then hire several contractors to clean up and repair your house. Typically the adjuster will hire what is known as a "contents remediation company." That would be a Service Master, Serve Pro, Qwik Response or one of many other company's.

Then there is the contents. There are 2 options for cleaning up your textiles (linens, clothing, curtains, rugs, etc). They can be written off (total loss) or taken to the cleaners. This decision can be made by the homeowner, adjuster or remediation company. Sometimes the adjuster calls a restoration drycleaner, and sometimes they call it a total loss. Other times the remediation company (Service Master, etc.) will call a drycleaner or take the clothes to a drycleaner.

It is good for homeowner to understand, your insurance can recommend vendors - BUT HOMEOWNERS CAN CHOOSE THE VENDORS THEY WANT!

So now, how do we restore fire damaged clothes?

Smoke Smell: Often, because the entire house smells of smoke, the homeowner is unaware of the smoke smell until they are removed from the location. They may not believe they have smoke odor that requires remediation until weeks or even months later. Let your adjuster be your guide in this case. Usually their recommendations are based on experience.

Smoke odor (actually, any odors) do not come out in regular drycleaning. The items must be treated with special chemicals, washed with special detergents or put into an OZONE chamber before (and sometimes after) cleaning. This process is more time consuming than your normal drycleaning, and since there is normally a large volume of clothes, can take considerable time.

Fire Damage: Houses in close proximity to fire not only are inundated with smoke, but the temperatures go way up too. Often a garment looks like it has soot on it that should come out in cleaning. After cleaning, the garment is shredded - and the garment is ruined. What happened? The extended period of high temperature caused a slow burn, the clothes did not catch fire, but the fibers did turn into carbon during the extended period of heat. No drycleaner can prevent this damage. It was already there

NonCleanable: There are items that are not cleanable - or at least cleaning is not recommended. You may have brand new items in your home that had not yet been used, items that had prior damage from use, or items with card board or special embellishments that do not clean well - drapes, chenille blankets, pillows, etc.

We typically clean 2000 pcs a day - last week we had calls for over 140,000 pieces!

If you have a fire restoration drycleaner to your home you will be asked to select a RUSH order. That is enough items to keep you comfortably clothed for a month! This order should be returned to you in a week or less. Many times, people want the items back sooner - but the smoke removal usually requires multiple cleaning and 24-48 hours in the ozone. 3 day turn around may lead to the smoke odor still in the clothes.

Also, because of the amount of work created in a general disaster, vendors come in from miles away. In SB I know that drycleaners came from San Diego to San Francisco. They fill trucks with textiles and drive them back to their plant - often 5 hours away! This sort of service is necessary to process the huge amount of work. If you are in this situation Please Ask where your clothes are going to be cleaned and how you can contact them. I have found that since I am business aquaintence of most of these drycleaners - they use my name. Unfortunately, the homeowner is under the mistaken impression that my cleaners is doing the work.

The rest of your items will be returned several months later - or even over 6 months later. Often delivery is dependent on the repairs of your home. Because of the size of the catastrophe and the amount of people and textiles involved - there is no way to process in a faster way.

Communication, as always, is key in these situations. The restoration companies should be sensitive to your needs and work with you in every way. They should be asking the right questions and helping you select the rush order, etc.

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

I believe that everyday is Earth Day. Today I want to express my opinions about drycleaning and the environment. These are my opinions from working in the industry for many years and being interested in protecting our environment most of my life.

The most frequent questions I get from the general public are normally related to drycleaning and the environment. Drycleaners get a lot of bad press in this area. And really that is too bad. However, the industry has brought this upon themselves through poor practices. Today this industry is heavily regulated. Drycleaners, like any business, respond to what their customers want. So the biggest thing you as a consumer can do is voice your opinions!

Here are some things you can think about when considering environmental concerns:

Ask your cleaner what they are doing to be environmentally conscious. The answer should be a list - not just the type of solvent
Be aware that operating in an environmentally conscious way is more expensive - beware of the "cheap eco-cleaner"
Take back your plastic
Take back your hangers for reuse - please be gentle with them! Reuse saves tremendous resources. Often the fatigue strength of hangers (due to the extrusion process) is such that the metal can no longer be recycled. Hangers are the last stop for metal on the way to a landfill - so be gentle and re-use them.
Voice your willingness to pay extra for environmental bags
Be aware that using less chemicals, or less harsh chemicals increases the labor necessary to remove stains. More time must be spent doing hand removal by a specialist - this increases the cost (Harsh chemicals in the machine removes more stains). Something that use to be removed without comment may need more time and effort.
Solvent types include: perc, petroleum (often called organic, however perc is organic by definition also), green earth (silicone based, and not organic), water, CO2. ----

Perc and Petroleum have been around pretty much since drycleaning started. So any cleaner that uses something other than these 2 solvents, is probably working to minimize their environment impact.

Drycleaning uses very special chemicals and solvents that are not fully understood. The majority of publicized environmental concerns are about the solvent. While it is true that if a drycleaner does not maintain their equipment, or operate it correctly, they may release toxins into the atmosphere and into the ground, careful use of any equipment results in 95% or better recycling of the solvent. The remainder should be disposed of properly.

The 2 most "environmental" forms of drycleaning are considered to be "wet cleaning" or CO2 cleaning. Wet cleaning uses water instead of a chemical solvent and CO2 uses liquid Carbon Dioxide.

Wet Cleaning is promoted by our local EPA as environmentally superior. However I question this, at least where I live, where water shortages occur more frequently than I would like. Drycleaners (as opposed to industrial laundries) are still allowed (and really have no other choice) to discharge the water, soap, etc., down the drain. NONE of the water is recycled by the cleaner. Even if the cleaner is conscientious and uses only full loads - there is still an impact on the environment.

Thanks for your time, and remember to tread lightly!

What do you Wear to a Recession?

2009-04-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

The fastest growing clothing retailer in that area is Goodwill Industries!
This is from an article in The National Clothesline (http://www.natclo.com/0904/content.htm) that cites the Chicago Tribune.

The article also stated that Americans own more clothes than any people on the planet!

Contrary to the trend among other retailers who are scaling back and even closing stores, Goodwill plans on opening 5 new stores in the area this year. Breaking from the mold of its appeal to edgy art students and hard-luck hobo's. And it appears to be working. While sales at major chain stores fell 2% during the last three months of 2008, Goodwill store sales in southeastern Wisconsin and metropolitan Chicago rose 8%!

I googled the head line "What do you wear to a recession?" and to my surprise, there were at least 5 news articles with this headline (including: http://www.observer.com/2008/arts-culture/crashion-what-wear-recession). Perhaps one silver lining of our current economic turmoil will be the acceptance of second hand purchases! Not only is it easier on our pocketbooks, it is good for the planet - in my opinion, new items always impact our planet more than reusing items. After all, where does your old clothing go if no one buys second hand? By giving clothes a 2nd life, we are promoting sustainable living.

Consignment shops come in many varieties - you can find couture used clothing or typical thrift store fare. Often, when you donate, they will give you a receipt for tax purposes.

I have a few thoughts on this trend:

When you buy 2nd hand clothing, send it to your cleaner before wearing. Many thrift stores cannot afford to clean clothes before putting them for sale.
If you are donating - please send clean items (see #1)
If you are uneasy about going to a 2nd hand shop, consider having a clothing swap party. Everyone can bring items from their closet they no longer wear (I know I have lots), and make a party out of it!

Some cleaners will accept clothing donations, clean them at no charge and then distribute the clothing to different organizations. Ask your current cleaner for advise.

They say that difficult economic times foster creativity and new business models. I hope that this trend will continue after our recovery:-)

Why you should read Garment Care Labels

2009-03-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what those strange symbols are in the labels of your garments?

Well you should! Taking just a minute to review that label may make the difference between a favorite peice and a nightmare at your drycleaners!

One of the best tips I can give you is ALWAYS look at the label before you make a purchase . . . For example; Prada has just come out with several gorgeous pieces - if you look at the label it says "do not dryclean, do not wash, no steam." If you get any soil or spills on this item, it very likely may be the end of the garments life.

$500 is a lot to spend for a garment you will only be able to wear a handful of times. You may still want to purchase the item (they are gorgeous!). And now you are making a fully informed decision.

In the US, garment care labeling is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. They REQUIRE manufacturers to list at least one acceptable means of care for the garment. NOTE: There is NO requirement that the label needs to be correct, there is NO requirement to indicate what should not be done to clean the item ("Do no dryclean" for example). However, even with these shortcomings, at least in the US, we have care labels. Other countries often have no care/content label at all.

Better dryceaners will always read care labels. However, because of the shortcomings listed above, they may not always follow them exactly. They are really used as a guideline. For example, many silk and some cashmere sweaters can be cleaned with water. They feel and look wonderful when cleaned that way properly. However the label may have said "dryclean". BEWARE - the water temp, agitation and detergents must be carefully controlled. I am not suggesting you throw your cashmere sweater in the washer with some Woolite!

So now onto explaining how to read those little labels.
A circle typically indicates drycleaning. Letters inside the circle represent the type of drycleaning solvent. Tub shaped symbols are often a form of machine or hand washing.
Numbers within the tub represent temperature in degrees Celsius. The iron symbol of course relates to ironing and the dots inside the iron correlate to temperature. An "X" over any of these symbols prohibits the use of that process.
There are some fabrics that tend to be difficult to care for regardless of the care label and require special precaution. These include:

Sueded or Sand washed Silk (think Tommy Bahama)
Appliqued, beaded or otherwise embellished garments (I once had a metal piece that melted in the dryclean machine! I still wonder what that "metal" was made of!)
Brightly died pigskin sued (it cannot be repainted like leather)
Printed fabrics that only have print on on side

Better drycleaners use creative cleaning methods not normally in use by conventional drycleaners. They also have considerable ongoing training for new materials and experience. There is no substitute for desire and experience

Save Money On Your Wardrobe

2009-03-07T00:13:00.000-08:00

It seems that everyone is feeling the pinch of our downward economy. Talk of doom and gloom is all around. It looks like 2009 will be a bad year for most of us financially.

So it is natural that we are all watching our spending. I have noticed that there are fewer people out at the restaurants during the week and stores seem to be closing daily. If you are watching your finances, you probably want to make all your investments last, including your clothing investment.

I have noticed a significant drop in clothes going to the drycleaners. I have talked with cleaners around the country and the trend is everywhere. While I understand why many people have no choice but to reduce spending, cleaning clothing after use is still the best investment for your clothes. As long as you are conscientious, and follow care labels and detergent directions cleaning your clothes yourself is a much better option than just wearing them more frequently between cleaning, or not cleaning them and putting them in their closet.

If you want your garments to last and look sharp like when you bought them, ALWAYS clean them after wearing. When you store soiled garments, many things can happen. Also keep in mind that just because a garment looks clean, it may not be.

Please, if you want your garments to last, the important thing to remember is you will almost always clean garments after you wear them. How you clean them is up to you.

3 Common Types of Damage Caused by NOT Cleaning After Wear:

Body oils are often not readily visible, but perspiration and other things that we exude from our pores are often acidic and damage fibers over time. This can create holes or color loss. Men's shirt collars can be especially problematic. Those oils around the neck may be nearly invisible, but if they have time to oxidize, the shirt may not recover!
Some spills like white whine or 7up dry completely clear. However, if they are not removed they will oxidize and turn brown the same way an apple turns brown after you take a bite and leave it out. Once these stains turn brown they are very difficult, and sometimes impossible to remove.
Insects such as moths are really after the soils in the cloths, and they will cause damage.

What to do if your cleaners says "that can't be cleaned"!

2009-02-27T12:44:00.001-08:00

Like many of you, I watched the Oscars recently. I love looking at the gowns! But not for the usual fashion do's and don'ts. I check them out and try and figure out if they can be cleaned, how they can be cleaned, and how much it would cost to clean them (yes, I am that dull!). Last year, People magazine had an article that had three popular stars in gowns, with the drycleaning bill next to it. Cleaning prices ranged from $400 to a little more than $1000!

I heard several comments that the high cleaning price are because of the status of the star or the designer. I'm here to tell you -- the price of a garment has no bearing on its ability to be cleaned.

What these stars wear are really pieces of art! The artist gives ZERO thought to how it would be cleaned or maintained. They only care about how it fits, falls, reflects the light and looks on that one special day! Garments may have metallic components, bias cuts, very delicate weaves, embellishments and a host of things that just won't survive "drycleaning".

I recently had the privilege to clean a beautiful and unique Justin Avery wedding gown. It was a very delicate silk chiffon, with ribbons of silk that had unfinished edges. The gown had been custom made and then sent to an artist for hand painting.

This gown was a piece of art (I wish my photo did it justice).
This gown is not drycleanable. The artist did not give a thought to the fact that no cleaning machine can tell the difference between that paint and dirt!

And I'm glad he didn't - great art is shouldn't be practical.

I will guess that less than 5% of cleaners could clean this type of gown successfully. Most would (I hope) refuse to clean it - the others wouldn't clean it well - or worse case, ruin it!

Here are 3 pieces of must have advice:

Get recommendations
Talk to people who have used the service you are considering and
Tell the drycleaner what kind of risk you are willing or not willing to take.

Remember, once something is cleaned it cannot be uncleaned!

So the next time you are wanting to have something cleaned and are told that it can't be done, realize that you need to find a drycleaner who is also an artist, and be willing to pay a fair price for the time and expertise. So how do these 5% of cleaners do it? Hard work, a lot of time (15 hours in this case), constant training and a lot of experience. Im not saying that the gown was the same as new, but it was back 95% of new. Thank goodness the bride didn't spill red wine!

Maximize your drycleaning buck

2009-02-18T08:30:00.000-08:00

By Zak Stambor
January 25, 2009
The simple process of getting your clothes dry-cleaned can be simply overwhelming.

Should you take your clothes to a giant chain dry cleaner that sends clothes to a "new state-of-the-art, centrally located plant"? Maybe drop them off at a discount outlet that offers limited services but charges only $2.29 a garment (and $1.19 for a laundered shirt)? Or should you frequent the mom and pop dry cleaner just around the corner or in your high-rise?

It seems almost impossible to make sense of all the options.

And the question for many families feeling the pinch of recession: Should you be spending money on dry cleaning at all?

We asked a few experts for smart tips on using the various dry cleaning options.

Find a reputable cleaner

"If you want your clothes to last a long time, you want to go to a dry cleaner that is knowledgeable and has experience," said Tom Barnett, vice president of the Illinois State Fabricare Association, a professional association of dry cleaners affiliated with the international Drycleaning & Laundry Institute.

Cleaners that are members of the Illinois State Fabricare Association are kept abreast of the industry's ever-evolving technologies and garment-care advancements. But the association only represents about 10 percent of all cleaners, and you can verify if yours is a member by looking for an association sticker on-site, simply asking your cleaner or searching on the association's Web site, www.ifi.org/consumer/search/index.php.

If you don't have a member cleaner nearby—or those in the neighborhood are too expensive—ask friends and neighbors where they take their clothes. Or, turn to user-review sites such as Yelp that allow people to post their experiences.

Evaluate your needs

Cleaning a men's button-down shirt is more straightforward than cleaning a leather jacket, said Barnett. Many discount cleaners offer limited services that cater to more common cleaning needs.

Most men's shirts don't need to be professionally laundered; most men simply don't want to press their own shirts.

When men's shirts are taken in, they're simple to clean and routine to press. Cleaning leather, however, requires a specialized method of wet cleaning, which is not a "dry" clean, but a technique using water and biodegradable soap

Think about what you need your cleaner to do, said Barnett. Discount cleaners often don't have a tailor on-site so they can't hem jeans or repair buttons, and some don't hand-spot garments for difficult stains. Before dropping off your clothes, ask what services the cleaner does and doesn't offer.

Divide and conquer

Most garments that end up at the dry cleaner are simple to clean—they're not stained, and they're not a difficult material to clean like suede or leather, said Yale Gordon, chief executive of DryClean Direct. His local chain of stores, like many cleaners that offer discounted prices, are able to handle most garments, such as slacks, button-down shirts and dresses.

To cut costs, divide your garments into those that require special care and those that don't, said Barnett. Discount cleaners such as DryClean Direct clean most garments for around $2.49 an item, sometimes significantly less than mom and pop cleaners. For the clothes that you don't take to the discount place, a smaller shop can provide more customized service or refer you to a couture cleaner.

Wear things twice

If a garment isn't soiled or smelly, you can probably wear it another time without hurting its longevity, said Darrell New, vice president of Michigan-based 1-800-DryClean, a national chain that picks up and delivers dry cleaning twice a week to customers' homes or offices.

"If you wear a pair of pants, and salt didn't splatter on it, and it's otherwise clean, there's no reason you can't wear the pants twice or three times," he said. "Just don't push it too much."

Be informative

The best way to rid your clothes of stains and get back clean clothes is to give your cleaner as much information as possible, said New. Where is the stain? What caused the stain? How old is it?

"The more information you give them, the better service you'll get," he said.

smart@tribune.com

Common chemicals in YOUR home that can cause garment damage!

2009-02-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

The NCA’s Center for Garment Analysis has seen an increasing number of garments with chemical damage due to use or storage. Many common household and personal care products can cause color loss or fabric damage. In many cases, the color loss may not reveal itself until cleaning. Often discoloration is not visible until the heat of drying or finishing the garment catalyzes or oxidizes the affected area. Often, when color loss or discoloration appears after cleaning, consumers blame the dry cleaner for the damage.

Alcohol

Many products that contain alcohol may discolor or completely remove the color from may fabrics. Alcohol can be found in perfume, colognes, hairspray, topical medications, as well as hard drinks and food-stuffs. Since many alcoholic substances may contain a coloring matter or oil, the discoloration caused by this type of stain may not be visible until the stain is removed.

Oxidizing Agents

Products such as laundry, detergents and bleaches, cleaning agents, disinfectants, hair care products, topical medication as well as some oral care products (toothpaste and tooth whitening formulas) contain oxidizing agents. Contact with oxidizing agents. Contact with oxidizing agents may result in the gradual discoloration of the fabric or in a complete color loss. All too often, the heat produced during the reclamation and drying cycles or during the finishing process may accelerate the oxidation, causing the affected area to discolor. This type of damage is often impossible to detect prior to the drycleaning, wetcleaning or laundering of the garment.

Damage from Acids

Contact with acidic substances can cause discolorations as well as fabric degeneration. Many substances such as fresh perspiration, deodorants, and hair care products, fruit juices and other foods and beverages may be acidic, or become acidic with age. Many household, masonry or automotive products contain acid (such as battery acid) that may degrade the fibers in fabrics. The affects of this type of staining agent may be immediate, or may reveal itself after processing.

Damage from Alkalis

The fibers and dyes used in many fabrics, especially those found in protein- based fibers such as wool and silk, will easily discolor from their contact with alkalis. Alkalis are found in many house-hold products such as detergents, bleaches, shampoos, soaps, hair care products, tooth paste and many topical medication. As with acid based staining substances, the damage may be immediately visible or may develop over time or when exposed to heat.

Fading From Light

Many dyes are affected from their exposure to natural or artificial light. This type of color loss may occur with normal use (draperies or slipcovers) or when garments are stored. In severe cases, a fabric will degenerate when exposed to direct or indirect sunlight for a period or time. If a fabric is damp, and exposed to light, the fading will be more intense in this area. Common soil may camouflage this type of damage until the soil is removed during cleaning. When the soil is removed, the damage becomes apparent. If the item is hanging for a period of time, discoloration often follows the contour.

Fume Fading

Fume fading is a color change or color loss caused by the action of airborne gases (pollutants). The action of these airborne gases combined with humidity, form an acid condition that deteriorates the dyestuffs in fabrics. The lack of sufficient air flow or air change promotes the build-up of these pollutants in closets and drawers. The discolorations caused by fume fading may appear after the drycleaning or wetcleaning processes, or after finishing, since heat often accelerates the chemical deterioration caused by the airborne pollutants. This type of damage is often seen in lengthwise streaks, and may be more apparent in the folds of the garment.

Damage From Chloride Salts

A variety of foods, beverages, topical medication, perfumes, colognes as well as perspiration and antiperspirants contain chloride salts. Chloride salts not only discolor fabrics, but have a degeneration affect on protein based fabrics such as silk. Contact with chloride salts often causes the weakening and eventual disintegration of the fibers within the fabric.

Damage From Plastic Bags

Long term storage in plastic bags should be avoided. The plastic bag can trap humidity and airborne pollutants, causing color loss, discolorations, fume fading as well as providing a breeding ground for mildew growth.

Damage From Perspiration

It is a well known fact that acids and chloride salts in perspiration may discolor dyes and eventually degenerate fabrics (see chloride salt damage). If a fabric is adversely affected by contact with perspiration, the extent of damage depends largely on the physical chemistry of the individual, the condition of wear, the type of antiperspirant used, as well as the characteristics of the fabric and dyestuffs. Silk garments will often discolor in the underarm areas. If the damage is severe, these areas will disintegrate. Garments that contain cotton (especially golf shirts) are often sulfur dyed. Sulfur dyed garments often develop orange discolorations form the affects of the acids contained in perspiration.

13 Secrets About Drycleaning

2009-02-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this article - it is a no BS, reality of drycleaning. If you take this advice - your drycleaning experience will improve!

1. Lots of "dry" cleaning isn't. "We do about 24 percent of garments in water," says Chuck Horst, president of Margaret's Cleaners in La Jolla, California. Perspiration doesn't come out otherwise. ----Sasha's note: "we do closer to 40% wetcleaning - Dockers, polo's, shorts, fleece - are all often better cleaned in water - but it is NOT the same as "WASHING!"

2. It's not your gender, it's your clothes. Women's clothes—silk, special trims, buttons, slacks without a crease—can take more work and cost more too.

3. Yes, we use perchloroethylene (perc), and it's a probable carcinogen. But it's the best thing we have right now. If you can smell it on your clothes, they weren't cleaned correctly.

4. Most green cleaning is more green than clean. "Green Earth, a silicone-based cleaner, is safer and friendlier," says Steve Boorstein of clothingdoctor.com, "but it doesn't remove the multitude of stains that hydrocarbon and perc do."

5. People never remember to pick up their comforters. That's why this place sometimes looks like a Bed Bath & Beyond.

6. You blame us for damage, we blame your clothes. Instead of court or the Better Business Bureau, we'll suggest the International Textile Analysis Laboratory (SASHA's NOTE: Now called DLI, http://www.ifi.org/), run by our trade association. It's independent (honest!), and both sides get a report.

7. We've got our own definition of replace. We follow the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute's Fair Claims Guide. For a dress shirt that's a year old, that means 40 percent of the actual replacement cost. Sasha's Note: And 2 years/45 cleanings is the gaments full life!

8. Your lost clothes are probably in someone else's closet. We'd really prefer not to write you a check. (And if we say we have to get in touch with our insurance company, we could be stalling, hoping the clothes will turn up.)

9. Many of us will reuse your intact hangers and clean shirt cardboards. (Thanks.)

10. If we're charging you premium rates, please … let us sew that button on.

11. We're not raking it in. The machinery is expensive. The people who press your silk shirt get up to $20 an hour. It's a skill.

12. We've heard stories about dry cleaners who borrow a customer's dress for a weekend. But we're sure they return it clean.

13. The best clothing store in town can recommend the best dry cleaner in town.

From Reader's Digest - February 2009

Home Stain Removal Techniques

2009-01-23T08:44:00.000-08:00

People often call asking how to remove a stain. Drycleaners do not like answering that question. We want to be helpful. However, there are so many variables. What follows is a quick list of the most common home remedies - THESE ARE FOR MACHINE WASHABLE, COLORFAST GARMENTS ONLY!

*Trade names are used for illustrative purposes only. Other similar product may perform as well.

WISK*: for pre-treating ring around the collar and not-so-difficult stains. Be sure and let the garment sit for about 20 minutes before washing, and follow all manufacturer's instructions.

BIZ*: I love this product. It is for pre-soaking difficult stains. Be careful as it is easy to pull colors and bleed a garment. A couple of hours soak is generally enough. Warm water can make this a much more aggressive technique.

Ammonia: Use at 50% strength diluted with water to flush out fresh blood stains on a shirt. Be patient and blot thoroughly then wash. BLOOD: If you are going to get blood out, be sure you are prepared to work at it. Use COLD water and DO NOT GIVE UP. Once you have worked on the stain - if it is still there, and you wash and dry the garment - it will be a permanent stain

Bleach: I do not recommend bleach. If you must, be sure to rinse MUCH MORE THAN YOU THINK IS NECESSARY. Bleach will eat the stains and the fabric - resulting in holes and other damage.

Pet Stains: Blot with a vinegar/water mixture - one quart warm water to 1/2 cup white vinegar.

Fabreze*: Another product I love. It is excellent for removing odor. A light spray and some sunshine can do wonders to restore a musty, smoky or smelly item.

"Old Wives' Tales" (that do not work); CLUB SODA - considered by many as a "cure all" for practically every mishap, it usually just spreads out the stain and can make removal of oily stains like butter and gravy almost impossible. Then there is WHITE WINE to remove red wine (please don't try it!). HAIR SPRAY to remove ink and WATER to remove almost anything. But when a spill happens in a social situation and a napkin dipped in water or club soda is used and rubbed, it breaks fibers and causes color loss ("crocking").

These remedies often appear to be helping, when in fact the majority of the time, a very expensive piece of you clothing investment is being ruined.

Quick Tips to Make Laundry Easy

2009-01-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

This is a short list of do's and don'ts that will make it easy for you to improve the results you get using your home washing machine.

DO wash new colored garments separately, colors can and do often bleed (especially the first few washes)!

DON'T over dry. Use a dryer with an automatic sensing feature, or be sure to set the timer so as not to over dry. Over drying set wrinkles, causes shrinkage, and unnecessary fabric damage.

DON'T leave damp clothes in the washer for an extended period of time. Mold, mildew and just a bad odor will often result.

DO remove clothes from the dryer promptly and shake them out. This minimizes wrinkles and the need to iron. Even an ironless shirt will be wrinkled if over dried and left in the dryer for an extended period!

DO use plastic hangers when line drying.

DON'T use chlorine bleach. Even 100% cotton men's shirts are generally not receptive to chlorine bleach. It will shorten the life of the shirt, possibly cause holes and can destroy the interfacing in the placket and collars - this is because the interfacing if often polyester (even in a 100% cotton shirt).

Laundry/Handwash/Wetclean: Whats the difference?

2009-01-03T07:26:00.000-08:00

A common customer complaint is - "why did you charge dryclean prices when I asked for these items to be washed?" (For a look at the best deal at the cleaners check out "Shirt Laundry" in a previous blog.)

The answer lies in the finishing (as we have touched on before). 80% of a drycleaners cost is due to the labor and time consuming process of finishing. The price category "Drycleaning" does not necessarily mean an item was cleaned in drycleaning solvent. For example, most drycleaners define "wetcleaning" as "drycleaning with a little water".

Laundry/Machine Wash/Hand Wash/Wetclean . . . all terms apply to the cleaning of garments in water. So why are there so many terms? There are subtle differences you should be aware of.

Laundry is the most general of the terms. A textile is cleaned using water as the solvent

Machine Wash, as defined by the Federal Trade commission, is a process by which soil may be removed from items with water, detergent, soap, agitation, and a machine designed for the purpose. When no temperature is given, hot water up to 150F is used.

Hand Wash is defined the same as machine wash with the exception that a gentle squeezing action is used in place of a machine.

Wetcleaning is a term used to describe the extension of the range of hand washing for the purpose of restoring a garment. The majority of these techniques involve soaking for extended periods, tightly controlled chemicals, temperature and agitation. This technique is not readily available to the general public and require extensive experience to avoid garment damage.

You Can Have the Perfect Closet (for your clothes)!

2008-12-24T07:11:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, you have a significant investment in our wardrobe and you have a few pieces that you expect to hold onto for many seasons. How and where we store our garments has a huge effect on their life expectacy. A well designed closet should keep your items organized and keep them in good condition. It is astounding the damage that can be done to garments by a poorly designed closet - from insect damage to mildew, sun fading and more. Below are some tips on creating the perfect closet (from a garment storage perspective:-).

Use low wattage lights in your closet - AND NO DIRECT SUNLIGHT! I am amazed at how many sky lights or windows I see in closets. Windows are not for your closet. The sun will bleach your clothes the same way it will bleach your hair. I have also seen ultraviolet lights being sold for closets. These lights do an excellent job at controlling mildew but serious sun fading can result!

If you have a bright closet, or blocking the window is not an option, put clean white sheets over items you don't wear frequently. You can poke a hole in the middle of the sheet to put over the hanger.

Closets that have one (or heaven forbid more than one) exterior wall should not be used for long term storage of garments. Closets with exterior walls tend to have higher humidity. Anything stored next to an outside wall will be effected by both the changes in temperature and the absorption of moisture. Guest room closets with are infrequently opened should also be avoided or as a minimum leave the doors ajar periodically to air them out.

Closet tip . . . when you are away on a trip, open all your closet doors to allow air to circulate. This will reduce humidity and control mildew growth. Also insects cause the most damage when they are isolated and un-bothered.

Closet dryers are available such as the crystalline type for small storage areas. You can find them and better hardware stores. Larger closets require electric dryers.

Do no pack clothes tightly into a closet -- they need room to breath

Cedar lining of a closet can help reduce insect damage. The cedar requires rejuvenation YEARLY by scuffing up the surface as the cedar will reseal itself. I do no recommend moth balls! The moth ball odor is often impossible to remove from garments. For long term storage I recommend a cedar chest.

Some tips that even the perfect closet would appreciate:
Cedar closet lining can be cut to length and laid on shelves or placed in drawers. This is much more effective and less costly than purchasing cedar blocks.

Never put garments away for the season (or an extended period) without cleaning them. Invisible stains (fruit juice, champagne, white wine, etc) will oxidize (picture how an apple turns brown after you take a bite and set it aside). Oxidized stains are very difficult to remove. Also, it is the soils in the clothes that insects love. So putting worn garments in your closet will be an invitation to bugs.

Room dry all damp clothes and leather and suedes after each wear, BEFORE returning them to the closet. Fabrics and especially leather and suede are hygroscopic and will retain moisture when worn.

Store knits flat! Gravity can do great damage over time to many garments. Knits are especially prone because they are constructed to move and stretch. Always store knits flat on a shelf or in a drawer. I have seen fine knits that have stretched several inches from hanging in the closet.

Heavy and beaded garments should be stored on padded hangers, with pin supports and using the provided straps for further support. If there are none, you can pin a strap to each side at the waist. This helps remove some of the weight and retain the garment's shape.

Never store clothing in plastic bags provided by the drycleaner. Those bags are intended to protect your items on the trip home from the cleaner. The bags catch gasses given off by the atmosphere, garments and that come out of the plastic. When contained in the bags such gases can build up in concentrations to damaging levels.

History of Drycleaning

2008-12-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

Spirits of turpentine were used to remove stains of an oily nature as far back as the beginning of the 18th century. The garment cleaning industry existed in both Europe and the United States prior to the mid-1800's. The trade was known as "dyer-scourer." The cleaners job was based on wet cleaning processes with solvents used for localized spot removal.

The process reversed itself in the late 18th century and relied primarily on the use of solvents for cleaning as opposed to water. Cleaners found that less shrinkage, dye loss, and wrinkling occurred making the finishing operations easier.

The first dry cleaning operation was Mr. J. B. Jolly's cleaning and dyeing firm in Paris, France. Primarily camphene solvent was used. This solvent was less than ideal as it left a lingering odor of turpentine. Other early solvents included benzole, kerosene and gasoline.

In 1928 W. J. Stoddard developed an acceptable petroleum based solvent which became known as Stoddard solvent. Because of its low flash point of 100 degrees, another similar solvent called 140degree solvent was developed because it was safer. This solvent remains in use today.

In the 1930's trichloloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride were being used starting a trend toward synthetic solvents. These solvents were advantageous because they were non-flammable and fast drying. Also in the 1930's perchloroethylene came into use and is still the primary solvent used today. One other solvent developed in the 1960's known as flourocarbon solvent has the advantage of its gentleness to fabrics and dyes. Because of the discovery of the detrimental effect on the ozone layer, this solvent was phased out of use in the US.

Today, petroleum solvents (often called organic, true, but there is no healthful advantage to a petroleum solvent), and perchloroethylene are the major solvents utilized for the drycleaning industry. Many alternatives are being developed, Silicone (Green Earth), CO2, Drysolve, etc. in an effort to clean and be more environmentally conscious.

Source Note: Drycleaning Laundry Institute, MD

Caring for Your Neck Tie

2008-12-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

A favorite Christmas gift for men is the necktie. Neckties are also a way to add a fashion statement to men's business attire. Today I want to talk about what you can do to make you ties last for years to come!

AVOID STAINS: People don't realize that ties are specialty items and are not really intended to be cleaned too frequently. That said - the best way to avoid wear is to protect your tie when you eat. Pulling it to the side, removing it or covering it with a napkin are all good options.

UNTIE THE KNOT: Leaving the tie knotted between wearings may cause permanent wrinkles. Always store your ties untied! Be gentle when you tie and untie your tie. Do not pull the small end through the knot to untie as this action forces undue stress on the fragile bias material comprising most ties.

REMOVING WATER MARKS: Ties should not be rubbed to remove a stain with the exception of water marks. Some water marks can be removed by lightly rubbing the mark with the small end of the tie, use no moisture or agents. Be sure to rub gently and monitor progress from all angles to prevent damage to the finish.

REMOVING WRINKLES: After removing your tie for the day, if there are any wrinkles, roll the tie around a finger, slip the rolled tie off, and store overnight. Do not roll too tightly and do not keep it in the rolled up position for more than a day or two. If this is unsuccessful, try rolling the tie in the other direction. Never press a tie with an iron!

CLEANING TIES: Ties are very fragile and require experienced and competent care. Proper cleaning can only be achieved by a professional that will take the care to hand treat, very gently clean, and block the tie to its proper shape. Ties should never be ironed or pressed, as such actions will force the bias material out of shape and cause impressions, crease edges and generally remove life from the tie.

Inspect some finished work from a cleaner before entrusting one with such unique articles.

Live Longer, Look Younger

2008-11-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

I mean your drapes, of course.

Nothing brightens a room like clean drapes and window treatments. And there are a few things to know in order to keep your drapes living longer, and looking younger.

Drapes and window treatments are made of a variety of cloths, from heavy durable fabrics, to light, transparent materials. But no matter what they are made of, a number of environmental factors will affect their condition and lifespan. These include:

Sunlight
Sun damage and fading strike unlined drapes the hardest. Sunlight will not only fade colors but also wear on the threads of the fabric itself. While man[made fibers such as polyester are more resistant to such damage, no material is immune

Oxidation
Fumes from pollution, cooking, smoking, etc., contain chemicals which will cling to curtains and drapes. When combined with humidity and oxygen, these chemicals can create a mild acid which hastens deterioration.

Shrinkage
Humidity and air quality can cause drapes to shrink 2%! Over time, this shrinkage can be progressive.

Dyes and Pigments
Drapery dyes, like all dyes, are subject to changes over time. These can include bleeding, cracking and running. Pigments held on fabric with a binding agent can also crack, stiffen and fade over time.

Humidity and Moisture
Often, condensation on windows comes into contact with drapes leaving permanent water marks.

It is important to protect your valuable investment with regular cleaning in order to remove the soiling and deposits of vapors and fumes that com from heating systems, fireplaces, cooking and dust. How often draperies should be cleaned depends on location and amount of sunlight. Kitchen draperies, or those in a household with smokers, should be cleaned annually, whereas those used in a guest room with minimal sunlight need cleaning only once every two to four years. Those near intake or heating agents, or close to windows which are often opened, need cleaning every one to two years.

If you would like to freshen up your home prior to the Holiday Season, please plan ahead to allow sufficient time for the entire process. Prior to taking down your window treatments - take a digital photo to document their layout and appearance. This helps to ensure that the decorator's original intent is preserved. Prior to cleaning the treatments themselves will be measured both before and after cleaning. 5% shrinkage is considered acceptable by the fabric manufacturers. And rehanging by an experienced professional can compensate for these sort of shortcomings.

So here's hoping your drapes and window treatments live a long and youthful life:-)

For the guy who is sick of his shirt buttons breaking

2008-11-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Imagine you are on a business trip. It is 6am and you are getting dressed in your hotel room. You pull out your dress shirt that was, cleaned, pressed and folded for travel by your drycleaner. You are going to look like a million bucks for this presentation/sales meeting/etc.
As you are buttoning up your shirt, it happens. The button is either missing - or it breaks in your fingers. You frantically search for the little sewing kit that hotels always put in the room. The button is a different size and your sewing capabilities are limited.
CURSE THAT DARN DRYCLEANER or LAUNDRY you think to yourself.

Sound familiar?

Let me tell you why this happens. Buttons are made off-shore. China, India, Pakistan, etc. And quality control is often non-existent. These cheap plastic buttons are not made to survive the temperatures of commercial laundry. I believe many buyers for the garment industry are just not aware of the problem. If the button looks good, and the price is right, they buy. After all, they have no responsibility once the end customer has purchased the garment.

How to prevent broken buttons: Ask your cleaner to replace all the buttons when the shirt it new. Cleaners buy high quality aftermarket buttons that stand up to the cleaning process. Also, many original buttons are unable to be matched. If you replace them all up front, any lost buttons will be a non-issue in the future

we have developed a men's shirt program that will replace all the buttons on a shirt for $20. We remove all the buttons and replace them with buttons that are quality made and will withstand the heat of commercial laundry. Like most quality cleaners, we replace buttons that break during cleaning/pressing. But they do not always match exactly.

Replacing all the buttons at once has several benefits: There is no mix-mash over time as buttons are replaced one by one - often a shirt will end up with several different looking buttons and/or thread, and most important, you will avoid the scenario of being in a hotel room with no button on your shirt.

Pay less to clean your shirts!

2008-10-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

I want to illuminate one of the most frequent complaints I hear about drycleaners.
“I wanted my shirt laundered. Why did you dryclean it? I don’t want to pay 3 or 4 times what you charge for the laundered shirt!”

Even worse – the public often get the impression that their cleaner charges more for women’s clothing than men’s. That is illegal! Unfortunately, the clerks working at many cleaners don’t understand why the prices are what they are. Poorly trained Customer service reps re-enforce this common misconception.

Before I address the WHY, here are my tips for buying shirts so that you won't experience this:

First: Buy 100% cotton! Rayon, spandex blend, silk, etc. CANNOT BE Machine Finished! The machine has 400F plates that close on the WET material. These materials melt, tear or otherwise cannot withstand the process!

Second: Select shirts with standard buttons. - Pearl buttons, snaps, etc. will break or melt!

Third: Do not buy shirts with pleats, tacks, ornamentation or linings that can flop around.

Lastly: Buy your shirts between a size 6 and 12 - anything too large or too small SHOULD cost extra because it won't fit on the machine.

Shirts can be finished by 3 methods: Machine Only (Least costly), Touch up - Machine and then touched up with an iron (More Labor intensive), Hand Finish - Ironed the old fashioned way (If you have ironed your own shirts, you know what I'm saying when I say this is the most labor intensive. A skilled finisher with the best equipment can still take up to 15 minutes to properly iron a linen or cotton blouse!)

The reason drycleaning is expensive is because of the time, supplies, labor and utilities involved.

So the natural question would be "Why don't they make machines for other types of clothing?" Well there is no garment as uniform and frequently used as a man's dress shirt.

I hope this photo of the shirts as they come off of the machine (no touch-up) make my point. Every one is a different brand. Some are short sleeve, some are button down. But they are notably all alike.

Try this with women's blouses and you will begin to understand your drycleaners dilemma!

So let's review why these shirts are so inexpensive: First off, shirts are not dried. There are no utilities necessary to dry the shirts, because they are pressed wet. The shirt machine is “dressed” with a wet shirt, and then 2 400 degree hot metal plates close on the shirt drying and pressing it at the same time.

So besides the savings in natural gas (which is huge, by the way!) one person can press over 50 shirts an hour!!!! Try that on your ironing board at home. Even with all the fancy technology, pressing a rayon, silk or even (I should say especially) a cotton or linen blouse takes up to 10 minutes. Cotton and Linen hand pressed shirts are even more time consuming.

That being said, shirt pressed by machine feel different. They are a little stiffer than hand finished shirts – That is the your preference.

Also, shirt that are machine finished only last (according to the Laundry & Drycleaning Institute) 52 washings. That is a life of one year if you wash your shirt weekly. Hand finished shirts will not wear out that quickly.

The key to avoiding this:
Communication!

AND

You get what you pay for (and what you want)!

A Matter of Life or Death Denim

2008-10-11T08:42:00.001-07:00

Content taken from Dr Denim

"According to the experts, denim/jeans should not meet detergents or washing machines for the first six months after purchase. That's why (he) decided to write this blog and document the life of (his) new jeans for the first six or so months of their life"

Dry cleaning your jeans is OK, and as far as I understand, won't shorten their shelf life. However, you need to find a dry cleaner that knows what they're doing. It's the same with everything in life. You don't go to the first car mechanic you find. You look around a bit, and ask people who have used dry cleaners in your area before.

"Dry-Cleaning in certain solvents will return the jeans looking like new or better with no shrinkage." If you're living in the US, have a look at http://www.americasbestcleaners.com/, for the top 50 dry cleaners. According to Dependable Drycleaners in Denver, they did a test for a local TV station, where they dry cleaned a pair of pants 10 times, and washed an identical pair 10 times. When they compared them side by side, the dry cleaned pair looked as good as they did on day one, only softer, where the pair that was washed looked older and lost color.

My test, however, has nothing to do with washing vs dry cleaning. It has to do with "wearing in" the jeans for 6 months, and then washing them, in water, for the first time, so that the raw denim would shrink the 1-5%. That will, according to the experts, give me a really good fit -- Darryl De Necker

Americas Best Cleaners

2008-10-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

I am in NYC right now learning from many of America's best cleaners. We are discussing topics that range from "The fashion industries sustainable future" with presenters including Doug Shriver from Brooks Brothers and Nicholas Regine from Swarovski Crystals (As a side did you know that some of the Cristal used for ornamentation on garments are still made with lead?!), to "The Green Economy" and Bogner Winter 2008 Ski Wear and Why I only trust ABC by Edwin Abreu of Brioni.

I know that just talking and sharing ideas with this diverse group makes my business more valuable to my customers. I recommend that you look for a cleaner with affiliations. This sort of training and continuous improvement is something less than one in ten drycleaners bothers to do. Any cleaner that cares enough to invest time in this sort of growth, is delivering their customers greater value. I also believe it is a huge benefit to our employees, making us a better community citizens.

America's Best Cleaners is one way we can regulate or "certify" the quality of the cleaners in the association. The group is there to serve the garment industry and is currently partnered with Hugo Boss, Brioni, and Brooks Brothers. In exchange for these clothiers recommending America's Best Cleaners, the organization created an objective program to ensure that the customers (you) will have the best dryclean experience and value.

What makes a cleaner one of America's Best?

Review of all aspects of production before cleaner is accepted
Monthly solvent testing - for cleanliness and ph
Quarterly secret shop for quality
Quarterly secret shop for service
Direct customer service surveys

All members must maintain good standing on every one of these items in order to be included.

Drycleaning aside, it is fascinating to by in NYC right now discussing business!

How to Remove a Stain

2008-09-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

First: Never put water on a dryclean only garment in an effort to remove a stain!

Water stains are best removed with water - anything put on a stain will have to be removed. I know, most people has heard that soda water bubbles will lift a stain - Don't believe it!

Ink: Ink is combination of chemicals. One will come out with water and the other will not! Once the chemicals have been separated - the ink becomes permanent. Hairspray is water based, so even if it get the ink out - you then need to remove the hairspray stain. Most small ink stains can be removed by a skilled drycleaner. However success also depends on the fastness of the color in the garment. Natural fibers - cotton and silk for example, do not hold dyes very firmly making these sort of stains difficult to remove on brightly colored garments.

Second: If you feel the need to apply an at home stain remover, REFRAIN! Again, most of these products are water based and will need to be flushed with water. This is not a good idea for dryclean only garments.

Third: You can blot the stain with a clean towel or napkin. Do not use paper napkins, or worse, colored paper napkins - the color may transfer to the garment and cause damage.

Fourth: Do not rub a stain. This will cause abrasion or de-luster the fabric - so it is no longer a stain, it is then fabric damage. You may also work the soil into the fibers making the stain more difficult to remove. Blot or pat the stain to remove the excess.

Fifth: At home dryclean kits do not remove soils. They freshen with deodorants and at best remove dust.

Sixth: Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda are wonderful natural whiteners for your regular laundry. They are do not contain the toxic ingredients of many store bought bleaches and cleaners. Be sure to read the instructions and not over use them.

Seven: Sunshine is a wonderful disinfectant - leaving items outside in the sunshine for a short period (less than an hour) works as well today as it did in your grandmothers day. Drycleaning alone does not remove odors but sunshine will. But be warned, the sun is very damaging and can bleach garments and weaken fibers if they are left out too long!

In the end, I am advocating leaving stain removal to the professionals. They have access to more chemicals than you do at home and they have experience with all sorts of fibers and soils. Some stains that are impossible to remove at home - make-up stains and salad oil for example, are relatively easy for the drycleaner to remove because oil based stains come right out in the drycleaning process. One of the many lessons I have learned over the years is that nothing is simple. Every garment is unique - weave, material blend, dyes -- and every stain is unique, and is best left to the professional.

How to create free time

2008-09-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, you have more things to each day than you have time for. Time is a precious commodity. We cannot make more time and it keeps on moving forward, no matter how we protest. I think time is our most precious commodity. How we use our time shapes who we are.

So how much time do you spend on errands? Things like grocery shopping, going to the post office, and going to the drycleaner.

Going to the drycleaners. What other chore can you name where you have to get in your car and drive to the same shop twice and pay money to get your same old clothes back! And if you clothes are not ready on the promised day, you could be going in yet again! Really! Who has time for that?

Did you know you don’t have to go to the drycleaners? Most areas have at least one cleaner that offers free pick up and delivery. Why would anyone NOT use this free service?

They put your credit card on file. You leave your clothes in a bag on a hook on your front door (or some other predetermined spot). Then on the “ready” date (generally Monday to Thursday, Thursday to Monday, Tuesday to Friday and Friday to Tuesday). Your clothes are returned to you fresh and clean to your door.

Your drycleaner literally becomes your front (or back door). In drycleaning, as in life, it is all about the automating the details. This is one errand that should be a non-errand. After all, don't you have better things to do?

Click here for some time saving tips from the smart folks at MIT!

3 Facts Your Drycleaner thinks you know

2008-09-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

If you go to the drycleaners regularly, you will eventually have an issue. Perhaps this is the reason drycleaners have such a bad reputation with the public. I believe that these occurrences are the best way to determine if you have chosen the right cleaner for you. This is really an opportunity for you.

ANY concern you voice should be taken seriously! It may or may not be the drycleaners fault (they may not be able to know at first blush) - but they should care that you are unsatisfied.

Wear and life - Just like your car when you drive it off the lot, your clothes loose value with every passing day. The FTC and IFI (the laundry and drycleaning institute) publish guidelines that state most garments have a life of 2 years. Even leathers have a lifetime of 10 years. If you love vintage clothes - be sure to tell your cleaner the age of the item. The cleaner may not want to clean it because it is not their specialty. That's OK. You can find another.

Your drycleaner assumes what you drop off is drycleanable - This is often not true. Hand painted garments often can not be put in a dryclean machine. Another example, many Tommy Bahama silk items must be cleaned exactly according to care labels or else the dyes will fade or bleed.

You get what you pay for - Many cleaners limit their liability to 10 to 20 times the cost of cleaning. This is a well established guideline and is often printed on your receipt. This is fine if you have dockers or other main stream items cleaned. However, if you regularly take your $4000 Armani suit, or Dolce Gabbana dress to be cleaned, your clothes may not be getting the attention they need. Be sure to always let your cleaner know if you have these sort of expensive items.

The History of Slacks

2008-09-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

Is your Drycleaner Green? (Take the plastic back!)

2008-09-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

Those that have known me for a while, know that I am a bit of an enigma. While its true, I was an Aerospace engineer, I also was a vegetarian for several years and for a period grew my own food, recycled and composted to such an extent that I did not have any refuse removal for weeks at a time. Somehow, I always was able to integrate my green beliefs and lifestyle with a field where many thought it wasn't possible.

Now that I am a drycleaner, reducing waste and my carbon footprint is as challenging as ever. With the growing green marketing in the world, I think it has gotten more difficult to know what is and isn't "greener".

First off, it isn't about the solvent! Did you know that all 4th generation drycleaning machines (in California - all drycleaning machines are supposed to be 4th or 5th generation) if they are well maintained, recycle 95% or more of the solvent with no air pollution?! Compare that to your washing machine at home that discharges all the water, detergents and bleaches into the sewer system. The main thing a customer needs to know is that the machinery is well maintained.

How can you tell if the drycleaner maintains his equipment? Well, a poorly maintained front office would be a good tip off. Chemical odors in your clothes is another. But over time you will be able to tell by the quality of cleaning. Poorly maintained equipment will show up as poorly cleaned garments.

If you are concerned about the environment, ask what your drycleaner does to be environmentally responsible. If the only answer is solvent, keep looking. Any environmentally concerned drycleaner should have a laundry list of items; Hanger re-use program, plastic recycling, paper and cardboard recycling, better light bulbs, full pipe insulation, boiler reclamation etc. You may not understand it all, but it is the fact that they have thought about it and have a list that counts.

Organic is a term that may have meaning in other industries, but is pretty meaningless for a drycleaner. Any chemical that has Carbon in it is technically organic. Perc, the solvent that has gotten all the bad press and the reason California drycleaners are required to have a Prop 65 sign in their windows, is organic. Silicone solvent - made from beach sand and the same chemical used in the beauty industry in many creams and lotions - is not organic. There are also CO2 machines and lots of hybrid types. They all have their environmental, safety or other drawbacks. So no matter the solvent, I maintain, you cannot determine a green drycleaner by solvent alone!

Plastic bags (known as poly) is the hardest thing for me to deal with. They are not recyclable in your home recycle bins. We had to take them to a grocery store for recycling before we got our supplier to take the plastic back. We now have gone to continuous roll plastic that reduced our usage by 20%. Unfortunately, the customers get more plastic. Try and make sense of that! The industry is working to create a bio-degradable (corn based) plastic. And I hope that it will be available soon. Reusable bags seem like a good idea - however you are creating another something that will need to be cleaned regularly - taking more energy and cost. It all gets very complicated very quickly.

My biggest recommendation for any dryclean customer is TAKE THE PLASTIC OFF THE CLOTHES AS SOON AS YOU GET HOME! The plastic is a petroleum product and it out-gasses. Often the chemical smell people complain about is not solvent, but out-gassing from the plastic. The plastic also captures atmospheric gases and holds them next to your clothes, and they will end up next to your skin. I have even seen cases where the plastic trapped moisture and the clothes were ruined by mold. Keeping the plastic on for a few days won't cause any harm. In fact, clothes packed in the drycleaner plastic travel much better. However, remove the plastic as soon as possible -- and by all means take it back to the drycleaner. If they don't take it, find another drycleaner.

So with all these negatives, you may wonder why I still believe in the cleaners. Well there are 2 main things that I feel are irrefutable;

People must clean there clothes, and our washers and machines are always full, and constantly monitored. They use much less energy, detergent, solvent that any home cleaning system possibly could to clean the same volume. What better reason to get your sheets professionally cleaned and pressed - treat your self to luxery and help conserve our environment?
We offer free pick up and delivery. This may be unique to us, but our routes are so dense that we have 100 stops a day on 5 routes. Think of the amount of traffic and fuel use if all those people drove to the cleaners!

In the end, I want you to feel better about your drycleaner. Bad operators give the whole industry a bad name. I trust that conscientious consumers like you will use their buying power to support the environmentally responsible drycleaner.

How to choose a drycleaner: Part Two

2008-08-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

Consider the time and commitment that the average person invests each time they visit a salon for hair care or body work. A good drycleaner recognizes your investment in your wardrobe and needs your understanding of the often-difficult task it is to protect that investment. Mutual respect and an eye toward the same goal combine as important ingredients for a successful relationship.

There can be great disparity among drycleaners – as with restaurants—and there are many different attitudes toward perfection. You know what your comfort level is. Assess yourself, decide what is best for you, and then set out to find the drycleaner that offers you the best fit.

You are now officially warned: there is no requirement, license (other than a business license) or certification to become a drycleaner – all they need is a sign!

Factors in the decision:
Selecting a drycleaner is a personal issue. In considering your drycleaning needs, you must find the balance of several elements: convenience, price, quality, serviced offered, customer care and expertise. How these items are prioritized vary with every person. Take a moment and consider each factor.

Convenience:

Remember that rush our, both morning and night is a high traffic time at your dycleaner’s counter. If time is a consideration, ask if the cleaner promotes a quick-drop method.
Is free parking and easy access available?
If you pick up and drop off on the way to work, consider these issues: some clothing can fade if left in direct sunlight for an extended period. The heat of a closed car can diminish a crisp finish on your clothing. Security may also be a consideration if clothing is visible in your car.
Flexible hours
Pick up and delivery service.

Price:
Price is usually dictated by quality. Do you wear clothing that demands hand ironing and excellent spot removal at a higher price, or will a discount cleaner satisfy your needs? If you opt for the cheaper cleaner, I don't believe it is fair to hold then responsible when they ruin your white designer shirt. They are cheap because they cut corners, and the buyer should beware!

Quality:
This goes along with price. In drycleaning, you usually get what you pay for. Fine drycleaning requires constant training for every position in the cleaners. Everyone from Finishers to the Drycleaner and the Customer Service people need to be kept current in order to maintain quality. The changing nature of chemicals, and textiles require it!.

Responsiveness:
When you have a complaint about quality, you have a lost garment; you need something in a rush; or you need a special favor, such as a quick repair or special delivery you’re your drycleaner there for you. Whether discount or custom, your cleaners should “bend over backward” for you. Expect no less.

Choosing a drycleaner is as personal as your wardrobe. When it comes to drycleaning there are tangible differences. I believe that if you do enough drycleaning, you will eventually have a problem. It may or may not be the cleaners fault - often the manufacturers are at fault and the cleaner is blamed. What sets a drycleaner apart, is how they handle the issue and if the customer is happy (as possible) with the outcome.

In the final analysis, you need to do the taste test yourself.

How to choose a drycleaner: Part One

2008-08-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Most people have little idea how involved the dry-cleaning process is and, really, why should they care? I believe you need to know enough to ensure you have control over your clothing investment.

The process of dropping your clothing at the drycleaner is not as simple as it first appears. It is the drycleaners job to make it look simple. It starts with a skilled and caring customer service person. Quality will depends on the skilled and diligent production workers. Caring for textiles is a labor intensive, people intensive business. Proper care for your clothing requires continuing education and awareness on not only the cleaner’s part – but on your part, as well.

With that in mind, here is a brief outline of what happens when your clothes go to the cleaners and what you should be on the lookout for.

The Process:
From the moment you walk into your drycleaner or give your items to your personal drycleaner (at your home or office), the process begins.

At the counter: You want the customer service person to be responsive when you point out a stain or discuss a problem. They should inspect the clothing for a proper count of what you are leaving at the very least.

There are generally 2 methods for accepting items:

1) A detailed inspection and pricing in front of the customer of every piece. For a large order this may take considerable time (well over 15 minutes!). Very small, and often lower end or discount cleaners will often inspect and create the final invoice in your presence – I believe this is an indication of the lack of trust between the drycleaner and customer. I would take it as red flag. A company that must ensure their price upfront or that a hem was loose on arrival, will not be able to build the level of trust needed to provide delivery service, THE BIGGEST VALUE YOU CAN GET FROM A CLEANER! However, this is fairly common. If this is your drycleaner, be sure they are reading the care label, discuss any unusual aspects and alert you to any stains. They should also check all pockets and return any items found to you.

2) More common (and I believe preferable – time is money after all!) is a mini inspection with a mini ticket issued. The items are then inspected thoroughly after you have gone to do something else.

Marking or Detailing the Order:
Before cleaning, all items must have an identification affixed. Then a technician will do a second inspection and make some basic decisions: Whether the item can be cleaned in a drycleaning machine, which stains need to be pre-treated, the length of the cleaning cycle necessary to remove soil and stains; the length of the cycle with regard to fragility of the item; possible air drying to control shrinkage, and the type of solvent. There are currently 6 major solvent used. Most cleaners use at least 2, water and their solvent of choice. If chemicals are important to you, solvent may be a factor in your choice.

Finishing: This refers to both hand ironing and machine pressing. Pressing by machine results in a firm, often crisp finish (like a man’s shirt). Hand ironing results in a softer finish and is much more labor intensive. An experienced finisher knows which approach will improve unsightly shine, button impressions and hard wrinkles. The finisher must also make many decisions: Should an item be hard or soft pressed, should it be creased? Should the hem be pressed or rolled? Should the linen blouse be starched? These are all daily decision made by a finisher.

Final Inspection: When the garment has been cleaned and finished, final inspection takes place where all tags are removed and the clothes are deemed ready to wear. A plastic bag is put over the order to protect it during storage and on the way back to your closet. Many discount cleaners skip this last step, meaning you will act as the final inspector.

How to Impress Women

2008-08-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU PRESS YOUR OWN SHIRTS!
We can tell if you don't get your shirts professionally laundered. They just don't have that crisp finished look. The lines on the side or arms are a dead giveaway, or maybe its that slightly fuzzy look that gives it away. These days lots of guys are wearing funky dress shirts over jeans. Its a great look! But if its wrinkled (not the wrinkled look - big difference), we wonder "why can't he spend $3 to get a shirt pressed? His time must not be valuable."

I was recently fortunate enough to attend a networking group that consisted of (mostly) very successful (read millionaire) Internet businessmen. It was a fascinating experience! They were all there to network and get ideas from each other. It quickly became clear that they were driven to be successful in ALL aspects of their lives. Many were married and work life balance was discussed more than once. At one point they got so specific as to ask the question "how can I make sure my wife (partner, etc) feels loved when I work such long hours and travel frequently?"

Now as a woman, I have heard this story countless times from the other end of the conversation. I found this discussion really impressive. One recommendation struck me as brilliant in its simplicity; no matter whether both partners work or not, get a house keeper. If you are never home and never clean or do dishes etc. resentment will build in your partner. But if you are home - it is more important to have quality time, rather than spend it cleaning toilets.
Wow! So simple and so true

After the epiphany of the house cleaner, I started questioning how many of them used drycleaners, and of those that did, did they have pickup and delivery service. Actually, I could tell right away that most of them did not use a cleaner. Most were wearing dress shirts and it was apparent that they (turns out it was their wife) did the laundry.

Now the age range of the group was 25 - 50 and the over 40 crowd seemed a little more savvy about drycleaning. However many of the younger ones had never even consider it. When I asked if they could think of a more tedious time consuming chore than laundry, I got the impression most of them didn't do their own laundry. Suddenly a light went on - while they already had a housekeeper, they could also get the laundry sent out. What about sheets? Khakis?
They found a new way to be successful and a hero at home! And it was simple.

These were entrepreneurs that made their living by selling their ideas - that pretty much applied to everyone there. How they looked would be key to making a sale to investors, customers (if they met them in person) or their wives. And every one of them wanted to look as successful as they were (Don't get me wrong there won't be any suits anytime soon) and make life better for their family.

What is important in life? All these success stories put their family, their time and their image at the top of the list and that is exactly what a drycleaner can do for you.

Who am I?

2008-08-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

For my first entry I thought it would be good to explain how I became the online drycleaning authority. Not everyone who works in drycleaning is a dryclean expert

I am the owner of Ablitt's Fine Cleaners in Santa Barbara, California. Ablitt's is one of America's Best Cleaners and an industry leader. We have over 25,000 active customers at any given time and, because of our spectacular location and proximity to Hollywood, have hundreds of very well known names on our list.

While my Father founded Ablitt's in 1984, drycleaning has been in my family for generations. My grandmother and grandfather met while working at her father's dryclean shop in Washington State. Each generation appears to have tried to go in new directions, but we cannot escape our family heritage. I personally went out and got a ton of education: BS in Engineering from UCLA and an MBA from Thunderbird (AGSIM). I even worked as an engineer and then in corporate finance at Allied Signal for the legendary Larry Bossidy. I am proud to say I am both published and have a patent. I am also happy to be home now!

Besides being born into drycleaning and working in it every day, we attend or hold some sort of training meeting every month. For example, our operation manager was just in Germany at the world famous Hoenstein Institute, there is a convention this weekend, I just visited a CO2 cleaners in Denver, we have trainers in quarterly, and we are having cleaners from around the country visit to study our route model next month.

I am a big believer in continuous learning. Both at work and at home. The only problem is that often we don't realize how much we know. I was recently at a meeting with a bunch of Internet folks. Talking with them (most didn't think they had a need for a drycleaner - more on that later), I realized that maybe, just maybe, I had something to say that at least a few people would be interested in.