Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Dry Cleaning?
Dry cleaning uses fluids to remove soil and stains from fabric. In fact, the term “dry cleaning” is misleading; it is called dry cleaning because the fluid contains little or no water and does not
penetrate the fibers as water does.
Among the advantages of dry cleaning is its ability to dissolve greases and oils in a way that water cannot. Natural fibers such as wools and silks dry clean beautifully, but can shrink, distort,
and lose colour when washed in water. Synthetic fibers such as polyester also respond well to dry cleaning, while they can retain oily stains after washing.
Dry cleaning helps to return garments to a “like-new” condition using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of colour, and fabric distortion. The dry cleaning process begins with the pretreatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. The garments are then loaded into a machine resembling an oversized front-loading home washer. It produces similar mechanical action to loosen embedded dirt. Throughout the cleaning process, the fluid is filtered or distilled to ensure its clarity.
Wet Cleaning
Based on the care label instructions and your professional cleaner’s expertise, wetcleaning might be the best method selected for some garments. Like in the dry cleaning process, wetcleaning starts with the pretreatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. Wetcleaning is the professional process of removing soils from garments and other textile items through the use of water and additives (such as detergents) and using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of colour, and fabric distortion.
Professional Cleaning Steps
Professional cleaning involves many different operations, all performed by skilled people and designed to give your garments a fresh and clean appearance.
Procedures include:
1. Checking the labels for adequate care instructions and fiber content.
2. Classifying the garment according to fabric type, colour, and degree of soiling.
3. Removing spots and stains using special equipment, special stain removal agents, and water.
4. Dry cleaning, wetcleaning, or laundering, only if so labeled.
5. Reapplying any sizing, water repellency, and other finishes when necessary and possible.
6. Finishing the garment on professional pressing equipment to restore its original shape and appearance.
7. Replacing missing or damaged buttons and performing minor repairs whenever possible, according to plant policy.
8. Packaging the garment neatly in a protective wrapping.
Along with these basic procedures, Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners offers additional services such as cleaning furs, and leathers, rug cleaning, drapery cleaning, smoke removal, pillow cleaning, shirt and family laundry, wedding gown preservation, and alternations and repairs.
Does frequent dry cleaning shorten the life of a garment?
On the contrary, frequent 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.
Perspiration Stains:
The stains can be visually identified by their yellow, tan, or rust colour and most often appear in areas which may become damp with perspiration in wear, such as underarms, neck, back and waistband.
What causes them?
These stains progressively develop on the fabric from contact with perspiration and/or body oils. All perspiration contains fats and oils, as well as cholesterol and other substances, which are exuded from the glands onto the skin. All of these substances have a tendancy to "oxidize" over time and turn the fabric yellow or brown. The heat necessary in drying of finishing after the care process can accelerate the oxidation; thus, these stains may become much more noticeable after cleaning.
Can it be prevented?
If perspiration stains are removed when fresh, there will be no permanent staining. Garments should be washed or dry cleaned regularly.
Is there a remedy?
Sometimes, professional cleaners can reduce oxidized perspiration stains by special processing. However, some of these stain removal or wet cleaning procedures have inherent risks to the colour or fabric and may not always be satisfactory.
STAINS IN GENERAL
Clothing stains are one of the main reasons people seek the help of Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners. With our special solvents, equipment, and training, we can remove some of the most disastrous-looking stains with relative ease. Successful stain removal depends largely on the nature of the stain, the type of fabric, and the colourfastness of the dye. Ink stains and dried paint, for example, can be impossible to remove. Also, some fabrics are not made to withstand the use of cleaning or stain removal agents.
Many stains that are caused by food, oily substances, or beverages may become invisible when they dry. But later on, with exposure to heat or the passage of time, a yellow or brownish stain will appear. This is caused by the oxidation or carmelization of the sugar in the staining substance. It is the same process that makes a peeled apple turn brown after exposure to air. You can help us do a better job by pointing out such stains when you take a garment to be cleaned. We often treat these stains prior to cleaning, since the heat of drying or finishing may set the stain.
When an oily substance is exposed to heat or ages in a garment for an extended time, it also oxidizes. This type of stain can be distinguished by the irregular “cross pattern” the oil makes when it follows the fabric fibers. Oily substances are successfully removed in dry cleaning unless they are left to oxidize. Once they become yellow or brown, they become much more difficult to remove
HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR DRY CLEANER
- Never put a garment away with spills or stains on it. The warmth of a closet and exposure to natural or artificial light and to the atmosphere can contribute to setting a stain.
- Bring in a stained garment as soon as possible, preferably within a few days, to prevent the stain from setting.
- Do not iron stained or soiled clothes; this will set stains and drive the soil deeper into the fabric.
- Always have soiled clothes cleaned or washed before ironing.
- Do not attempt home spot removal with either water or a cleaning fluid without testing first for colourfastness. Wet an unexposed area, such as an inside seam, and blot with a paper towel to make sure the colour is fast.
- Never rub a stain, especially when attempting to remove a stain from silk. Blot the stained area. This will help remove the staining substance without spreading the stain and will avoid damaging the fabric.
- Inform our dry cleaner of the location of specific stains and any procedures you have used to remove them, even if the stains are no longer visible.
Dye & Colour Loss
The problem arises when they dye on a multicoloured or striped washable shirt transfers and bleeds into other portions of the shirt.
What does it look like?
Usually the dark coloured yarns will bleed during washing and stain other portions of the fabric creating an adverse appearance.
What caused it?
The fading and self-staining is due to the water soluble nature of the dyes in the dark coloured yarns. In some cases, the dye is so fugitive to water that simple perspiration or water-soluble spillage will cause local dye migration.
Can it be prevented?
The launderer must assume that shirts labeled as washable can be safely immersed in detergent and water solutions without any adverse fading or staining.
If the original dye is not colourfast to water, then even the most careful washing procedures can result in serious dye loss or transfer. However, be sure not to press the shirt damp, as commercial finishing by contribute to dye bleeding.
Not all coloured fabrics are created equally. Some are woven from dyed yarns, some are dyed after weaving, and other fabrics are coloured by printing the surface, often with several different colours. Colour performance has improved with modern technology, but failures may still occur. The best way for the manufacturer to determine care procedures is through testing. Unfortunately, this is not always done, and sometimes items are dry cleaned or washed with poor results.
As a general rule, you have the right to assume that a properly cared-for white garment will retain reasonable whiteness for its normal life expectancy, and that coloured garments will retain their depth or brightness.
To ensure the best colour performance of our garments:
· Always read and follow the care instructions.
· Protect white and coloured garments from excessive exposure to light.
· Follow bleaching instructions on the care label.
· When in doubt, consult a professional cleaner.
Most people do not think of white as a colour, but it is. Many fabrics naturally have an off-white or yellowish cast. White fabrics may even be treated with optical brighteners, also called fluorescent whitening agents, to enhance their whiteness. Some of these brightening agents are unstable and may lose their whitening power when exposed to light, giving the exposed fabric a yellow or gray hue or a pink or green cast. For example, the front of a sweater laid out to dry in the sun may turn yellow, while the back remains white. Brighteners are especially sensitive to light exposure when garments are wet.
Yellowing also may occur when chlorine bleach comes in contact with resins, which sometimes are added to impart a “permanent press” quality. You can avoid this by following the care label instructions for bleaching. Some white fabrics yellow from normal aging, oxidation, and exposure to atmospheric soils.
This process sometimes can be reversed by careful wetcleaning and bleaching. If not too severe, it may be corrected with a fluorescent brightener during the dry cleaning process or by using a laundry detergent containing brightener.
LIGHT & CHEMICAL DAMAGE
Most dyes eventually fade with exposure to sunlight or artificial light. Colour failure may occur rapidly on exposed areas, such as shoulders, collars, and sleeves. Many blue, green, and lavender dyes are light-sensitive, especially on silk and wool fabrics. Household substances also can affect dyes. Be careful not to expose fabrics to alkaline toiletries, such as toothpaste, hair spray, perfume, or deodorant, which contain alcohol. The acidity of lemon juice affects some dyes. Bleach, one of the most common causes of colour loss and fabric damage, should be used with extreme care.
LEATHER, SUEDE & FURS
A leather or suede garment is a major investment, so it is important to choose it carefully and care for it wisely. In selecting a leather garment:
· Buy from a reputable retailer.
· Look for careful matching of colors and textures between portions of the garment. Suede will never be completely uniform, but this is part of it desirability.
· Avoid a snug fit. Hides are stretched during tanning and some relaxation shrinkage can be expected in use and cleaning.
· Read and save any accompanying care information.
Proper care of leather and suede begins at home. To get the maximum life from your garment:
· Wear a scarf to protect the collar area from perspiration and body oils.
· If the garment gets wet, let it air-dry away from heat.
· Store in a cool, ventilated area. Leather can dry out if exposed to dry heat or mildew if stored in a hot, humid environment.
· Do not store leather in a plastic bag.
· If staining occurs, take the garment to a professional suede and leather cleaner as soon as possible. Do not try to remove spots at home.
Although cleaning technologies for leather and suede are constantly improving, some changes will almost always result from the cleaning process. The following gives you an idea of what to expect:
*Variations among the garment’s sections.
Leather garments are made from skins taken from various portions of the animal and usually from several different animals. The manufacturer tries to match the skins as uniformly as
possible, but even the best matching may still show some variance in texture, weight, and color uniformity. These may be accentuated after cleaning.
*Loss of Colour.
Be prepared for a slight variance in the depth of color after cleaning. Skins from various parts of the animal may have different colorfastness. Also, some leather dyes may be soluble in dry cleaning fluid, resulting in overall color loss. We may be able to correct some color loss and variance with spraydyeing.
*Loss of oils.
During cleaning, some of the oils used in the tanning process to keep leather supple may be lost. A professional leather cleaner has special additives to restore suppleness, but there still may be some change in the feel of the garment. Some changes will almost always occur in the cleaning process; a hand-painted, suede vest is wearable art, but challenging to clean.
*Scar tissue and vein marks.
Tanners often use fillers before dyeing to mask any scar tissue or imperfections on the leather. Cleaning may remove some of the fillers and cause the defects to reappear.
*Wrinkles.
Skins taken from certain parts of an animal are naturally wrinkled, and have been stretched during manufacturing to achieve a smooth appearance. The agitation of cleaning can relax the
leather, accentuating the wrinkles.
*Texture and shading changes.
Manufacturers sometimes combine a smoother skin with a coarser – textured skin. Cleaning may make this more apparent. Different textures also may vary in how they absorb the fat liquors and additives in the cleaning process, resulting in some areas being darker than others. It is a natural phenomenon that is beyond the control of the cleaner.
*Shrinkage.
Although some shrinkage is likely to occur over time as the skins relax, this may be accentuated in cleaning. As you wear our garment, this snugness should dissipate. If the skins have been
overstretched during manufacture, they may relax permanently.
*Damage to thin skins.
Some skins are extremely thin and too fragile for use in apparel. These skins tend to wear exceptionally fast, even with normal usage. The agitation of cleaning will further aggravate the
damage of thin skins.
*Shading from adhesives.
Adhesives used to glue seams, hems, and other areas may not be solvent-resistant. When the glues do not dissolve completely, they may seep through the leather and cause shaded areas.
*Leather trim bleeding and transfer.
Leather buttons and piping on fabric items sometimes cause problems by bleeding color onto the adjacent fabric. All attached trim should be able to withstand the care method on the label. If this problem occurs, the item should be returned to the retailer.
*Oxidation.
Exposure to light and atmospheric gases can cause leather dyes to oxidize over time. Protected areas, such as under the collar, will retain more of the original color. This may become more noticeable after cleaning, and usually cannot be corrected by the leather cleaner.
*Problems with imitation leathers and suedes.
Imitation leathers and suedes are produced in a variety of ways and are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Some may be coated with vinyl – or urethane-based films; others
may be made to look like suede. These coatings and imitations may be vulnerable to selfsticking, blistering, puckering, or stiffening in dry cleaning.
No. Special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain their colour and texture. Sometimes suedes and leathers are redyed to replace colour loss. It is not always possible to replace or match the colours.
Some trim that looks like suede or leather may actually be vinyl. These vinyls may stiffen, pucker, or curl upon exposure to dry cleaning. Fabrics that are treated with a plastic finish to give the appearance of smooth leather may separate, peel, or blister during dry cleaning. In some cases, simulated leather may be a combination of materials treated with a surface finish.
This finish may abrade and wear off from use or care. Imitation-leather trim may lose its surface finish, stiffen, or fray during dry cleaning. Some imitations look so realistic that no one can predict their cleanability. It must be assumed that the trim is compatible with the care procedures stated on the label.
Problems can arise with fur trim on combination cloth-and-fur garments. Occasionally, the trim is composed of small pieces of older or thinner fur which can crack, peel, or shed during cleaning. Fur trims also do not have the same wear and cleaning characteristics as the fabrics to which they are attached. Some furs may be tipped with colours which are not colourfast to dry cleaning, causing disappearance of the fur’s intricate designs.
SILK & RAYON
material.
Both silk and rayon fibers dry clean very well. If the manufacturer has not tested for appropriate care instructions, however, certain dyes or finishes applied to the fibers may react adversely to dry cleaning. Washing may damage garments containing sizing and / or dyes that are sensitive to water. It is important that you follow the care label on the garment.
Washable silk and rayon have become increasingly popular. Some dyes on “washable” silk and rayon actually dissolve in water, causing considerable dye bleeding and transfer of the dye. This is especially true on many darker colours; most pastels have a greater degree of colourfastness. Multicoloured articles should be tested for colourfastness before washing them.
It is important to keep the washing cycle very short, followed by rapid rinsing and drying. Never soak these garments for extended periods of time.
Dry cleaning is not advised for articles of this type. Tests have shown that many of these dyes may be solvent soluble. When consumers bring these washable garments to be dry cleaned, the
dry cleaner should clean them according to the instructions on the care label. If those care instructions are not followed and a problem occurs, the retailer cannot be held responsible.
Because of the extreme sensitivity of many dyes and sizings to moisture, consumers are not advised to attempt any stain removal using water unless they have pretested an unexposed seam. Wet the fabric and blot it with a white cloth. (Rubbing while wet during home spotting can distort the yams, causing light areas or chafing.) Allow the spot to air dry to determine if the dye and sizing are disturbed. Oily-type greases and soils often can be more readily removed by a dry cleaning fluid without adverse effects. However, in all stain-removal techniques, the fabric should only be lightly blotted with the fluid; never rubbed. Rubbing damages the colour of the fabric, often permanently.
Perspiration contains salts that can damage fabrics, especially silk. Perspiration is acidic and turns alkaline on exposure to the atmosphere. This can cause the fabric to change colour and may disintegrate and weaken silk. Have perspiration stains removed as soon as possible to avoid permanent staining. If you perspire heavily, consider wearing underarm shields.
Some silk dyes bleed or change colour when exposed to solutions containing alcohol. Allow perfume, deodorant, and hair spray to dry before you dress, and remove spills from alcoholic beverages as soon as possible. Some dyes, especially blues and greens on silk, are sensitive to alkalis. Many facial soaps,
shampoos, detergents, and even toothpastes are alkaline enough to cause colour loss or change on sensitive items. If this happens, talk to your dry cleaner promptly about possible restoration.
Many bright colours used on these fabrics can fade from exposure to sunlight or artificial light. Some blue and green dyes fade exceptionally fast, especially on silk. Store garments in closets away from any light, such as windows or electric lights left on. Never use chlorine bleach: it permanently damages silk.
