Wet cleaning is the process of professionally cleaning “Dry Clean Only” clothes in water, instead of using a chemical solvent. Plain water, that would otherwise damage ”Dry Clean Only” clothes, is treated with special chemicals that make it safe to use; similar to the way “Woolite” works. While professional cleaners have always employed some form of water-based cleaning methods, often [...]
Archive for the ‘Laundry’ category
What is Wet Cleaning?
December 8, 2010Does Dry Cleaning Kill Bed Bugs?
October 13, 2010Yes! Dry cleaning does kill bed bugs. Hot water washing and high-temperature drying will also be sufficient to kill the bugs. The temperature in the cleaning process must reach a minimum of 120°F (49º C) for 20 minutes. Heat from steam finishing will also kill the bugs. Toys, backpacks, or other small items can be placed in [...]
Clothing Life Expectancy
August 18, 2010Nothing lasts forever, including your clothes, but how long should you expect a garment to last? According to the International Fair Claims Guide for Consumers Textiles Products, assuming normal wear, you can expect most of your clothes to last somewhere between two and three years. Here is a list of garments and their life expectancy.
Free Drycleaning Arbitration Service
May 4, 2010Are you in a dispute with your dry cleaner? If so, I’d like to help! Over the past 21 years, I have had the privilege of experiencing the drycleaning industry from a very unique vantage point. In a way, you could say that I am a “super customer” for the drycleaning industry. I have worked with hundreds of cleaners and spoken on [...]
Is starch bad for my shirts?
March 25, 2010Most cleaners offer different levels of starch for their laundered shirts. The choices are typically; no, light, medium, and heavy. I recommend choosing “no starch”, for several reasons. 1. Comfort - Using no starch on your shirts is much more comfortable than using starch. Starch will make your shirts feel stiff, may cause itching, and it will prevent the fabric from breathing. [...]
How do you read clothing care labels?
January 27, 2010Even dry cleaners sometimes have trouble deciphering clothing care labels! As part of “Project Clean” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) established a set of universal symbols for garment manufacturers to use on their clothing care labels that should explain at least one safe method of cleaning the garment. At a minimum, the instructions include four symbols: washing, bleaching, drying, and [...]
Clothing Care Label Symbols Defined – Washing
October 25, 2009The symbols on a clothing care label can provide valuable information about the best way to clean the garment, but only if you understand what they mean. Here are a few common labels and their definitions. Garments with this symbol on their care label can be safely machine washed in warm water. Garments with this symbol [...]
Why are women’s blouses more expensive to clean than men’s business shirts?
October 22, 2009The reason cleaners charge more for women’s blouses than men’s business shirts is because they are passing along their increased cost of production to their customers. Depending on the cleaner’s equipment, it costs them between three and four times the labor expense to properly “finish” a women’s blouse compared to a men’s shirt. Here’s why… The biggest [...]
What to do if clothes bleed?
October 21, 2009The Garment Manufacturer’s Dilemma When making clothing, the manufacturer is torn between two opposing desires. On one hand, they need to create a garment that is serviceable. By serviceable, I mean a garment that can be safely cleaned repeatedly without causing damage or excessive wear to the fabric. On the other hand, they need to create a garment that is aesthetically pleasing. In order for it to sell successfully, a garment must be made [...]
Garment Care Labels Defined – Ironing
October 13, 2009The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that all garments sold in the US have a care label attached. Below we have defined four common symbols found on care labels indicating the appropriate heat setting when ironing the garment. Garments with this symbol on their care label can be safely ironed with the iron’s temperature set to “low” heat. Garments with this [...]
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