Home What do you expect from your dry cleaners?

[Upgradable]

I''m so frustrated with dry cleaners! I swear all they do is press the items I bring in!

Shouldn''t they look for spots, remove "sweater balls," check for loose buttons? Do I have unreasonable expectations?

What are your experiences?

 

[monarch64]

I just expect them to clean my garments. I point out anything that is in need of repair when I bring the items in. I know exactly what shape my garments are in BEFORE the cleaners do. That way, I know whether any damage done was my fault or theirs.

 

[Kaleigh]

I take time to show them any stains, loose buttons, or anything that needs repair. I finally found a dry cleaner that cares about this kind of thing. They do their best, and I appreciate that. Finding a great dry cleaner is like a needle in a hay stack. I adore mine but took a long time to find him.

 

[purrfectpear]

That they dry clean the clothes, period. It says "dry cleaners" not "personal valet".

If there are other issues, stains, buttons, etc. it's up to the customer to point those out and request additional attention/services.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Yep, as others said, if there is a stain or whatever, I point that out to the dry cleaner so they can hopefully get any marks off the clothes. Buttons - not sure on that one. Normally, if I have a loose button, I just fix it myself rather than pay someone to fix it.

I was surprised to find that the dry cleaner I go to is considered to be in the top 5 list of best cleaners in the region. I found that over time, the clothes I took there shrank. Now, I do everything I can to buy as few dry clean items as possible. I have a large scarf collection and mostly those are the only items that go to the dry cleaner. My dry-clean-only sweaters sit in a pile in my closet.

 

[purrfectpear]

I thought sweaters could be hand washed in Woolite and laid out to dry?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/5/2009 8:39:02 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I thought sweaters could be hand washed in Woolite and laid out to dry?

That''s what I do with many of my sweaters. . .I have a great drying rack and just flat dry everything. I even hang dry some of my kids'' better shirts so they last longer. (some sweaters I''m not sure what to do with and that''s why I rarely wear them.)

 

[MonkeyPants]

Yup, I too point out stains or things I''d like fixed when I bring my clothes in. Usually they tag the stains with little pieces of paper as I''m pointing them out so they don''t miss something. Otherwise I just expect them to dry clean and press.

 

[Upgradable]

So, what does "dry cleaning" actually consist of? Does anyone know? Do they spray clean the armpits? Is it just a flavored fluffing? I really have no idea.

 

[kama_s]

Date: 12/5/2009 11:03:35 PM
Author: Upgradable
So, what does ''dry cleaning'' actually consist of? Does anyone know? Do they spray clean the armpits? Is it just a flavored fluffing? I really have no idea.

Dry cleaning is just supposed to be laundry for delicate items. Anything else is just extra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_cleaning

 

[neatfreak]

I think your expectations are too high unfortunately.

 

[decodelighted]

Re: definition of "drycleaning" .... There''s this new thing called "google"

I don''t think anyone is going to research that *for* you.

Dry cleaners sometimes offer additional tailoring services -- buttons, hems etc ... but you need to ask for those specially in my experience.

 

[pennquaker09]

I don''t really have any expectation beyond getting the items back clean. I take mainly Nate''s suits and ties, and on occasion, a comforter, duvet, or coverlet. Most of my clothing doesn''t have to be dry cleaned.

 

[purrfectpear]

Drycleaning isn''t really "dry".

It''s the cleaning of clothes in a machine using petroleum/chemical solvents in lieu of water. That''s a quick and dirty (pun) summary

 

[Upgradable]

Date: 12/6/2009 1:27:25 AM
Author: decodelighted
Re: definition of ''drycleaning'' .... There''s this new thing called ''google''

I don''t think anyone is going to research that *for* you.

Dry cleaners sometimes offer additional tailoring services -- buttons, hems etc ... but you need to ask for those specially in my experience.

But you guys are so much more fun (and often MUCH more educational) than Google!!

... and kisses for PP! She always makes me chuckle!

 

[Steel]

Date: 12/5/2009 2:21:10 PM
Author:Upgradable
I''m so frustrated with dry cleaners! I swear all they do is press the items I bring in!

Shouldn''t they look for spots, remove ''sweater balls,'' check for loose buttons? Do I have unreasonable expectations?

What are your experiences?

I am relieved. I read your post and thought I was getting the short end of the stick with my dry cleaners. Mine just about get things clean for far too much money in far too much time. The bobbly bobbly bits and loose buttons are my problem and as for spots - they are here to stay.

 

[isaku5]

Date: 12/5/2009 7:00:23 PM
Author: Kaleigh
I take time to show them any stains, loose buttons, or anything that needs repair. I finally found a dry cleaner that cares about this kind of thing. They do their best, and I appreciate that. Finding a great dry cleaner is like a needle in a hay stack. I adore mine but took a long time to find him.

At the risk of offending one particular PSer..... +1

 

[purrfectpear]

OMG Isaku, your avatar Christmas kitty is beyond cuteness

 

[fossilrock]

I have a king size comforter that won''t fit in my washing machine. I have called a few dry cleaners in the area to see if they "launder" comforters. They only dry clean them. I don''t think it gets as clean when they dry clean it. I have a cotton comforter, so it''s not delicate or anything. Does anyone know if any drycleaners launder comforters or just dry clean?

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Date: 12/7/2009 6:33:44 PM
Author: fossilrock
I have a king size comforter that won''t fit in my washing machine. I have called a few dry cleaners in the area to see if they ''launder'' comforters. They only dry clean them. I don''t think it gets as clean when they dry clean it. I have a cotton comforter, so it''s not delicate or anything. Does anyone know if any drycleaners launder comforters or just dry clean?

When I was a kid, I remember my mom taking our "big stuff" (comforters, slipcovers) to a coin-op laundry to wash as they usually have industrial-sized machines.

 

[cnspotts]

I have a funny dry cleaner story for you.

When I moved from Vegas to Georgia some of my stuff went into storage so it was not immediately known that anything was missing. I did notice eventually after I had collected all my stuff into one place that a belt for a particular dress was all alone. So on a visit back to Vegas 1 1/2 years later I called the cleaner I generally used and asked about that certain dress.....YEP they had it. Surprised both of us since they told me that they usually donate clothes left after a couple of months. lol

 

[meresal]

I am furious with cleaners'' right now as well.

I expect them to clean a garment, press it if asked, and treat stains that I have pointed out. i don''t think that they should have to search every garment that is brought in, I think that anything beyond regular cleaning is my job to point out.

However, where my irritation is coming in... is the lack of inspection of the garment AFTER it is cleaned and pressed. I have had 3 pants come back where one of the leg hems was completely unraveled, and I put a dress on Saturday night for a wedding, and the button that held my cuff around my elbow (design of the dress) was missing so the sleeve fell all the way to my wrist and there was nothing I could do.

If you F%$* something up... FIX IT or MARK IT and tell me when my garment is picked up. i don''t have time to inspect each of my husbands pants, shirts, my pants, shirts, and skirts when I put our 5 bags of hangers into their respective closets.

Off my box...

 

[I Love My Sailor]

I work on a Navy base and we contract through a civilian dry cleaners for our service members uniforms. They are terrible! Sometimes I''m not sure if they cleaned the uniform or just pressed it. The customers get very upset and we have to deal with the backlash of their anger. They mix up their orders and loose stuff a lot. Last night I had a guy turned in his Dress uniform but his command changed the event date and he needed it back today. We were on the phone for an hour calling all the branches trying to locate this guys uniform. They actually told me that they don''t keep a record of what hey do. They just clean what comes in. I said how do you know if something is lost or missing. He said when the customer is missing it. That something I am going to take up with my manger.


My point being, good dry cleaning is hard to find and if you do.....hope they stay in business but I''m with you on the frustration level