Fashion Sense: Warning Signs of a Bad Dry Cleaner

A bad dry cleaner can ruin clothes and become extremely costly. Learn the warning signs of a bad dry cleaner.

Warning Signs of a Bad Dry Cleaner #1

Clothing does not fit the same when it is brought home from the dry cleaner. Without having gained weight the clothes fit more snuggly then before taking to the dry cleaner. Clothes that are washed or processed in too high of heats have the tendency to shrink. If the dry cleaner is cleaning the materials in too high of heat for what is recommended for the fabrics there is no telling what other things are going wrong behind the scenes. At the very minimum a dry cleaner should know what the appropriate temperature is for cleaning a garment.

Warning Signs of a Bad Dry Cleaner #2

Clothes are taking on a shiny or slick appearance after dry cleaning. Clothing that has been improperly pressed will ruin most fabrics. If the clothes are pressed too hard, the material will become shiny or slick looking. The techniques for pressing are something that every dry cleaner should have well trained staff. If the facility does not know how to properly press the fabrics, there is a good possibility that they do not know how to properly use the chemicals on the fabrics.

Warning Signs of a Bad Dry Cleaner #3

The areas around the pockets and buttons have indents. These areas should be smooth. Again, this is yet another problem of improper pressing of the fabrics.

Warning Signs of a Bad Dry Cleaner #4

When asked the dry cleaner has no idea about virgin solvents. Most dry clean places use recycled chemicals. Dry cleaning chemicals are expensive and to be most cost effective, the chemicals are often recycled for more then one use. In addition, some dry cleaners used recycled rinse water for garments. Recycled rinse water can leave small deposits on clothing. Always ask if the dry cleaner uses either virgin chemicals or non-recycled rinse water before leaving garments with them. If is best to take the clothing elsewhere or clean at home if the dry cleaner writing your order for your clothing has no idea how to answer this question.