View Judy Warmington's profileDON’T BE TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS
Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8:57PM If you’re fed up with the high cost of keeping shirts starched and slacks pressed, maybe you need to take time to avoid being taken to the cleaners! With all due respect to any dry cleaner business owners who may be reading this, I’d like to shed some light on dry cleaning do’s and don’ts to keep you from getting hot under the collar.
According to a report by the Better Business Bureau, consumer complaints for the dry cleaning industry often end up near the top the list. The main criticisms are:
- Stains that remained
- Broken buttons
- Clothing that was damaged or that shrank
- Slow service
- …and I’m sure you can add your own…I know I can as I recall the one that came home with stains it didn’t go in with!
According to a Gallup survey, 48% found dry cleaning overpriced, and 44% of those who changed cleaners switched because of poor service. In the survey 63% said they bought an item of clothing recently because it didn’t require dry cleaning. Dry cleaning has become one of life’s most begrudged bills.
In the next few blogs I’ll cover a few do’s and don’ts to help defuse some of your frustrations. One tip today is getting to know your spotter. Instead of water and soap most spot removal is done by the fast drying compound known as “perc” (perchloroethylene). It seems that perc performs miracles, however, the employee known as the “spotter” is the one who uses a steam gun and tiny brushes to dab away stains with chemicals such as ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid.
Your best bet is to patronize only cleaners with experienced spotters, who keep up with the latest techniques. If you’ve ever tried to un-spot something, like I have on a relatively new silk dress with a fresh blob of gravy on it, you’ll truly appreciate their expertise and never rely on your own instincts again. By the way, I ruined the dress. I’m still in morning over it. I really liked the color, the way it fit, and it was expensive!
Oh yes, I certainly do appreciate a good dry cleaning company!
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