Tips to Help You Get the Most From Your Professional Cleaner
Stains are difficult to remove, but you may have a better chance at eliminating them if they are dealt with as soon as they appear. So don't wait for them to set - get your professional cleaner to tend to them immediately. Let them know as much information as you can share, such as the substance, when it happened, and their location. You can also let them know if other stains exist, particularly lighter coloured ones that may be difficult to see.
Don't iron stained or soiled clothes since heat can set some stains, making them extremely difficult or impossible to remove.
Perfumes, lotions, deodorants, antiperspirants, and other toiletries often contain alcohol. Alcohol can adversely affect some dyes, therefore protect your clothes from coming into contact with them.
Protect your garments from excessive perspiration, especially silk fabrics. Perspiration can cause many dyes to discolour over time.
Matching pieces should be cleaned together, such as bedspreads, drapes, and suits. That way, any colour loss will be uniform.
Dealing With Stains
Removing Stains
When it comes to stains, professional dry cleaners know what they're doing. It's one of the most common problems that they encounter and solve. Even the most catastrophic stains can be removed with relative ease with their special solvents, equipment, and training.
In order to remove a stain successfully, a number of factors must be considered: the nature of the stain, the type of fabric, and the colourfastness of the dye.
Invisible Stains
Food, oily substances and beverages may become invisible when they dry but when exposed to the elements and with time, a yellow or brownish stain will appear. This is attributed to oxidation or caramelization of the sugar in the staining substance, much like how a peeled apple turns brown when exposed to air. If your garment has an "invisible stain", point it out to your dry cleaner so that they may treat it with the appropriate method. Because the heat of drying or finishing can set these stains, they are often treated prior to cleaning. Oily substances can also oxidize, leaving a stain that is distinguished by the irregular "cross pattern" in the fibres of the fabric. These types of stains are easier to remove before they oxidize.
Stains From Perspiration and Body Oils
Not all stains are from the obvious substances. Perspiration can also leave problematic stains, particularly on silk and wool. In fact, perspiration on silk can actually cause the fibres to deteriorate, causing structural damage to the garment. Any garment repeatedly exposed to perspiration and body oils can be permanently discoloured, yellowed and/or become odoriferous. The stains may become extremely difficult to remove as they react with the fabric's dyes or sizing. To protect garments, it is highly recommended that people who perspire heavily have their clothes cleaned more frequently. Clothing may also be protected by wearing perspiration shields.
The Responsibility of Your Dry Cleaner
According to professional practice, your professional dry cleaner is responsible for attempting to remove stains. However, despite the best of efforts, not all stains can be removed.
Some stains that are oxidized and set in the fabric may be simply impossible to remove. Due to the nature of some fabrics, cleaning may be limited to safeguard against damage. Total removal of the stain may also be prevented from certain soluble dyes that are prone to bleed, since those dyes may also be removed during the stain removal process.
Can these stains be removed?
A common belief is that these stains can be removed through the use of household bleach, however, we strongly recommend against this solution. Most bleach formulas remove stains through oxidization, which means in the event it fails to remove the stain it will complete the chemical reaction, setting the stain and making it impossible to remove.
Prevention is your best solution!
The biggest mistake you can make when storing your clothing is not cleaning it before storing it. Professionally cleaning clothing before storing will greatly reduce the chances of oxidation stains.
Stains are difficult to remove, but you may have a better chance at eliminating them if they are dealt with as soon as they appear. So don't wait for them to set - get your professional cleaner to tend to them immediately. Let them know as much information as you can share, such as the substance, when it happened, and their location. You can also let them know if other stains exist, particularly lighter coloured ones that may be difficult to see.
Don't iron stained or soiled clothes since heat can set some stains, making them extremely difficult or impossible to remove.
Perfumes, lotions, deodorants, antiperspirants, and other toiletries often contain alcohol. Alcohol can adversely affect some dyes, therefore protect your clothes from coming into contact with them.
Protect your garments from excessive perspiration, especially silk fabrics. Perspiration can cause many dyes to discolour over time.
Matching pieces should be cleaned together, such as bedspreads, drapes, and suits. That way, any colour loss will be uniform.
Dealing With Stains
Removing Stains
When it comes to stains, professional dry cleaners know what they're doing. It's one of the most common problems that they encounter and solve. Even the most catastrophic stains can be removed with relative ease with their special solvents, equipment, and training.
In order to remove a stain successfully, a number of factors must be considered: the nature of the stain, the type of fabric, and the colourfastness of the dye.
Invisible Stains
Food, oily substances and beverages may become invisible when they dry but when exposed to the elements and with time, a yellow or brownish stain will appear. This is attributed to oxidation or caramelization of the sugar in the staining substance, much like how a peeled apple turns brown when exposed to air. If your garment has an "invisible stain", point it out to your dry cleaner so that they may treat it with the appropriate method. Because the heat of drying or finishing can set these stains, they are often treated prior to cleaning. Oily substances can also oxidize, leaving a stain that is distinguished by the irregular "cross pattern" in the fibres of the fabric. These types of stains are easier to remove before they oxidize.
Stains From Perspiration and Body Oils
Not all stains are from the obvious substances. Perspiration can also leave problematic stains, particularly on silk and wool. In fact, perspiration on silk can actually cause the fibres to deteriorate, causing structural damage to the garment. Any garment repeatedly exposed to perspiration and body oils can be permanently discoloured, yellowed and/or become odoriferous. The stains may become extremely difficult to remove as they react with the fabric's dyes or sizing. To protect garments, it is highly recommended that people who perspire heavily have their clothes cleaned more frequently. Clothing may also be protected by wearing perspiration shields.
The Responsibility of Your Dry Cleaner
According to professional practice, your professional dry cleaner is responsible for attempting to remove stains. However, despite the best of efforts, not all stains can be removed.
Some stains that are oxidized and set in the fabric may be simply impossible to remove. Due to the nature of some fabrics, cleaning may be limited to safeguard against damage. Total removal of the stain may also be prevented from certain soluble dyes that are prone to bleed, since those dyes may also be removed during the stain removal process.
Can these stains be removed?
A common belief is that these stains can be removed through the use of household bleach, however, we strongly recommend against this solution. Most bleach formulas remove stains through oxidization, which means in the event it fails to remove the stain it will complete the chemical reaction, setting the stain and making it impossible to remove.
Prevention is your best solution!
The biggest mistake you can make when storing your clothing is not cleaning it before storing it. Professionally cleaning clothing before storing will greatly reduce the chances of oxidation stains.