Ask Your Dry Cleaners in Scottsdale, AZ: Should This Be Dry Cleaned?

It’s easy to shop for new clothes. You head over to your favorite department store, pick out the type of clothing or the style you are looking for, try them on for fit and pay at the register. However, there is one thing you may not have considered at the time of purchase—reading the cleaning and care instructions. The cleaning instructions will highly depend on the type of material the clothing is made of. Keep in mind that some garments are dry clean only. If you want clothes that you can simply toss in the washer and dryer, make sure they are not dry clean only before buying.

Whether you are buying new clothes or own nice clothes that you don’t wear too often, it’s crucial that you properly wash them. But how do you know whether an article of clothing needs to be or should be professionally dry cleaned? Dry cleaners in Scottsdale, AZ get this question all the time. Here is what they will tell you.

Read or decode the label

While brand new garments will have a label attached to it, previously owned clothing might not. Another reason why your garment doesn’t have a tag is because you cut it off a long time ago. A lot of people remove the tags with care instructions that are long, bulky or irritating to their skin. Let’s say the label is there. Most clothing manufacturers are required to print one cleaning option, while others may list more than one. A tag that reads “dry clean only” means you have to dry clean it. If the tag simply says “dry clean,” then it’s only recommended, and you can opt to use another appropriate cleaning method.

Consider the type of fabric

Unless the garment’s label states another cleaning and care method, some fabrics should automatically be dry cleaned, such as silk, wool, velvet, acetate and taffeta. Most of the time, but not always, fabrics such as cotton, polyester, linen, nylon and even cashmere are okay to wash in your home washer. Just make sure the label doesn’t say the colors bleed, and double check that the garments can go in the dryer. There are many delicate garments and fine fabrics that don’t require dry cleaning; however, the tag may suggest you wash by hand in cold water or use a gentle cold wash cycle.

Check details on garments

For clothing items with accents or decorations, read the label carefully. The tag may say how to clean the main fabric, but not how to deal with the accents—it’s not uncommon for clothing accents to be applied later by another person or company. For this reason, you want to test any garment details before washing or dry cleaning. Popular kinds of accents include beads, sequins, tassels and oversized buttons. Make sure all accents are colorfast and sewn on tight with thread, not adhered with glue. Test colorfast accents by dabbing a damp cotton swab on each accent to see if the dye comes off.

For more information, please contact Organic Dry Cleaners and Laundry. We are your full-service dry cleaners in Scottsdale, AZ!

Categorised in: Dry Cleaners

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