13 Things Your Dry Cleaner Won’t Tell You

Here are 13 things you may not know about your dry cleaner. Let these tips help you find the best cleaner for your clothes.

1. The term dry cleaning is a little misleading. Actually it’s a fluid solvent that is used to remove oils and grease combined with a minute amount of water.
2. “Damage” is such an ugly word. You blame us, but it is often the fault of the fabric, manufacturer,  customers not following the recommended care instructions, or spills and stains that have set.
3. We’ve got our own definition of “replace.” Most of us follow the fair claims guide that outlines the terms of “reasonable compensation” based on the age and condition of the article. For example: 50 percent of the actual replacement cost for a dress shirt that’s two years old. Check the policy that your dry cleaner has before placing your item.
4. People often forget to pick up their blankets and quilts. That’s why this place sometimes looks like a secondhand clothing store.
5. Once and for all, it’s not your gender—it’s your clothes. Women’s clothes–silk, special trims or trousers without a crease–take more work, and so can cost more.
6. Yes, we use perchloroethylene (“perc”), which is under review as a possible carcinogen, but still considered the best option. If you can smell it on your clothes when you pick them up, they weren’t cleaned correctly and should be returned and reprocessed at no charge. The EPA and Environmental Defence warn that "long-term exposure to PERC can cause liver and kidney damage," and the chemical has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. A common reaction to exposure is sinus problems and headaches. 
7. Most green cleaning can be more green than clean.  Clothing doctor Steve Boorstein warns that  “Green Earth, a silicone-based cleaner, is safer and friendlier, but it doesn’t remove the multitude of perc.” Ask your dry cleaner about the safe disposal of perc and whether they offer more enviro-friendly solutions such as wet cleaning or silicone-based cleaning. Find a green cleaner near you at Green Earth Cleaning.
8. Your lost clothes are probably in someone else’s wardrobe. Can we suggest a credit instead of outright reimbursement? We’d really prefer not to write you a cheque.
9. Many of us will reuse your intact hangers and clean shirt cardboards. (Thanks.) Go green with your hangers using Eco Hangers made from 100 percent recycled plastic and cardboard. Ask your dry cleaner about them.
10. The more we charge, the more “freebies” we’ll throw in. If you’re paying premium rates, we’ll sew that loose button on for you.
11. We’re not making a fortune. The machinery is expensive. The people who press your silk shirt make about $11 an hour. It’s a skill.
12. Sure, we’ve all heard stories about dry cleaners who borrow a customer’s dress for a weekend. But I’m sure they return it clean.
13. The best clothing shop in town can probably recommend the best dry cleaner in town.

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