Need help with your dry cleaning business?  Wondering how you can make your business a little easier here and there?  Here is a list of dry cleaning tips that we've collected.  These are straight from the professional dry cleaners and organizations.  Enjoy!

READ YOUR GARMENT CARE INSTRUCTIONS
If a garment's care instructions require dry cleaning, the cleaner can assume that any commercial dry cleaning solvent will be safe to use unless the care label warns otherwise. If any part of the normal cleaning process could harm the garment, the label must warn about that also. According to the Federal Trade Commission, an accurate care label should indicate at least one type of solvent that can be used safely and warn against procedures that could damage the garment.

National Clothesline July 1998 Issue, Vol. 38, No. 13


COLOR LOSS
Colored fabric are not all created equally. Depending on the manufacturer some fabrics are woven from dyed yarns, some are dyed after weaving. Other fabrics are colored by printing the surface, often with several different colors. Modern technology has improved color performance, but failures may still occur. As we mentioned last month, the Care Label Rule is intended to give both the consumer and cleaner complete guidance on how to care for an item. Garments labeled dry clean should have dyes that will with stand dry cleaning solvents, washable garments should have dyes that will stand up to washing. Dyes that are soluble in dry-cleaning solvents may fade severely during the dry cleaning process. When different colors are used, there may also be color change such as greens turning blue.
    It is recommended that 2 piece items be cleaned at the same time to assure color matching. Water based dyes may bleed when laundered or exposed to perspiration, rain, or water. This may also cause certain fabrics to form dark rings or streaks when garment dries.
International Fabricare Institute

HOW TO CARE FOR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
Custom-made costumes may contain a variety of fabrics and trim. Most costumes will not have a care label. It is important to carefully examine and test garment to predict the serviceability of the costume. Whenever possible pre-treat stains, cleaning the entire costume may not be necessary. Hand washing may be safer to prevent excessive piling of soft fabrics. Remove excessive moisture by running through a spin cycle in the washing machine. To prevent damaging, hang the costume to dry rather than using the dryer. Be extremely careful when finishing the costume. Excessive heat or steam may ruin the costume. International Fabricare Institute

BUTTONS, BUTTONS, BUTTONS?
Sometimes buttons are cracked, chipped, unraveled, melted or even missing. The failure of buttons to withstand the dry cleaning process can be attributed to many manufacturers in the button fashion industry. Many buttons can become soft or brittle in cleaning. Heat is also a factor which can also cause buttons to bend or crack. Buttons that have glued on accessories may also unravel or come apart in cleaning. There are also buttons made of plastics which dissolve in cleaning solvents and may result in the shrinkage of the button. Some buttons have dyes that can discolor, fade and or tarnish.
Manufacturers need to choose buttons that are completely compatible with care instructions on the garment. Following care instructions carefully and maintaining equipment help dry cleaners to avoid damaging well made buttons during cleaning.
There is no solution for a damaged button other than replacement. Of course, not all buttons can be replaced. See FAQS: How to care for your buttons.

International Fabricare Institute
 

Q: HOW DO YOU CLEAN AN ITEM WITHOUT A CARE LABEL?
A: Receiving garments without care labels is not uncommon. Before cleaning a garment it is important that the item is tested for colorfastness. Blotting or crocking with dry cleaning solvents and water/detergent solutions does this testing. Using a cloth dampened with cleaning solution does the blotting method. Crocking involves rubbing the surface with a cloth dampened with a cleaning solution. Testing should be done on any trim or painted area and should be repeated on more than one type of trim or color. Remember that this is only a test to determine the best method of cleaning and damage may still occur during the cleaning process. As a valued customer, we may require you to sign a release form before we proceed cleaning.

Fabricare July/August 97

 

Q: IS THERE ANY WAY TO PREVENT CLOTHES FROM FADING?
A: No. It is normal for fabrics to fade slightly. To ensure the best color performance of your garment, you should:

• Always read and follow your care instructions.
• Protect white and colored garments from excessive exposure to light.
• Follow bleaching instructions on the care label.
• When in doubt, consult your professional cleaner.

Keda Dry Cleaners

Q. How should I clean my rayon garments?

Q: Can button damages occur?
A: Yes. But Keda Dry cleaners has always minimized any button damages by doing the following:
With every incoming order, Keda carefully checks each piece of clothing. When it comes to buttons, Keda determines whether to:

• Cover and protect each button with heavy duty foil to minimize any damages.
• Remove button(s), due to material, rhinestone, or style of button.

Upon completion of drycleaning, Keda will:

• Remove all foil from button(s).
• Sew button(s) on that were removed.

(An additional charge of .25 cents may be required with 6 or more buttons).   Thanks to the quality service, the customers are satisfied with our careful techniques.

Keda Dry Cleaners
 

Yellowing!
Frequent cleaning removes stains that, if left untreated, could oxidize and cause yellowing. Exposure to heat or the passage of time can cause stains from food, beverages, and other oily substances to oxidize and turn yellow or brown, much the way a peeled apple turns brown after exposure to air. Once they become yellow or brown, these stains become much more difficult to remove and often cannot be removed.

Delken Dry Cleaning
 

Waste Prevention

• Offer or sell reusable garment bags.
• Encourage customers to return hangers with a "caddy" that they can return when it is full. A description of successful programs can be found at the National Waste Prevention Coalition website.
• Reuse hangers returned from customers.
• Purchase plastic garment bags on a large roll rather than boxed.
• Use returned plastic bags for garbage liners.
• Donate unclaimed clothes to charity.
• Reuse clothing tags.
• Use a wet cleaning process to eliminate toxic solvents such as perchloroethylene. You will reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated and save money on disposal costs. For more information on the wetcleaning process view the EPA's wetcleaning guide.

DEQ

Note: These are tips straight from professionals.  Poscal is not liable for any misinformations.
 

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