We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, the world of dry cleaning is shrouded in mystery and this leads to all kinds of misinformation on what goes into the process and what things need to be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is an absolute must for certain fabrics and highly recommended for others, but if you’re the type that enjoys doing your own laundry, then what can you handle at home?
Garments made from materials like polyester, nylon, spandex, acrylic, and acetate aren’t in danger from a domestic washer, though the dryer might cause problems if it’s too hot. Giving these clothes a long, low dry is the way to go if you can’t hang dry them.
Painted Fabrics
Whether it’s a hand crafted piece you bought from an artisan or that college intramural shirt you just can’t part with, caring for painted fabrics can be confusing. Because their designs are delicate, many think these garments must be dry cleaned. Similar to our advice on synthetic clothes, beware heat and hang dry whenever possible to preserve the painted designs.
Knit Fabrics
In addition to linens, knit fabrics common in sweaters are another fabrication that folks highly recommend taking the cleaners. Depending on the quality of the garment, though, your cozy sweater may be able to stay at home. They aren’t without their own special care and can’t be treated the same as your jeans or pajamas. Due to this extra care, many find it worth it to bring their sweaters to their local cleaners anyway.
You Should Dry Clean These Fabrics & Garments
Delicate or Speciality Fabric
These materials include things like silk, velvet, wool, and leather. Upscale fabrics— such as chiffon, velvet, and merino wool – should also be brought to a professional cleaning service to preserve their natural luster and form. These are perhaps the fabrics that make most people go, “uhhh…” so it’s just common sense to bring them to your local dry cleaner.
Anything you want to keep its form and color quality
Lastly, anything you want help in making it last should be brought to the cleaners. Expensive professional attire is just one example, but maybe you have a favorite casual shirt that you wear on repeat that we could help with. While everything we listed in that first section doesn’t need to be dry cleaned, it doesn’t mean it can’t be dry cleaned or that other laundry services at your local cleaners would be helpful to you. If you want the best possible care for your garment to increase its longevity, bring it in. Or, if the care instructions on the tag have you feeling overwhelmed, we’d be happy to handle the laundry.
The world behind the dry cleaner’s counter is a mystery to most. This leads to not-entirely-accurate information being spread about dry cleaning. The dangerous part is many of these misconceptions can actually damage your clothes. To help protect your wardrobe, don’t fall victim to believing these misconceptions.
1. Dry Cleaners Don’t Use Liquids
As we’ve said before, it’s called ‘dry cleaning’ because there is an absence of water. However, the cleaning solvent is still liquid. This solvent is often a petroleum-based liquid, perchloroethylene, which dry cleaners refer to as ‘Perc.’ It is a popular option, but we at Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners don’t use that human carcinogen, and instead use our EcoTech System to maintain your clothes.
2. Use Club Soda Instead – It’s Cheaper!
Club soda may be touted as a miracle hack for treating serious clothing stains at home, but it is in no way a substitute for your local dry cleaners. In many cases, it can often make a stain worse. If you encounter a stain, gently dab the excess away and bring the item in to the cleaner as soon as possible. Let them know what happened and they will be able to help.
3. Store Your Clothes in the Bag from the Cleaners
This isn’t necessary. The bag is just to protect your clothes on the trip back to your closet, whether you’re picking them up or having them delivered. Your clothes will come back clean and dry, but the bag may trap residual heat, making the air humid and hostile towards certain garments. Our bags are not meant for long-term storage.
4. Only Clothes Labeled “Dry Clean Only” Should Go to The Cleaners
While your local cleaner may have specialized processes for those clothes that should not go in a domestic drying machine, many offer services for your other clothes. Any garment that you want to last and maintain its quality should be taken to your cleaners.
5. Wait as Long as Possible Before Taking Your Clothes to The Dry Cleaners
This misconception stems from the idea that dry cleaning actually harms your clothes and that it should not be done as frequently as you do your own washing at home. This assumption is false and prolonging the time in between visits can be a costly mistake. Waiting to take your clothes in means wearing them multiple times. This can compound stains and smells that latch onto your clothes, making them more difficult to get out, even at the hands of an expert cleaner. Don’t wait to take your clothes to the cleaners.
There are many bits of common knowledge about dry cleaners that stem from misplaced assumptions. Don’t fall into believing them or your clothes could suffer. Trust your local dry cleaner to help your clothes last and keep you looking smart.
You’re not the first to ask this question, and you won’t be the last. With unfamiliar machinery and a process that shrouded behind other people’s laundry, it’s hard to guess at how dry cleaning works. While it might be mysterious, the process is actually very simple.
1. Your clothes get tagged.
When you first drop your clothes off (or have them picked up), the dry cleaners tag and inspect them. The tags help ensure your clothes stay and are washed together. It also helps in retrieving your clothes once they’re ready for pick up/drop off.
Tagging allows the dry cleaning staff to clear your pockets of anything you wouldn’t want washed (Hello, missing airpods!) and note any pre-existing damage such as missing buttons. We take it a step further at Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners to note specific details about the garment, such as the clothing brand and color, which is packed into a barcode unique to that item.
2. Your clothes are pretreated.
If, during the inspection, the cleaner notices any stains, this is when they will be pretreated. It’s best if you alert your cleaner to the stain and, if possible, let them know the cause so they know how best to treat it.
3. Your clothes are washed.
This is where we tell you the “dry” part of “dry cleaning” isn’t entirely true. Clothes do become wet at the dry cleaners, but it is due to a cleaning solvent, not water. This solvent can differ from place to place, like how Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners use GreenEarth, a solvent free of “perc” or perchloroethylene, a human carcinogen.
To clean your clothes, dry cleaners load your garments into their washing machine and rinse it through with their solvent. This gentle cleaner will remove surface stains as well as prevent any stretching or shrinking like a domestic washing machine might cause.
4. Your clothes are checked.
While the washing process is gentler than the machine found in most homes, there is still a chance of a button getting lost or a thread being snagged. After they come out of the machine, clothes are inspected for such damage, but also any remaining stains.
5. Your clothes are pressed.
Once they pass quality control, your clothes are pressed to remove wrinkles. Sometimes this is simple ironing, but other times, special forms are used to help important garments keep their shape.
These general steps aren’t specific to Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners. Most dry cleaners will stick with this process to best care for your clothes. However, if you have special care instructions for your garments, it’s worth investigating what makes your local dry cleaner unique.
We all know summer can be messy, whether it’s ice cream with the kids or happy hour with friends. Discovering a stain on some of your favorite pieces of clothing can be upsetting, particularly if you don’t think you’ll be able to get it out on your own. Luckily, many dry cleaners have the advanced technology necessary to tackle stains for you, allowing you to keep having fun without worrying about your garments. Here are our best tips on removing stains at the dry cleaner.
Can I bring stained clothing to the dry cleaner?
Most dry cleaners, especially ones that use the most modern, advanced technologies, have the expertise necessary to combat even the toughest stains. In order to help ensure that the dry cleaner will be able to treat the stain, it’s important that you point out where stains are and what happened when you drop off your garments. This allows dry cleaners to give stain-specific treatment to those areas. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to get your stained items to the cleaner as soon as possible to improve the possibility of effective stain removal. If you don’t have time to get to the dry cleaner yourself, don’t worry! Services like Crest Concierge Home Delivery allow you to have your clothes picked up, cleaned, and delivered stain-free without leaving your home.
What kinds of stains can be brought to the dry cleaner?
Dry cleaners can tackle all sorts of stains, including the most common summertime stains. Explaining what has stained your garment to the dry cleaner is essential, as different types of stains require different treatment. Water- and protein-based stains, including beverages like wine or beer and dairy products like ice cream, can require special attention based on the ingredients of the contaminant. Fat, grease, and oil stains that could come from a barbecue can be tricky to remove at home, but dry cleaners like Crest have the solution. Even if you’ve stained your clothing while tye-dyeing t-shirts, a dry cleaner may be able to help you remove the dye!
Bringing stained clothing to a dry cleaner is always a good idea, especially because many at-home solutions can often actually set the stain in your garment. Summertime can be messy, but Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners is here to help protect your clothes while you focus on having fun. Contact us today!
Especially when you’re short on time, it can be easy to ignore “Dry Clean Only” labels in your favorite garments. However, skipping the errand can cause your clothing harm in the long run. Putting some textiles through the washing machine even one time could ruin your clothes — find out which items should always head to the dry cleaners.
Which fabrics should be dry cleaned?
In general, high-quality fabrics such as silk should always be brought to the dry cleaner. Throwing silk in the washing machine or even washing it by hand at home could cause the material’s colors to bleed, resulting in an uneven appearance and stains on other garments and surfaces. The only way to ensure that the vibrant colors of your silk garments are preserved is to have them dry cleaned.
Wool is another fabric that should always be brought to the dry cleaner. While it may seem like washing them at home will cause no harm, having wool items dry cleaned will prolong their life by years.
Materials like suede, leather, and fur should also be dry cleaned. It’s very difficult to clean items like leather jackets at home in a way that will not damage their appearance, shape, and durability.
Are there any specific clothing items that should always go to the dry cleaner?
Even if the fabric itself doesn’t necessitate dry cleaning, certain garments should always be dry cleaned. For example, clothing with pleats should not be washed at home, to make sure that the folds in the fabric stay crisp throughout the item’s life. Similarly, clothing with embellishments like beads or sequins should be cleaned professionally so the extra decorations are not lost or damaged. Finally, special clothing that you want to preserve for a long time, such as wedding gowns, should be brought to a dry cleaner so that those items receive the best care possible.
Is there anything that I should avoid having dry cleaned?
While most clothing can be brought to the dry cleaner safely, certain items can be washed at home with no issues. This includes common fabrics such as cotton, linen, and denim.
At Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners, we understand that while you want to preserve the quality of your garments, you also have a busy schedule. That’s why we introduced our Crest Concierge Home Delivery service! At no additional cost, we’ll pick up your dry cleaning and return it to your home in sparkling condition. If you have any questions about this service, or about what should and should not come to the dry cleaner, contact us! We’re always happy to help.
In these cold winter months, there’s nothing better than snuggling up in your fluffy comforter when you go to bed at night. But when is the last time that you cleaned it? Considering the size of your duvet, it may seem impossible to wash, and you might be tempted to put it off until it has a noticeable stain or odor. However, cleaning your comforter relatively regularly can go a long way in prolonging its life and even be beneficial for your health by removing dust and other particles that build up over time. Here is our guide to washing a comforter.
How often should a comforter be washed?
While it’s a good idea to wash your sheets at least once a week, there’s no need to clean your comforter nearly as often. A good rule of thumb is to wash it every time the seasons change, so around two or three times every year. While you’re at it, you should clean your pillows about that often as well!
Can I put my comforter in the washing machine?
Most comforters can be put in a washing machine. Check the label — as long as there is no “dry clean only” warning, it should be fine to throw your comforter in the washing machine. However, many standard washing machines installed in homes are too small to safely wash a big, fluffy comforter. Unless you have a large capacity washing machine that has a special cycle for bulky items, you’ll need to find a laundromat or take your comforter to a dry cleaner.
Dry Cleaning Your Comforter
Even if your comforter can be machine washed, there are benefits to having it dry cleaned. Advanced systems used by dry cleaners can give your duvet a deep clean that will help prolong its life and preserve its best aspects, especially its fluffiness. Furthermore, sending your comforter to the dry cleaner can be far less hassle than taking it to a laundromat, where you’ll have to sit until it’s clean. With services like Crest Concierge Home Delivery, you could have your comforter picked up and returned to your home at no additional charge!
If your comforter needs a refresh, choose Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners for a hassle-free clean. Schedule pick up today!
You wear it almost every cold day, but when is the last time you cleaned your go-to winter coat or jacket? While cleaning your outerwear may be the last thing on your mind until noticeable stains or an unpleasant odor pop up, it’s actually a good idea to clean your coats and jackets on a regular basis. Here are some essential tips about when and how you should give your outerwear the care it needs to keep looking good over the seasons.
My coats and jackets don’t seem dirty. Do I really need to clean them?
Even if there is no visible dirt on your favorite coat or jacket, having it cleaned regularly can go a long way in prolonging its life and making sure it looks good for a long time. It is especially important to make sure that your items are as clean as possible before you store them away for the warmer months, as even invisible debris such as tiny crumbs or perfume could attract moths or other vermin that damage your garments.
How often should outerwear be cleaned?
Outerwear comes in many different fabrics. The material of your coat or jacket is one of the most important things to consider in determining how often it should be cleaned. Heavier items like down coats or items made of leather or wool probably only need to be cleaned once or twice a season, depending on how often you wear them. Lighter items like fleece jackets should be cleaned more often, after five to ten uses. Finally, a rain jacket that you use year-round should be cleaned at least once a month to ensure that it stays clean and fresh. Of course, as mentioned above, all of these items should be cleaned before they go into storage for the summer.
How should I clean my outerwear?
Many types of coats and jackets can be cleaned at home; according to the instructions on the tag, you can just pop them in the washing machine or wash them by hand and hang them to dry! However, special items like wool coats or jackets with embellishments should be brought to a dry cleaner to make sure that they are not damaged. Other items with special fabrics, like leather jackets, also require special care and must be brought to an advanced cleaner with the knowledge and tools necessary to clean leather.
Don’t let a trip to the dry cleaner deter you from caring for your outerwear in the best way possible. With services like Crest Concierge Home Delivery, you could have your wool coat dry cleaned without ever leaving your home. Let Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners take care of the hassle so your jackets and coats will keep looking good every winter for years. Do you have questions about how to care for your outerwear or any other dry cleaning-related concerns? Contact Crest today!
There are many factors to consider when choosing your dry cleaner, including the quality of the service, location, and pricing. Among all of these other factors, however, it is important to keep the environmental impact of dry cleaning in mind, and consider whether your dry cleaner engages in eco-friendly practices. We’re here to explain the process and benefits of eco-friendly dry cleaning.
How is eco-friendly dry cleaning different?
Chemicals such as perchlorethylene that are used by some dry cleaners come with potential health risks to you and your family. This alone should encourage you to search for a dry cleaner that does not use such products to clean your family’s items. The EcoTech System we use at Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners ensures that each of your garments will be cleaned thoroughly and safely.
How else can dry cleaning be more eco-friendly?
Sustainable dry cleaning practices go beyond the cleaning process itself. As with any business, every part of operating a dry cleaner involves consumption. At Crest, we try our best to make all of our activities as eco-friendly as possible. For example, unlike many traditional dry cleaners, the bags in which we return your clothes to you are both reusable and recyclable.
Why does this matter?
The health of our families is at the forefront of all of our minds. If there is a possibility that the harsh chemicals used by some dry cleaners can be harmful, it is best to search for alternatives. Furthermore, supporting initiatives that will benefit the environment as a whole are worth making the switch.
If you are located near one of our Crest Advanced Dry Cleaning locations and are searching for a dry cleaner that cares about the safety of your family and the environment, consider choosing Crest! To make accessing dry cleaning even easier — and to reduce the number of cars on the road — Crest also offers a free home delivery service. Getting your clothes cleaned has never been so simple! Contact us for more information about our services and our commitment to providing an eco-friendly service.
Dry Clean Your Holiday Sweaters at Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners
The holidays are upon us, and whether you’re wearing a Santa suit to a Christmas gathering, an “ugly” holiday-themed sweater to a party with friends, or a glimmering gown to a New Years’ event, you’ll surely want to look your best as you spend time with friends and family this festive season. Here are a few of our best tips on how to make your clothes shine!
Dry Cleaning is the Way to Go
For any of your best looks, dry cleaning is a much safer option than simply throwing the garments in the washing machine. It will protect delicate fabrics from decay, and go a long way in prolonging the life of your festive attire. Even if you only wear that Menorah sweater once a year, having it dry cleaned will make sure it’s wearable for many seasons to come. After all, you wouldn’t want to realize that your merriest outfit is too faded to wear a day before the party and be forced to brave the crowds at the mall!
Make That List a Bit Shorter
While the holiday season is one of the best times of the year for us all, there are a few downsides. Running around trying to procure gifts, purchase groceries for extravagant meals, and meet friends can be tiring. The last thing any of us wants to do is laundry, yet we seldom have time to make the trip to the dry cleaner. With helpful services such as Crest Concierge Home Delivery, having your clothes cleaned to a professional standard is as simple as ordering presents online. No matter what your normal clothes-cleaning routine is, that can be one item crossed off your to-do list, giving you more time to focus on the wish list.
At Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners, we do our best to make dry cleaning as simple as possible to fit into your busy schedule. If you want to impress your friends and family with your sparkling and jolly apparel this holiday season, contactCrest Advanced Dry Cleaners to learn more about our helpful services or come in to one of our many convenient locations today.
Trust Crest to Dry Clean Your Favorite Sweaters
Fall is here and as the weather gets cooler, you’ll be thinking about pulling your best winter sweaters out from the back of the closet. While do-it-yourself wool cleaners are marketed as an attractive option, dry cleaning is the best way to get the dust and moth balls out of your finest wool garments. Here’s why!
Retaining Color and Texture
Washing wool items at home without paying careful attention can cause them to quickly lose their color. The advanced techniques used by professional dry cleaners are carefully engineered to protect the pigments in your clothing, protecting them from fading. These same techniques go a long way in keeping your garments soft and snuggly too!
Achieving a Deeper Clean
Dry cleaning is the best way to get all of the residual grime out of your wool clothing, especially after a long summer of disuse. Dry cleaning processes will get your sweaters clean with very little risk of shrinking, stretching or other damage.
Prolonging Life
As with any type of fine garment, the main advantage to having your wool garments dry cleaned is the prolonged life of your clothes. The chemicals used in dry cleaning are specially developed to clean your items without causing great amounts of lasting damage, meaning your clothes will last much longer. Your sweaters will keep you warm for many seasons to come!
At Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners, we do our best to make dry cleaning as simple as possible to fit into your busy schedule. With free Crest Concierge Home Delivery, your items will be picked up, cleaned, and returned without leaving the house. If you want to get a head start on getting your cosiest sweaters ready for the coldest winter days, contact Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners or come in to one of our many convenient locations today.
Why choose Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners?
