Before Dropping Off at the Dry Cleaner: Confirming This Doubles Your Clothes' Lifespan

👔 5 Crucial Checkpoints Before Taking Clothes to the Dry Cleaner

It is safest to entrust clothes that require dry cleaning, like suits, coats, and high-end blouses, to a professional cleaner. However, handing over the clothes doesn't mean all responsibility transfers to the cleaner. To prevent shrinking, unremoved stains, or post-cleaning regret, there are several key items the customer must check before dropping off the garments. I'm sharing the 5 things I always confirm before going to the dry cleaner.

📋 5 Essential Pre-Dry Cleaning Checkpoints

1. Clearly Specify Hidden Stain Locations:

• You must clearly inform the staff beforehand about the location of stains like curry, ink, or oil, which are hard for them to see visually.
• Unreported stains can sometimes become set by the heat during the general cleaning process, making them impossible to remove later. This may likely fall under the customer's responsibility.

2. Convey Fabric Properties and Washing History:

• Inform them of any special characteristics, such as: "This is a silk blend, so please be delicate," or "I hand-washed this once at home before."
• Especially for imported luxury goods or special materials (leather, suede), request extra care, as the cleaning process is complex.

3. Check and Report the Status of Buttons, Embellishments, and Zippers:

• Check for any easily breakable buttons, rhinestone embellishments, or loose fasteners. If there's an issue, take a picture or tell the staff to prepare for possible damage.
• Dry cleaning solvents can melt or damage plastic buttons, so it's safer to request that precious embellishments be removed beforehand.

4. Inquire About the Type of 'Dry Cleaning Solvent' (Optional):

• If you have sensitive skin or desire eco-friendly cleaning, you can ask about the dry-cleaning solvent they use (Perchloroethylene vs. eco-friendly wet cleaning, etc.). Choosing a cleaner that uses eco-friendly solvents is a good option.

5. Verify 'Special Notes' on the Receipt:

• You must verify that any existing damage (e.g., slight wear on the cuff) or requests (e.g., the level of starch in a dress shirt) are properly noted on the receipt.
• This receipt is the only evidence that can clearly determine liability if a problem arises later.

A dry cleaner is a service provider, not an entity to which you can blindly delegate all responsibility. By adhering to these 5 checkpoints, you can prevent the worst-case scenario of clothes being damaged after cleaning by over 90%.