Good garment care begins before an item reaches the cleaner. This guide explains what to look for when buying clothing, what to check before drop-off, and what to know about the cleaning process.
1. What to Check Before Buying Clothes
- Purchase location and return policy. Use extra care when purchasing expensive clothing from tourist areas or non-authorized stores. Before buying, confirm that the garment can be returned or exchanged if a material, color or construction problem appears.
- Contrasting colors. Bright and dark colors combined in one garment can create a risk of color transfer. Ask whether the item can be exchanged if the dye bleeds. Some garments cannot be cleaned safely until the color becomes stable, and repeated cleaning may reduce color brightness.
- Beads and glued decorations. Large numbers of beads, stones and decorative pieces may crack, loosen or fall off over time. Each piece should ideally be secured with thread. Decorations attached only with adhesive may separate when the adhesive ages or reacts during cleaning.
- Special buttons and metal trim. Check whether replacement buttons are included. For drawstrings with metal end caps, ask whether the cap can be replaced if it becomes loose or falls off.
- Faux leather and coated fabrics. Faux leather and some polyester-blend coatings can look perfect when new but weaken after repeated wear and cleaning. Peeling, cracking or separation may eventually make the item unwearable.
- Care instructions. Think carefully before buying garments marked “Do Not Dry Clean,” “Do Not Wash,” or “Spot Clean Only.” These instructions can make complete and even cleaning difficult. Items marked “Spot Clean Only” should be cleaned before soil becomes heavy.
- Keep the receipt. Always keep the original receipt for expensive garments and luxury items. If a claim must be reviewed, the insurer may require proof of purchase and the original value.
2. Before Bringing Clothes to the Cleaner
- Open the buttons. Unbutton garments before pressing or laundering, especially shirts. Opening every button helps reduce unnecessary stress on the buttons, buttonholes and surrounding fabric.
- Inspect the garment. Check for stains, loose or missing buttons, existing damage, color changes and zipper problems. Tell us what caused a stain, approximately when it happened, and whether any home treatment or another cleaner has already been used.
- Point out special concerns. Please show us hidden stains, delicate trim, previous repairs, weak areas and valuable detachable accessories. For luxury items, photographs may be taken before cleaning to document the original condition.
3. What to Know About Cleaning
- Hidden damage can become visible. We inspect garments carefully before cleaning, but very small holes, weakened inner fabric or concealed damage may not be visible at intake. Cleaning does not create normal wear, but it can reveal areas that were already weakened.
- Shirt buttons. On rare occasions, a shirt button can become caught between parts of commercial laundry equipment. Please point out loose, cracked or special buttons before cleaning.
- Color transfer. Garments made with two or more contrasting colors may release dye during cleaning. We may perform a color test when needed, but unstable dye behavior cannot always be predicted or prevented.
- Moth damage. Moth holes are caused before cleaning and may become more noticeable afterward. Wool and cashmere should always be cleaned before seasonal storage, even when worn only once.
- Special buttons. Decorative, heat-sensitive and custom buttons should be checked before cleaning. Depending on the design, we may recommend protecting or temporarily removing them when practical.
Questions about a specific garment? Text 351-226-0957.
