Whether you encounter a difficult stain on AWOL sweater, follow this advice from the International Fabricate Institute.
1 Know a cleaner’s limits. Dry –cleaning solvents won’t easily remove stains such as ink, blood, food or beverages. Stains such as these may need to be pretreated by the cleaner and may require larger amounts of chemicals, time and money.
Also, keep in mind that dry cleaners usually carry insurance for fire and theft-but not for damaged clothes or improper cleaning procedures that contribute to damage.
2 If you have a problem with a cleaning, return the item immediately to the cleaner and explain the problem. If the cleaner is a member of the International Fabricare Institute, you can request that the item be sent to a lab for evaluation. There, the item will be analyzed for the specific complaint, and a report will be issued starting the cause. The lab won’t accept the item directly from you; the cleaner will have to send it. The fee is $16.50 plus $8.50 return shipping, and you’ll have to negotiate with the cleaner over who pays for it.
If the damage is not the cleaner’s fault, for example, the fabric care label is wrong; you need to return the item to the retailer.
3 In the case of compensation, it’s industry practice that the dry cleaner keeps the garment if he gives you money for the damage. If only a partial settlement is made, though, you might get the item back.
4 Always let dry-cleaned garments air out. Remove the bag immediately and let the item breathe. The bags are meant only to protect the garment until you get back home. Leaving the bags on can promote mold and will not protect garments from light-use a fabric garment bag instead. – Kathy Peel
