Professional clothing care advice from a small business owner. Learn how to remove stains, protect fabrics, extend the life of your clothes, and understand what really happens behind the dry cleaning counter.
Gore-Tex and other performance outdoor garments can lose their water-repellent (DWR) layer if not properly cared for, making them prone to soaking from sweat or rain. Here’s a step-by-step guide to washing, drying, and restoring water repellency. Step 1. Preparation and Pre-Check Step 2. Washing Step 3. Drying Step 4. Restoring Water Repellency (DWR) If […]
A customer brought in a cotton shirt labeled “hand wash or dry clean.” The fabric looked delicate, so extra care was required. There were multiple stains across the shirt that appeared to be paint. Since the stains looked water-soluble, I performed a light rinse, and some of the stains started to come out. Because the
In most U.S. cities, dry cleaners are everywhere. You can often see several shops just a few blocks apart. Some people call around or drop clothes wherever prices seem lowest that day. However, constantly switching cleaners rarely gives the best results. Loyalty to a trusted dry cleaner can make a big difference in how well
Have you ever picked up a freshly cleaned garment from the cleaners, only to find a yellow or brown stain that you swear wasn’t there when you dropped it off? Your first instinct might be to think, “Did the cleaners spill something on my shirt?” or “Did they ruin my favorite dress?” But before you
A customer brings in a traditional Filipino shirt, a Barong Tagalog, about once a week. This time, he brought it in with a yellow stain on the back. Although it looked like yellowing, since this garment is cleaned frequently, I assumed it was a relatively fresh stain rather than oxidation or long-term discoloration. I first
