Q. Does frequent dry cleaning shorten the
life of a garment?
A. To 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.
Q. When a garment's label says
"washable," does this mean it cannot be drycleaned?
A. Not necessarily. The Care Label Rule states that only one suitable method of
care must be on the label. Cleaners usually follow the care instructions,
unless otherwise requested. If you want your washable items dry cleaned, the
cleaner may ask you to sign a waiver
Q. Are suede and leather cleaned the same way
as other fabrics?
A. No. Special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain
their color and texture. Sometimes suedes and leather are redyed to replace
color loss. It is not always possible to replace or match the colors.
Q. Does dry cleaning shrink clothes?
A. Usually not. The dry cleaning process is carefully controlled by
professional cleaners.
Q. Should I store my clean garments in the
plastic bag they are returned in?
A. The bags are provided by the cleaner to protect the garment until you get it
home. It is best to store garments uncovered or in fabric garment bags.
Q. Is it safe to wet clean a garment with
"Dry clean Only" care instructions?
A. When determining if a garment can be safely wet cleaned, the cleaner will
look at the fiber content, fabric construction, colorfastness, trims, and other
components such as interfacings and linings.
Q. Can a drycleaner prevent dye bleeding or
fading of a fabric?
A. No, the manufacturer must thoroughly test the dyes to make sure they are
colorfast to both solvent and/or water.
Courtesy of DLI