FAQ
- Does frequent dry cleaning shorten the life of a garment?
- On the contrary, frequent dry cleaning prolongs the life of a garment. Not only do stains set with age, making the garment unwearable, but ground-in dirt and soil act as an abrasive, like sandpaper, causing rapid wear of fibers. Also, insects are attracted to soiled clothes and will cause further damage.
- Should I store my dry cleaning garments in the plastic bag they are returned in?
- No, the bags are provided by the dry cleaners to protect the garments until you get them home. Plastic bags inhibit the fabric from breathing and can promote the formation of mildew and cause fume fading. Fume fading will yellow whites and discolor colored garments. We would recommend storing dry cleaned garments uncovered or in fabric garment bags, away from direct sunlight.
- What do you do about ring around the collar and broken buttons on my shirts?
- You won’t experience these problems with Quality Cleaners shirt service. We go out of our way to make sure that collars are bright and buttons are in place. Our shirts go through a time tested and calculated chemical mix during washing to make sure all shirts come out bright, clean, and without stains. The shirts also go through a thorough inspection for stains, pressing, and broken or missing buttons so you don’t have to worry.
- What should I do if I spill food or beverage on my clothes?
- It is best to blot the stain with a clean dry napkin or towel then STOP! Be very careful with a damp or wet cloth as color loss or a water ring may be the result. Don't rub a stain. This may make it penetrate further into the fibers and may damage the fabric surface. Next, call us before attempting further action at home. Never return a stained garment to the closet. Spots and stains can set with age, and food spills attract insects, which can do permanent damage.
Spillage of food and beverages is probably the most common cause of spots on clothing. Many of these are combination stains containing oils, sugars, and other staining substances. These stains may take more than one procedure to remove completely. Stains from beverages containing sugar may seem to disappear, but will show up later when the sugar caramelizes in response to age or exposure to heat
- It is best to blot the stain with a clean dry napkin or towel then STOP! Be very careful with a damp or wet cloth as color loss or a water ring may be the result. Don't rub a stain. This may make it penetrate further into the fibers and may damage the fabric surface. Next, call us before attempting further action at home. Never return a stained garment to the closet. Spots and stains can set with age, and food spills attract insects, which can do permanent damage.
- What is Perc?
- Perchloroethylene, or perc, is the chemical solvent we use in our drycleaning process. Approximately 85% of dry cleaners use perc as their primary solvent. It is a clear, colorless liquid that has a sharp, sweet odor and evaporates quickly. It is an effective cleaning solvent and is used by most professional drycleaners because it removes stains and dirt from all common types of fabrics. Perc does not cause clothes to shrink, nor dyes to bleed. Since perc can be reused, it is a cost-effective and efficient solvent for dry cleaners to clean clothes.
- Do I need to worry about wearing dry cleaned clothes?
- No. There has been no proof that wearing clothes cleaned by your dry cleaner is detrimental to your health. Perc is evaporated from dry clean clothes as part of the overall cleaning process. Our family has been working on site and operating the dry cleaning machines for more than 50 years. We dry clean all our clothes from infant clothes on up, and feel very comfortable having our children wear dry cleaned clothes.
- How does dry cleaning work?
- Despite its name, dry cleaning is not totally dry. It involves the use of liquid chemicals called solvents that remove most stains from a variety of fabrics. Most dry cleaners, including us at Quality Cleaners, use perc as their primary solvent. Because the clothes are cleaned in a liquid solution, with very little water if any, the term "drycleaning" is used to describe the process. There are some differences in the way dry cleaners process clothes, but here is how it typically works:
Clothes are sorted by several categories including color and fabric
Liquid solvents and detergents are brought into the machines. The machines then agitate clothes in a manner similar to your own washing machine to remove dirt, oil, and stains.
Once clean, the clothes are dried in the same machine and then cooled.
Once the cycle is over, the clothes are removed, checked for spots, and sent for pressing and shaping, another quality checkpoint, then packaged and bagged.
Used solvent is distilled so it can be purified. Distillation separates the solvent from waste residues such as detergents, dye, dirt, oil, so the solvent can be reused. In addition to distillation, the solvent is pushed through a series of filters in order to keep it clean.
- Despite its name, dry cleaning is not totally dry. It involves the use of liquid chemicals called solvents that remove most stains from a variety of fabrics. Most dry cleaners, including us at Quality Cleaners, use perc as their primary solvent. Because the clothes are cleaned in a liquid solution, with very little water if any, the term "drycleaning" is used to describe the process. There are some differences in the way dry cleaners process clothes, but here is how it typically works:
- Why don't you guarantee to your customers that stains will be removed?
- One of the main reasons garments are brought to the drycleaner is for the removal of stains. Stain removal is a complex procedure that may require the use of a number of chemicals, many of which are water based. Water is a necessary aid for the removal of water-soluble stains such as fruit juices, mixed drinks, and other beverages. But if the dye used on the fabric is water soluble as well, dye loss and dye transfer may occur. Our operators, with their special solvents, equipment’s and training, can remove most of the stains. Many factors determine if a stain will be removed: Certain limitations of Dry cleaning:
- Removing certain stains: The nature and age of the stain, plus the color and construction of the fabric, sometimes make stains impossible to remove without damaging the fabric.
- Preventing some colors from bleeding or fading: If the manufacturer does not thoroughly test the dyes to make sure they are colorfast to both solvent and water, some color may be lost during the cleaning process. This is considered to be the manufacturer's responsibility.
- Reversing worn or torn areas caused by wear, perspiration, damage caused by insects, or liquid spills: Such holes or rips may not appear before cleaning, but they result from a previous weakening of the fibers.
- One of the main reasons garments are brought to the drycleaner is for the removal of stains. Stain removal is a complex procedure that may require the use of a number of chemicals, many of which are water based. Water is a necessary aid for the removal of water-soluble stains such as fruit juices, mixed drinks, and other beverages. But if the dye used on the fabric is water soluble as well, dye loss and dye transfer may occur. Our operators, with their special solvents, equipment’s and training, can remove most of the stains. Many factors determine if a stain will be removed: Certain limitations of Dry cleaning:
- What if the care label is followed and a problem develops?
- The care labeling system is intended to supply consumers and dry cleaners with correct information of the care treatment of textile products, so that the processes contained on the label should avoid any damage of the product. If you or the cleaner follow the manufacturer's instructions and the garment is damaged, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer, who has not tested the fabric and the components properly before labeling. If the problem arises from a manufacturing defect, you should return the item to the retail store where it was purchased.
Manufacturing problems arise in fabrics as well. Other defects to look for are:- Dyes that dissolve in dry cleaning solvent, causing excessive bleeding or fading.
- Sizing that dissolves in solvent or water.
- Shrinkage due to failure to preshrink fabric before garment construction. Loss or dulling of surface sheen due to wear and tear of finish. Colour loss or change in dyes sensitive to light or to action of the surrounding air. Shrinkage or separation of attached interfacing and bonded fabrics.
- The care labeling system is intended to supply consumers and dry cleaners with correct information of the care treatment of textile products, so that the processes contained on the label should avoid any damage of the product. If you or the cleaner follow the manufacturer's instructions and the garment is damaged, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer, who has not tested the fabric and the components properly before labeling. If the problem arises from a manufacturing defect, you should return the item to the retail store where it was purchased.
- Should I tell the operator what has caused a stain?
- Bring your stained garments to us for professional cleaning as soon as possible after the staining occurs. The more information consumers give us and the sooner a garment is brought in, the greater the chance of satisfactory stains removal.