DP Tool Club 31/CDASC_31_1996_juillet_aout.iso/vrac/drycl.zip/DRYCL2.TXT

Text File | 1996-05-21 | 21KB | 433 lines

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                                 Tips On...

                                Drycleaning

                         A Better Business Bureau
                  Consumer Information Series Publication

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     What Is Drycleaning? | Selecting Clothing | Care Labels | Fabrics |
     Color | Decorative Trims | Care In Use | Getting the Most From
     Drycleaning | After Cleaning | Liability for Damaged Clothing | Coin
     Machine Cleaning | Draperies | Tips to Remember

What Is Drycleaning? [Image]

Drycleaning is the use of solvents to remove soil and stains from fabric.
It is called "drycleaning" because the solvents contain little or no water
and do not penetrate the fibers as water does. Drycleaning solvent is not
harmful to any fabric, and drycleaning is the only safe method for cleaning
many types of garments.

Natural fibers such as wools and silks will shrink and perhaps lose their
color when washed in water, but will dryclean beautifully. Cottons and
linens, unless they are preshrunk in manufacture, will also shrink in home
laundering. Drycleaning is particularly effective in removing greasy, oily
stains from synthetic fibers, which have an affinity for oils.

But the professional drycleaner provides more than just drycleaning. This
service also includes professional removal of problem stains that will not
come out with simple drycleaning. It also includes professional pressing,
careful packaging, and inspections at every step along the way to make sure
that all stains have been attended to and the item has been properly
pressed and finished.

Drycleaning can extend the life of your wardrobe, and your knowledge about
drycleaning can bring you more value for your clothing dollar.

Selecting Clothing [Image]

Buying new clothes is often an exciting event, related to special events,
holidays, and great expectations. But, it is also the time to think about
the serviceability and cleaning requirements of the garment.

Care Labels [Image]

Before you buy, read the care label attached to the garment and any hang
tags or care instructions on garment packaging. The Federal Trade
Commission requires apparel manufacturers to attach permanent labels to
garments supplying instructions for drycleaning or laundering. Look for
this label when you are considering a purchase. The care necessary to keep
a garment clean and attractive may be important in deciding whether to buy
it in the first place.

Most garments that are labeled with washing instructions are also
drycleanable, but some may contain dyes or trim that are not resistant to
drycleaning solvent. If you have a difficult stain on such a garment, or if
you want the convenience or the enhanced appearance of professional
cleaning and finishing, discuss the article with your drycleaner. According
to the ammended federal care label rule of January 1984, no warning about
an alternative cleaning method is required, so your cleaner may ask you to
sign a release before drycleaning a garment with washing instructions only.

Fabrics [Image]

Great technological advances have been made in both the improvement of
natural fibers and the creation and development of synthetic fibers.
Special finishes impart body, permanent press qualities, water repellency,
and other qualities to fabrics. Fibers are blended to obtain fabrics with
the best qualities of both natural and synthetic materials. But there is
much you should know about the peculiarities of various fabrics and
constructions.

   * Many beautiful fibers lack durability and should be purchased only
     with this understanding. These include cashmere, camel's hair, and
     mohair. Angora, another luxury fiber, can shrink excessively even with
     the most careful care in cleaning.

   * Lightweight and loosely woven wools, gauzes, and loosely knit sweaters
     have a tendency to snag easily or become distorted in wear and
     cleaning.

   * Suede and smooth leathers have a high incidence of color difficulties.
     Genuine suede and leather items require special processing to preserve
     their finish, feel, and color. These garments should only be handled
     by cleaners equipped for this specialized job.

   * Imitation suede and leather may become stiff or peel in drycleaning.
     These items are often accepted for cleaning only at owner's risk.

   * Suede-like materials and other materials with a flocked finish may
     develop bare spots in wear and cleaning. The life expectancy for these
     garments is generally rather short.

   * Many tailored garments contain interfacings in the collar and lapel
     that are fused rather than stitched to the shell fabric. In some
     cases, blisters and wrinkles develop when these items are drycleaned.
     This is the fault of the manufacturer.

   * Some bonded fabrics may separate from the face fabric or lining, or
     there may be shrinkage, puckering, stiffening, or adhesive staining.

   * Acrylic knits are inclined to stretch when wet or when exposed to
     steam in finishing after drycleaning.

   * Some dyes and pigment prints may fade in drycleaning solvents. Others
     are water soluble and may fade when exposed to water in spot removal.

Color [Image]

It is impossible to determine simply by looking at the fabric whether the
color will withstand exposure to sunlight, water, drycleaning solvent, or
various spot removal agents or chemicals. Reading labels and tags may give
you some information. Some blue jeans and other denim items are labeled
"guaranteed to fade," for example.

Colors are applied either as dyes, which are absorbed into the fibers, or
as pigments, which adhere to the fabric surface. Usually both are
reasonably colorfast. Some colors however, are totally unserviceable, not
fast in either water or drycleaning solvent. And some colors "crock," or
rub off on the skin or other fabrics.

Some dyes are called "fugitive" dyes, because they will run, rub off, or
bleed onto other fabrics. Pigment prints and metallic prints are held to
the fabric with an adhesive, and may wear off over time, from wear as well
as cleaning.

Some dyes fade on exposure to strong light, especially sunlight, but
sometimes strong artificial light as well. Some dyes change color on
exposure to combustion gases present in the air. This is called "fume
fading," and is especially common in acetate fabrics.

Decorative Trims [Image]

In addition to fabric and color, you must also be concerned with how
buttons, beads, sequins, and other decorations and fasteners will hold up
to drycleaning.

Most troublesome in this respect are buttons and beads made of polystyrene,
which softens or melts on exposure to drycleaning solvent.

Beads and sequins may be covered with a thin coating of color, which may
come off during wear or cleaning. Beads or sequins may be merely glued on
and come off during wear or in cleaning. Trim that is sewn on with a single
continuous thread may all come off if the thread is broken.

Belts or other items that contain cardboard stiffeners or glues will
require special attention.

According to the Federal Trade Commission care label rule, trims must be
able to withstand the recommended care process, so if you do have a
problem, you should return the article to the retailer.

Care In Use [Image]

Who has not had the experience of spilling something on a garment on its
first wearing, fresh from the cleaners? It seems wasteful at such times to
send an entire garment back to be cleaned again simply to remove one little
spot. But spot removal at home should be undertaken only with great care.
Improper use of water or chemicals in removing spots at home sometimes sets
the stains or damages the color. Water can loosen soil or sizing and
displace it, causing a "ring" that looks worse than the original stain.

The resurgence of natural fibers such as silk and wool make it even more
difficult to remove stains safely at home. Silk should never be rubbed when
wet. This causes fibers to break, resulting in a permanent light area. Wool
is difficult because often the staining substance will be absorbed deep
into the fibers.

Spillage of food and beverages is probably the most common cause of spots
on clothing. Many of these are combination stains containing oils,
sugars,and other staining substances. These stains may take more than one
procedure to remove completely. Stains from beverages containing sugar may
seem to disappear, but will show up later when the sugar caramelizes in
response to age or exposure or heat.

Another cause of accidental stains is the many ordinary chemicals found in
your bathroom cabinet. These agents may also leave stains that aren't
visible at first but become visible later. This phenomenon is particularly
true with protein fibers such as silk or wool. Such stains need immediate
attention.

Alcohol in perfumes and colognes can be damaging to silk. It is a good idea
to use these products and let them dry before you get dressed.

Skin care preparations containing benzoyl peroxide also require special
care in use. Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent and can cause permanent
areas of color loss on towels and clothing.

Be careful, also, in handling chlorine bleach. Bleach spillage can cause
color loss and weaken fabric to the extent that holes appear when the
garment is next washed or cleaned. Exposure to acids, such as in car
batteries, can also cause disintegration of fabrics.

Good first aid for stains is to blot up the staining substance at once.
Don't rub a stain. This may make it penetrate further into the fibers and
may damage the fabric surface. Consult a stain removal guide or call your
drycleaner before attempting further action at home. And never return a
stained garment to the closet. Spots and stains set with age, and food
spills attract insects, which can do permanent damage.

Getting the Most From Drycleaning [Image]

If you have been alert at the time of purchase and careful while wearing
your clothes, you can help your drycleaner to give you the very best
service. Be sure to inform the cleaner of any spots or stains, especially
if they are colorless spills. The cleaner will want to treat some stains
before the drycleaning process.

Bring with you any hang tags that contain extra care instructions of fiber
information. Acrylic knits, for example, are difficult to identify and are
inclined to stretch with the heat of cleaning and finishing. So if you know
what fibers the garment contains, tell the cleaner.

Point out the presence of items containing glues, plastics, or cardboard
stiffeners. And point out any special trims you are concerned about.

Outfits with several pieces and any accessories, such as belts, should all
be cleaned at the same time to avoid any color discrepancies resulting from
any cleaning.

Knits that have shrunk can often be shaped back to size if you ask for this
service. Sizing, which is applied during manufacture to give a garment body
or shape, can be removed after one or more cleanings, as can water
repellent and spot repellent finishes. These finishes can be restored if
you ask your cleaner to do so. Your cleaner can also provide professional
repairs and alterations, garment storage, and other clothes care services.

After Cleaning [Image]

You may not always be completely satisfied with the way your clothes come
back from the cleaner, even if you have followed our suggestions. Look at
your drycleaned clothes as soon as they are returned to you and point out
any problems right away. Some problems may be curable, such as a spot that
was missed or an inadequate pressing job. Some wools and synthetics may
show pilling, the appearance of tiny balls on the fabric surface. Cleaning
may increase their number, but sometimes your cleaner can remove them.

Although drycleaning does prolong their life, clothes, like people,
eventually show their age, and some problems the cleaner can do nothing
about.

Fluorescent brighteners, used by garment makers to make colors brighter or
whites whiter, may become dull or yellowed with exposure to sunlight. This
may not be apparent until a good cleaning job removes surface soil that may
have masked the condition. Insects often finish their meal leaving the
skeleton of the fabric intact. The weakened fibers are flushed away in
cleaning and the garment comes back full of holes. Chemical damage
sustained in use may also not be obvious until after cleaning.

If you feel that damage to your garments was caused through no fault of
your own, read the Liability for Damaged Clothing section carefully.

Liability for Damaged Clothing [Image]

If clothing comes back damaged from the drycleaner, the drycleaner is often
blamed as the last to handle the garment. But the responsibility may lie
with the manufacturer or retailer, or with you -- the consumer.

As mentioned before, care information must be permanently attached to all
garments. If this information is not present and the garment is damaged as
a result, or if care instructions are followed and the garment or some
component part fails, the responsibility is with the manufacturer. Your
best recourse is to go to the retailer who sold you the item. Good retail
practice requires that a store exchange a defective item or refund the
price.

If the information was available to you but you did not follow it, for
example washing a garment that should have been drycleaned, then you are at
fault.

If your drycleaner fails to follow care instructions or did not exercise
reasonable care, then the cleaner is at fault.

Some stains simply can't be removed by any known method, and while no one
is to blame, there is no remedy. This is also true of the damaging effects
of age on all fabrics.

If your drycleaner is to blame, you are entitled to recover the value of
the garment's remaining life expectancy. According to the International
Fair Claims Guide for Consumer Textile Products, published by the
International Fabricare Institute, suits are expected to last 2 to 4 years,
dresses 1 to 5 years, coats 4 years (fur coats 10 years), and dress shirts
2 years. The guide assigns such life expectancy ratings to all categories
of textile products, and it provides tables by which to determine the worth
of a product based on the unused portion of its life expectancy and its
condition at the time it was lost or ruined. It is up to you to negotiate
an adjustment with cleaner.

If there is disagreement about the party responsible for the adverse
condition, it is suggested that the item be sent to the Textile Analysis
Laboratory at the International Fabricare Institute for testing and
determination of the party responsible. Such items can be submitted by the
member drycleaner, retailer, Better Business Bureau, consumer protection
agency, or textile affiliate. Items cannot be submitted directly by the
consumer. Most cases are successfully settled, however, when the customer
first returns the article to the cleaner.

Coin Machine Cleaning [Image]

As pointed out earlier, actual drycleaning is only a part of the service
provided by the professional drycleaner. But you can get good results from
coin machines, especially in removing oily, greasy stains. Here are some
suggestions:

   * Check pockets for lipsticks, pens, matches, and other items that might
     create stains.

   * Clean light colored fabrics separately from dark ones.

   * Clean fragile clothing separately from heavy clothing.

   * Brush out lint-catching areas such as cuffs and pockets.

   * Read and follow the operating instructions carefully.

   * Do not overload the machine.

After machine cleaning, articles should be removed immediately and hung to
prevent wrinkling. If cleaning solvent odor clings to the clothes, hang
them in the open air in a well-ventilated room until all odor is
evaporated.

Draperies [Image]

Draperies have a number of invisible enemies. The sun can fade and streak
them. (Sometimes you will not notice this until the soil is removed.)
Draperies are also affected by gases, fumes, and humidity. Open fireplaces,
wood stoves, and smoking also contribute to the staining of draperies.

You can expect some shrinkage from laundering or cleaning unless the fabric
has been preshrunk. Sometimes the drape shrinks more than the lining,
causing a puckered effect.

A variety of draperies are combined with insulating backings or linings. In
selecting these draperies, make sure you know the specific care procedure
the manufacture recommends. Some of these coatings react adversely in both
drycleaning and washing.

The International Fabricare Institute recommends that glass fiber draperies
be washed and air dried rather than drycleaned, to avoid color loss and
chalky streaks. Care must be taken to subject them to as little abrasion as
possible.

If you make your own draperies the following suggestions may be helpful:

   * Pick the right fabric for the job. For sunny locations, use fabrics
     that are resistant to deterioration from sunlight. Synthetics are more
     resistant than cellulose fibers, while silk is least resistant.

   * Line all draperies for protection against fading and fiber rotting.

   * If you are using cotton and rayon fabrics, allow for changes in length
     caused by atmospheric changes. These fibers tend to expand when the
     relative humidity is high and contract when it is low.

   * Remember that synthetic fibers pick up dust due to static electricity
     and that cotton and rayon tend to yellow as they age.

   * Use care in sewing to avoid seam puckering. Select the proper thread,
     use sharp needles, and check thread tension. Experiment for proper
     spacing of stitches and run your machine at a slow, constant speed.
     Remember, thread sewn under tension shrinks in laundering or when
     steam pressed.

   * Follow cleaning an pressing requirements carefully, according to the
     type of fabric.

Whether you make or purchase your draperies, they will last longer if they
are cleaned or laundered at least once a year and vacuum cleaned between
cleanings.

Tips to Remember [Image]

At The Time Of Purchase

   * Read all labels and tags and examine the article's construction.

   * Check with salespeople about possible problems in care.

   * Save labels, hang tags, and sales slips.

At Home

   * Be careful about spills and attend to them quickly.

   * Check a spot removal guide before attempting home spot removal.

At The Time Of Cleaning

   * Be sure a label is present or tell the drycleaner about care
     instructions and fiber content.

   * Identify spots with a note pinned to the garment.

   * Ask about special care for decorative trim.

   * Check all pockets before leaving clothes.

   * Ask for replacement of sizing or water repellency and repairs or
     alterations if needed.

After Cleaning

   * Inspect articles immediately.

   * Ask for your cleaner's help in correcting mishaps.

[Image]

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Copyright 1977, 1995 Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
Revised 1995

A Better Business Bureau Publication
Supported by Business in the Interest of Consumers
Published by:
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22203

Council of Better Business Bureaus offers this copyright publication to the
consumer as a public service on behalf of its members. It is not an
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