Some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Does frequent dry-cleaning shorten the life of a garment?

A. On the contrary, frequent cleaning prolongs the life of a garment. Not only do stains set with age, making the garment unwearable, but ground in soil acts as an abrasive, like sandpaper, causing rapid weare of fibers and insects are attracted to soiled clothes and will cause further damage.

Q. Does dry-cleaning shrink clothes?

A. No. The dry-cleaning process is carefully controlled by professional cleaners. Excessive shrinkage is usually caused by improper pre shrinking by the manufacturer.

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 and till you get it home. It is best to store garments uncovered or in fabric garment bags.

Q. When a garment label says “washable” does this mean it cannot be dry-cleaned?

A. Not necessarily. The Care Label Rule states that only one suitable method of care must be on the label, and most cleaners usually follow the care instructions, unless otherwise requested. If you want your washable items dry cleaned then the cleaner may ask you to sign a damage waiver.

Q. Are suede and leathers cleaned the same way as other fabrics?

A. No. Special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain their color and textures. Sometimes suede and leathers are re-dyed to replace color loss . It is not always possible to replace or match the colors.

Even the best cleaners cannot do the following 

Remove certain stains.
The nature and age of the stains plus the color and the construction sometimes make stains impossible to remove without damaging the garment

Prevent some colors from bleeding or fading.
If the manufacturer does not thoroughly test the fabric to make sure they are color fast to both solvents and water some color may be lost during the cleaning process this is considered the manufacturer’s responsibility.

Prevent excessive shrinkage.
If the manufacturer has failed to adequately pre shrink all components before that garment is constructed, shrinkage may occur.

Reverse worn or torn areas caused by wear, perspiration, damage caused by insects.
Such holes or rips may not appear before cleaning, but they result from a previous weakening of fabric.

Prevent or correct holes caused by insects or acid spillage.
Such holes may not appear before dry-cleaning, but they result from a previous weakening of the fibers.

Correct excessive shining on clothes.
This is caused by wear or extreme heat and pressure used in home ironing.

Correct poor home spot removal procedures.
Such as color loss caused by excessive rubbing of fabrics or color reactions or holes in fiber caused by failure to rinse stain removal agents from garments.

If if you have any specific questions you feel you have not been addressed in the information presented here, call LA Cleaners at 614-882-2995 .

You may also wish to contact The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute , an unbiased company dedicated to the quality of all fabrics and cleaning methods.