FYI and Tips

We don't need an expensive

Organic/Green

Wet cleaning Machine

Most Dry Cleaners who own this overly priced machine still have their Dry Cleaning machine because there are many garments that just can't be wet cleaned. Ask a Dry Cleaner (who has purchased one of these new fangled machines) if they still do Dry Cleaning in there plant or do they send their dry cleaning out to another Dry Cleaning plant. Or it's possible they have purchase another machine, a Hydro Carbon Machine which is extremely flammable, Hydrocarbon cleaning methods are not green at all. Hydrocarbon is a petroleum-based solvent and carries all the environmental concerns of petroleum, including the fact that it’s a major source of greenhouse gases.
Some hydrocarbon cleaners claim their methods are “organic,” I read that this is misleading. It’s the same thing as petroleum. Hum... interesting.

You might be surprised that some of your Dry Cleanable garments can be cleaned in water, actually this is a process that many Dry Cleaners have been doing for many, many years now, but now they came up with these new machines that we have to pay out the nose for just to do what most of us have already been doing....!
This is not to say that you should water clean your Dry Cleaned at home you can seriously ruin a garment at home if you don't know what you’re doing.
Let a professional do this for you.

Ask David or Jacque
If your garment can be cleaned in water.
We are not claiming to be
Organic or Green
But we do use:
Regular Water
and a Enzyme detergent
To water clean selected garments.
We'll let you decide what this means.

More of my thoughts on
Wet cleaning Machines

So many garment now have labels that read machine washable even some leather garments, making it easy for us to process with out having a wet cleaning machine.
Some of the bad things with a wet cleaning machine is the pressing time, a lot of the garments come out of the machine extremely wrinkled making it very difficult to press those wrinkles out while costing employers extra labor hours.
Wet cleaning Machines do not remove Wax, most types of grease can't be removed, dyes in some fabrics will bleed badly, so as the result they have to Dry Clean or Hydro carbon clean the garment.
I love this next one it's my favorites. Some fabrics can shrink in Wet cleaning Machines; I have read that in some of their "Wet cleaning Machine" training their taught to measure the garments before putting them in the machine then, they have to re-measure the garment when it comes out of the machine for shrinkage!!! WHAT!!! their kidding right!
Granted Dry Cleaning is done with a chemical called Perchlorocthylene which is a hazardous chemical as is the Hydro Carbon Machines neither could possibly be safe if a person were to bury their head in the machine while taking a deep breath when removing the garments OK ..., we just don't do that, that's insane, after 30 years in this business I'm alive and well and I don't know of a Dry Cleaner who has died from working in this business... my uncle owned a Dry Cleaning business for over 30 years, he is alive no breathing machine he is in his late 80's and doing very well!
This process can be harmful if not used properly But seriously think of it this way, on a day to day bases you are breathing harmful chemicals that are in the air from cars, trucks, airplanes, buses, trains, refineries think of the fumes you breath pumping your own gas this is just to name a few... the fumes that your exposed to outdoors are causing you more harm then walking into a Dry Cleaning plant to drop off or pick up your garments..
I am not saying that the Wet cleaning Machine is a bad machine to own in fact it sounds like a great machine to have but, I just refuse to purchase one when I can give my customers a chemical free alternative to some of their dry cleanible’s like we already have been doing "for years"with out me breaking the bank or raising my prices to pay for this costly machine.
About your Dry Cleaned items we let the chemicals dissipate for approx: 4 to 5 hours before bagging them. Bedding such as Comforters, Spreads and sleeping bags hang longer.
Written by: Jacque
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A spot is not a stain

A “stain”

is something that

can not be removed

How you can help us to do a better job on removing spots, we suggest the following:

Never put a garment away with spills or spots on it. The warmth of a closet and exposure to natural or artificial sunlight and atmosphere can cause the soiled spotted areas to stain permanently. Bring in a soiled garment as soon as possible, preferably within a few days to prevent the spots from setting.

Do not iron soiled garments this will set and stain driving the soil deeper into the fabric. Always have soiled garments cleaned before ironing. Do not attempt home spot removal with either water or cleaning fluid without testing for bleeding. Wet an unexposed area such as an inside seam and blot with a paper towel to make sure the color is safe from bleeding. Never rub a spot especially when attempting to remove a spot from silk. Blot the spotted area. This will help remove the spotted substance without spreading the spot and will avoid damaging the fabric.

Always inform your dry cleaner o the location of specific spots and of any procedures you have used to remove them even if the spots are no longer visible.

Oxidation or Caramelizing

Many spots that are caused by food, oily substances or beverages may become invisible when they dry But, later on, with exposure to heat or the passing of time, a yellow brownish spot will appear. This is caused by the oxidation or caramelizing of the sugar in the spotting 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 spots when you bring us a garment in to be cleaned.

It is so... important that the dry cleaner is aware of these spots then he/she will be able to treat these spots prior to cleaning, the dry cleaning drying heat and/or the pressing heat can seriously cause your garment to be permanently stained.

Always inform your dry cleaner of the location of specific spots and any procedures you have used to remove them even if the spots are no longer visible.

Oily Substance

When an oily substance is exposed to heat or ages in a garment for an length of time, it also oxidizes. This type of spot 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.

Perspiration

Perspiration can also be a problem, particularly on silk and wool garments. Perspiration left in silk garment can eventually cause deterioration of the on delicate fabric such as silk, satin.

Repeated exposure of a garment to perspiration and body oils can create a permanent yellow discoloration and a bad odor. In addition, perspiration can react with the dye or sizing in the fabric, making it more difficult to remove the spot. Clothing frequently worn or heavily soiled also requires frequent cleaning, especially clothes heavily soiled with perspiration.

Hair Spray, Perfumes

Deodorant

These substances can cause color loss. In many instances, the discoloration does not appear until the item has gone through the cleaning process, many people have accused the dry cleaner for putting spots on their garments when infact the products they are using are the bad guys.

The alcohol in these products can leave faded spray droplets all over your garment, causing permanent damage. If you use these products then, let the product dry on your skin before dressing this will help your garments last a lot longer.

Home Remedies

Be very careful with home remedies. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, you could seriously damage a dry cleanable garment some of these remedies can be a dry cleaners nightmare.

Those Labels are Scratchy Little Buggers

We have to get a signed release from our customers for items that don't have

manufactures instruction labels.

Many people will cut these labels out of their garment, and even off their house hold items etc..

We do understand that these labels can be a pain at times or an eye sore but.. for us, these labels are our instruction manuals, without these scratchy little buggers we'd have to do guess work,

Now that... is a very dangerous thought!

Manufactures instruction labels are a huge... deal in our business without them our business would be crazy!

We wouldn't know if it's suppose...

To Be or Not To Be...

Wash, Don't wash,

Dry, Don't dry,

Hang dry, Lay flat dry

Twist dry

Dry clean

Dry clean only

Spot clean only

No steam, Steam only

Press, Don't press

oh my gosh...

the list goes on and on

So... Please! Please!

If you must remove the labels then keep them in a safe place.

Easy Tip!

Take a picture of the item then staple the label to the picture.

Or make a note,

Write down the description of the item then staple the label to the note.

Keep it in a safe place like your

dresser drawer, jewelry Box

Written by: Jacque

________________________________________________________

Owners David and Jacque Hughes