DRY CLEAN VS. LAUNDERED SHIRTS
Occasionally, we have to dry clean a shirt instead of laundering it. Many of the new shirts now contain silk, linen or spandex blends. If the shirt has any adornment, trim or embroidery that may bleed, or if the care label indicates low heat, it needs to be dry cleaned. Many dark colored shirts contain dyes that will bleed and fade if exposed to the finishing process in laundering. Another situation that necessitates dry cleaning is an oily food spot on the shirt. Laundering alone will not remove the spot. If you have any questions about the process used on your shirt, please let us know. We will be happy to explain our choice.
STARCH GUIDE FOR DRESS SHIRTS
No Starch – offers the natural feel of the fabric, presents a more casual appearance and is less crisp and more prone to wrinkling.
Light Starch – still offers the natural feel of the fabric and adds a bit of crispness to collar and cuffs.
Medium Starch – adds body to the fabric providing a crisp appearance, is more wrinkle resistant and often prevents spills and stains from setting in.
Heavy Starch – the crisp appearance lasts longer and this also prevents spills and stains from setting in.
Please keep in mind that different shirts will hold the starch in different ways. For example, a new shirt with heavy starch may not feel as crisp as an older shirt with the identical starch. However, after a few washings, the new shirt should attain the same level. Shirts which are 100% cotton hold starch more efficiently than polyester or poly/cotton blends.
STAIN REMOVAL MYTHS
Fingernail polish remover will not remove fingernail polish stains. It will likely take off the color in the garment and maybe even put a hole in the fabric.
Hairspray does not take off ink. It’s true that hairspray may help dissolve an ink stain, but it also will spread it around. (In the past, hairsprays did actually work, but they did not contain as much oil as they do today!) Instead of getting rid of the stain, the hairspray can actually stain the fabric and then you’ve got two stains.
Water will not dissolve an oily stain. If you have an oily food stain on your clothes, dry cleaning is the best way to get it out.
For most stains, our best advice is to gently dab or blot the affected area with a lightly moistened cloth. Never rub the stain, since this can damage the fibers and spread the spot. Never iron or apply heat to spots and stains, since this will set them permanently.
When in doubt, leave a stain alone. Believe it or not, sometimes doing nothing is the safest course of action. Don’t throw it in the back of your closet or get to it “eventually”. Bring it to our attention immediately, and put a note in the bag letting us know what the stain is. The faster you get it to us , the better your chances for stain removal.
RING AROUND THE COLLAR
Remember the old Wisk commercials? The entire campaign was around this one problem. The truth is that “ring around the collar” is a common malady because, as the shirt is worn, the neckband and collar fold are exposed to almost constant contact with the skin and it’s attending body oils, colognes, hair products, medicines and perspiration. To add to the problem, this is one area constructed of multiple layers, any of which can absorb the above soils. Even though our shirt processing includes a separate scrubbing of collars, over time a minimal residual amount left in the layers of fabric can add up to a noticeable ring. To help prevent this, shirts should be laundered after each wearing. In addition, allow any skin product to completely dry before dressing.
AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW MUCH A GARMENT WILL SHRINK
Any fabric, even dry clean only garments, can be expected to shrink about 1 to 3 percent. Manufactured fibers will shrink the least, and natural fibers will shrink the most. The shrinkage of natural fibers is often controlled during the manufacturing process by washing and preshrinking the fabric before it is made into a garment.
CONSIDERING CLEANABILITY WHEN CATALOG SHOPPING
Today’s busy lifestyles leave families less time to shop. If you’re tired of shopping in crowded malls, catalog shopping may be for you. Catalog shopping is convenient, and you can shop from your home, your office, or anywhere over the Internet. When you shop by catalog, be sure to inquire about the care label. Some trim items may not be dry cleanable. Both silk and rayon garments hold up well to dry cleaning, but decorative trim, appliqués, festive buttons and sequins may not. Pastels, rather than dark colors, have a greater degree of color-fastness. Outerwear can be either dry cleanable or washable, depending on the fiber content of the shell fabric and lining and the application of special coatings for warmth and water repellency. If you have any questions about how to care for these items, check with your professional dry cleaner before ordering. If you are ready to order, check on the catalog’s return policy.
