Choosing a Dry Cleaner.
Many people do this without a second thought, picking the guy with the lowest rates or the store on the way home. This can be a costly mistake though. Choosing the wrong dry cleaner can "send you to the cleaners" when you favorite, expensive clothing items are lost, damaged, or worse. Today we are going to tell you five things to consider when choosing a dry cleaner.
1. Customer Service. I would have to rate this as the most important thing to consider in your dry cleaner search. Note the staff. Are they friendly? Helpful? Knowledgeable? Do they acknowledge you with a smile when you walk in the door? You want to find an establishment that actually cares about their customers, because they will be the ones, if something bad actually does happen, to make it right.
2. Experience. You don't want a "just out of the box" dry cleaner. What you do want is someone who has been in the business a long time, who knows all the in's and outs. This is very important! You want a dry cleaner who takes pride in their work, and not someone who is just worried about getting you in and out and taking your money. So definitely, look for someone experienced!
3. Cheapest Is Not Always Best. People often forget this point. Most people are only out to find the cheapest dry cleaner, and then they are disappointed when the quality of the work is not up to par. The fact of the matter is, there is no dry cleaner that can have the best employees, the best equipment, the best customer service, the fastest turn around, AND the cheapest rates. It is just impossible. So, remember, you have to sacrifice somewhere. I would rather pay a little more for better service.
4. Guarantees. A good dry cleaner should guarantee their work, no question about it. If you are not happy with their service, they should be willing to do whatever it takes to make it right. If that means a refund, if that means replacing your clothing, or cleaning your garment a second, or third, time. You want to make sure that you find a dry cleaner that stands behind their work.
5. Extra Services. This is not a requirement, but it can be very convenient to choose a cleaner who offers extra services. Some of these can include "green" dry cleaning, wedding gowns, leather cleaning, same day pickup, drop off and pickup services, repairs and alterations, etc. Like previously stated, these services are not a requirement of a good dry cleaner, but should be considered in your choice, if you will need these sorts of services.
Hopefully these tips will help your search for a dry cleaner to be an easy and rewarding one!
Please reconsider the sniff test! (or "How often should you dryclean your clothes?")
Studies have shown that 93 percent of what is believed about people in business is based upon visual messages, not on credentials or on the content of conversation.
An invaluable resource for today's job market, How to Gain the Professional Edge, Second Edition helps readers answer a multitude of questions about behavior, attitude, and image to improve professionalism and open doors to advancement and career success. According to Susan Morem, the author, "your clothing is the first thing others notice about you. Make sure your clothes are clean, pressed, mended and fit well.
Look sloppy and you are sloppy.
Look like a pro and you are one.
It's that simple.
You are what you wear! I was listening to NPR the other day, and they cited a study where over 50 percent of men use the Sniff Test to determine if a garment can be worn another time. If it doesn't smell bad, wear it again! Sounds reasonable.
However there are potential pitfalls to the sniff test . . . - I is true that perspiration can air out over time, so the odor may dissipate. But just because you can't smell it, doesn't mean you should where it! The alkalinity of the perspiration can greatly weaken a shirt to the point of tearing. Washing a shirt after every wear, or a hot day, may actually increase the life of your garments. - even if you can't see the soil, it will attract insects. That will end in holes and a shorter life for your garments - after a time stains can set making the garment unwearable - just because you don't smell anything, doesn't mean it doesn't smell. We are accustom to our own smells, and stop smelling them after less than a minute. Others, can still smell them! So what to do?
First, drycleaned clothes should be cleaned with the same frequency as washable garments. After all, they are subject to the same soils, and odors as the washable items. Second, run through this checklist to see if the garment is ready to wear;
is it:
- Odor free?
- Stain free?
- Lint free?
- Fit properly?
- Well pressed?
- No tears or seems open?
The moral of this story? Preventative maintenance is a requirement for extending the life of most consumer products . . . and your wardrobe is no different!
How to Remove a Blood Stain at Home
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First
thing:
Is your stained garment silk, rayon, wool, or some other dryclean only fabric?
Then I recommend taking it to a well trusted drycleaner!
If you have a polyester or cotton and the label says launder
or wash, then you are wise to follow my advice!
1) Best chance to remove a blood stain is
to treat it as quickly as possible before it has a chance to set.
2) ALWAYS
TRY COLD WATER FIRST , since harsher chemicals may damage more delicate fabrics and/or pull color.
3) Let the item soak a little - then
scrub - with a fingernail scrub brush, your fingernail.
Here is the
most important tip: If the blood doesn't come out all the way, DO NOT GIVE
UP! Keep scrubbing. If you need to take a break, that's fine.
- Leave the item soaking. Scrubbing for 10-15 minutes or longer of
is not uncalled for for a large stain, or if the stain has been sitting a
little while. Do be careful not to scrub a whole in the garment.
4)
If you must - you can add a little soap. The soap acts as a lubricant making it easier to remove the soils. Using too much soap DOES NOT increase the chances of a stain coming out!
5) If soap doesn't do the job
completely, try pouring ammonia straight over the stain and scrub again.
6) EXTREME MEASURES: Hydrogen
Peroxide is another method - soak the entire stain in straight Hydrogen
Peroxide 10-15 minutes and rinse with water. Watch for color loss with this one. If the stains are all over - I would dilute the Hydrogen Peroxide in water - and soak the entire garment. Watch it carefully - as soon as the stains start to move rinse and then wash the item completely!
Plastic Bags and Misinformation
I just read the best article I have seen on why banning plastic bags is not the answer. I have gotten many requests for reusable bags from clients over the years - and I still do not provide them. While I do use reusable bags for my groceries, I do not believe they are the answer for the drycleaning industry. In a nut shell, the "reusable garment bags" are made of pressed fibers, not woven - so they don't last. They will not survive multiple washings and the idea of putting clean clothes back in the dirty bags does not make sense. When these bags wear out - or are discarded - they end up in land fills and they take more energy to create than the plastic. These bags cannot be used for any other purpose than laundry (unlike grocery bags).
People who know me are surprised by my position on plastic because of my feeling about conservation and the environment. My biggest challenge with drycleaning when I returned to the industry was the plastic! . . . . I found a solution, for me and my clients. We collect the plastic and sell it to a US manufacturer of decking material. I would name the company here, but they asked me not to. They have been recycling plastic for 20 years, and produce an upscale product they feel would be denigrated if people knew it was created with recycled plastic.
The article I read was published in American Drycleaner Magazine and it was written by Bruce Luetzow, Partner, Luetzow Industries.
I have been unable to find an online version, and hope that they forgive my reproducing it here, in its entirety. I hope to get some feedback on the article - thanks.
People who know me are surprised by my position on plastic because of my feeling about conservation and the environment. My biggest challenge with drycleaning when I returned to the industry was the plastic! . . . . I found a solution, for me and my clients. We collect the plastic and sell it to a US manufacturer of decking material. I would name the company here, but they asked me not to. They have been recycling plastic for 20 years, and produce an upscale product they feel would be denigrated if people knew it was created with recycled plastic.
The article I read was published in American Drycleaner Magazine and it was written by Bruce Luetzow, Partner, Luetzow Industries.
I have been unable to find an online version, and hope that they forgive my reproducing it here, in its entirety. I hope to get some feedback on the article - thanks.
- A reusable garment bag ad states, "The simple step of switching (to product X) will help to reduce the estimated 300 million pounds of single-use plastic dry cleaning bags a year that continue to clog our landfills and kill our marine and wildlife" Not True.
- David Laist, a senior policy analyst with the federal Marine Mammal Commission, has stated: "In their eagerness to make their case (against plastic bags), some of the environmental groups make up claims that are not really supportable."
- Some people believe that plastic bags "clog up" landfills. Not true. According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, plastic bags (including retail, grocery store, and garment bags) use up only 0.3% of landfill space. Plastic garment bags make up a small percent of this figure.
- Due to misinformation relentlessly spread by the media, many people believe that plastic bags kill many sea mammals and seabirds each year. The San Jose Mercury News stated in an editorial, "Plastic bags kiss an estimated 1 million seabirds and 100,000 other animals every year, whether from eating the things or getting tangled in them." Not true. The London Times exposed this myth. The report on which the myth is based mentioned discarded fishing tackle that included fishing nets, not plastic bags. David Santillo, a marine biologist at Greenpeace, told the Times, "It's very unlikely that many animals are killed by plastic bags."
- Due to misinformation, some people believe plastic bags are not recyclable. Not true. Special plastic bag recycling bins have been installed in large supermarkets, retail stores and drycleaners throughout the country, or bags can be taken to local recycling centers or returned to the manufacturer. Virtually all of the plastic bags deposited in those bins are recycled and made into new plastic, plastic bags, or composite lumber.
- Due to misinformation, some people believe that paper bags are better for the environment than plastic bags. Not true. Paper bags result in between 2.0-3.3 times more greenhouse gasses than plastic bags.
- Some people believe that items labeled or stated to be "green" are green. Questionable.
- An editorial in the London Times stated, "There is a danger that the green herd, in pursuit of a good cause, stumbles into misguided campaigns. . . . . Many of those who have demonized plastic bags have enlisted scientific study to their cause. By exaggerating a grain of Truth into a larger falsehood, they spread misinformation and abuse the trust of their unwitting audiences."
- Reusable garment bags ads state that they "protect the clothes better, are safer, are so much better for the environment, save drycleaners thousands, are waterproof, are water-resistant, breathable, better, much safer, cheaper." Well, let's see.
- Mr Dry Cleaner, with your cleaning processes and skills, you renew the life and put freshness into your customer's cleaned garments. Finished packaging into a polyethylene garment bag showcases your professional work and markets the finished product. It becomes a walking advertisement of your skills that others can expect if they bring their garments to you for cleaning. Everyone can see the professionally cleaned finished product hanging from your slick rack. The garments and bags sparkle as they hang, the garments are clean, identification is easy, the customer is happy, and the garments are now clearly protected. A clear advantage of disposable poly garment bags is the guarantee of a clean, clear bag every time.
- Most reusable garment bags are made of solid, opaque cotton, nylon or non-woven polyprpylene material, making it impossible to see the cleaned garments within. The marketing of your cleaning skills stays hidden. Identification of the enclosed garments is not an easy task, unless one likes constantly opening and closing the reusable bag.
- Taking dirty clothes to the drycleaner in the reusable garment bag (now a dirty hamper bag) makes it necessary for the cleaner to not only clean the clothes but also the reusable bag. Some reusable bags that are not effectively cleaned can have a negative effect on human health and the environment due to bacterial growth. Many bags require hand washing if one really wishes them to be clean, which is time-consuming for the drycleaner or the bag owner.
- Most reusable bags are manufactured and imported from China, and many have been found to contain lead, mercury and other heavy metals. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called for a federal investigation into toxic materials in reusable shopping bags. Questions have also been raised as to whether or not the lead could be spread in landfills when the bags are discarded.
- Reusable garment bags that wear out quickly also take up space in landfills. Most are not biodegradable or compostable. All the different materials used in their construction (zippers, drawstring closures, see through front pockets, etc.) make trying to recycle some of them an expensive nightmare at best, and may not be economically possible at all.
- Early last year, the United Kingdom government Environment Agency published a life-cycle assessment of plastic, paper and reusable bags. "The study confirms that reusable bags are not inherently better for the environment than plastic bags. Reusable bags have to be used a tremendous number of times to provide an environmental benefit to conventional plastic carryout bags. The reality is that huge numbers of reusable bags are being thrown away before they are used the requisite amount of times."
- As the late President Ronald Reagan stated, "Trust, but verify." How true this is, especially with products that are labeled or stated to be green -- Bruce Luetzow www.americandrycleaner.com
Do you have FANCY shirts?
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.
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
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!
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!
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