Manufacturer’s clothing care labels don’t tell all, but they do provide valuable information about your clothes.

Clothing Care Label

The Federal Trade Commission says care labels must:

• Be attached firmly to the garment
• Be easy to find
• Be readable for the useful life of that garment
• Explain one safe cleaning method for that garment 
• List any warnings about that cleaning method     

  GINETEX, (International Association for Textile Care Labeling) devised a labeling system based on symbols. That way, consumers, textile companies, and dry cleaners can all understand the label and avoid damage to the fabric. The dry cleaning symbol is a circle. 

1.  A plain circle means the article is cleanable in all the normally available dry cleaning solvents.
2.  A letter (usually P or F) tells the kind of solvent is safe to use on the fabric.
3.  A  horizontal line under the circle indicates restrictions on heat and agitation.
4.  An X in the circle means “do not dry clean”.

What if the care label indicates “washable”? Can you still have that garment dry cleaned? Possibly. (Remember that the FTC rule requires that only one safe method of processing a garment must show on the label.)  It’s best to rely on our professional expertise to judge whether dry cleaning or washing is the best way to handle the garment.

At Classic Cleaners, deciphering manufacturer’s clothing care labels is just the beginning.  We study the label first, then address each stain.  Over decades of stain-fighting experience, we’ve assembled an arsenal of tools and techniques, from compressed air to specialized brushes,  from steam guns to dozens of different stain-fighting solutions. Our goal: restoring each garment to its very best.. so that you can look – and feel – your very best!

The colors of your clothes and even of your sheets and bath towels can impact how you feel, image consultant Julie Carson says.  “Using a red towel in the morning can give you energy,” she adds, “but wearing red all day can make you excitable.”

At Classic Cleaners we know all about reds being “excitable”.  From a dry cleaning and laundry standpoint, red dyes tend to be less stable, with the color likely to lose vibrancy faster than other colors.  Professional dry cleaners refer to certain textile dyes as “loose”, and red, according to Wikipedia is “the main culprit”. Since we know red clothing has a tendency to “bleed” onto other fabrics, our professional technicians are very careful how those reds are handled. Not only are all red garments cleaned and handled separately from other clothes, the solvent itself is distilled after each use.

It’s no wonder we process a lot of red clothing at each of our Classic Cleaners locations – red continues to be a very popular color, not only for women’s clothing, but for men’s ties and sweaters as well. Famous designer Bill Blass advised, “When in doubt, wear red.” Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright placed a red square signature tile on each of the homes he built in the 1930’s. The message you send by driving a vehicle that is Vibrant Red, according to http://www.squidoo.com/: Speedy, high energy, dynamic. Have you ever wondered why U.S. presidents seem to prefer red ties? Neatorama cites studies showing that red is most effective at enhancing our attention to detail.

No matter what the color of your clothing, be assured each garment will be given the specialized attention it requires. As longtime members of the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute, the premier international association for garment care professionals, we’re proud to “see red” (along with any other color garment you entrust to our care!).

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

Worried because you’ve heard that dry cleaning plants can cause chemical contamination in ground water, air, and municipal sewers? Worry no more with Classic Cleaners.

 None of our chemicals ever go into city sewers or underground tanks.  Instead, used-up cleaning agents are saved in above-ground tanks ready to be removed by licensed chemical companies.  From there the chemicals are either recycled or disposed of through state-approved processes.  At Classic Cleaners, we’re really proud of our Indiana 5-Star Environmental Recognition award.

Classic Cleaners was the first dry cleaner in the Indianapolis area to become a Certified Environmental Drycleaner.  This designation comes from the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute. In the many years we’ve operated as a dry cleaning and laundry chain in the Indianapolis area, we have never once been cited for an environmental violation or been required to clean up any site. We’re very proud of our “clean” record (pun intended!).

We continue to grow and to open new stores in – and all around – Indianapolis.  For us, it’s all about neighborhoods. If we’re not already your neighbors, we will be soon. We aim to be the very best of neighbors, taking the best care we can of the environment.  We protect your heath while we take care of your clothes!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

“Remember that to him or her, a person´s name is the sweetest, most important sound in any language,” Dale Carnegie used to teach in his sales training.  At Classic Cleaners we’ve always known this to be true.  In the past couple of weeks, though, we got a wonderful reminder of the simple power in people’s names, in the form of a customer testimonial.

Classic Cleaners customer service

“I’m writing to you to let you know what wonderful employees you have in Nancy Leonard and Katherine Toler who work at the Village of West Clay location…There are many choices of dry cleaners in my area, but because of these two women and their superior service and friendly greeting I receive every time I’m in (they actually know me by my name!) I will go out of my way to support this location…”  (Leslie in Carmel)

It’s so interesting.  Classic Cleaners uses the latest technology, not only in terms of equipment, laundry and dry cleaning processes, garment tracking and recordkeeping, but in its environmentally friendly recycling practices.  But, when it comes right down to it, it’s the old-fashioned “little things” that keep our customers so loyal.  No matter how big we get, no matter how many thousands of customers we have, no matter many millions of garments we process each year, we never forget our goal:  taking care of customers, one at a time. 

In an old country music song, a woman laments, “You never even called me by my name!”
Each of our customers has a name, and we want to remember it and use it every time. We want our customers to know our employees’ names as well, names such as Delores Godwin, the district manager who’s been with our company more than 22 years, or Ohi Suhre, our seamstress who’s been with us more than eighteen years.

What’s in a name?  When it comes to Classic Cleaners’ customers and employees – everything!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

At Classic Cleaners, we’re used to answering customers’ questions about their dry cleaning.   Usually the questions are about “shoulds”.

Here are a few examples:

“Should I keep the clothes in the bags once I get them home to keep them clean and nice?”
Classic Cleaners: You Shouldn’t. The plastic bags are to keep the fabrics clean until you get the clothes home (or until we deliver them to your home). The fabrics need to “breathe”.  Hang them uncovered or in cloth bags.

“Should I use club soda on my clothes if I spill something on myself at a party?”
Classic Cleaners: You shouldn’t. Even putting water on some fabrics can change the color.  Best to have a professional assess the stain before putting anything on the fabric.

“Should I bring in both pieces of a matching set or suit even if only one has a spot?”
Classic Cleaners: You should.  If both pieces are treated at the same time, the color is likely to continue to match.

“Should I save up my clothes until I have a load to bring to the dry cleaners?”
Classic Cleaners: Generally, you shouldn’t. First of all, the shorter the time a stain remains on the fabric, the more likely it can be removed.  If you need to wait, don’t pile up clothes in a closed car, where heat and sunlight can fade the fabrics.

“Should I tell the dry cleaner how the stain came about if I remember?”
Classic Cleaners: You should!  Since different stains need different treatment, the more we know about what the stain is and when it happened, the better.

Do YOU have a “should” question to pose to Classic Cleaners’ professionals?  Post a comment or send us an email!
 

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners Blog Team

At Classic Cleaners, we’re history buffs. Did you know that dry cleaning dates back to ancient times?  In the ruins of Pompeii, there were found records of professional clothes cleaners called “fullers”. The Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute, an authority on all facets of dry cleaning, explains that a type of clay known as “fuller’s earth” was rubbed into fabric to absorb soil and grease.  (Centuries later, the Paris firm of Jolly-Belin was credited with being the very first dry cleaning firm.)

It’s fascinating to learn that fuller’s earth is very much in use today.  In fact, the U.S. is one of the largest exporters of the substance, which is found mainly in southeastern states.  Fuller’s earth has quite a number of modern commercial applications, including:

• Artificially aging the fabric of costumes to make them look older than they really are.
• As an ingredient in cat litter.
• To absorb grease off brake bands and winches of cranes and oilers.
• As a facial mask for skin care.
• To treat burns.
• To decontaminate the clothing and equipment of chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear emergency responders.

While Classic Cleaners history doesn’t go back quite as far as the fullers of Pompeii, our company has quite a story of its own. The first store was opened in January, 1985 in northeast Indianapolis, under the original name Professional Cleaners. Since that very first year, Classic Cleaners has been a member of the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute, the premier international trade association for garment care professionals since 1883.

You might say Classic Cleaners are the modern-day fullers of Indianapolis!

–Reb of the Classic Cleaners Blog Team

Despite the name, dry cleaning isn’t actually dry – the process does involve liquid, only that liquid isn’t water.  The basic goal of dry cleaning is the same as with laundry (should we call laundry “wet cleaning”?) – to remove dirt and stains from garments.

Have you ever thought about how washing actually gets clothes clean?  According to scienceclarified.com, most of the dirt that collects on clothing (or on our bodies or on dishes, for that matter) is surrounded by a layer of oil.  That’s the reason washing clothes in water with no detergent would not affect the dirt. (Since oil and water don’t mix, the water could never approach the dirt!)  That’s where detergent  and laundry soap come in – the detergent molecules attach at one end to the oily dirt, with the other end “attached” to the water molecules.  The dirt is “pulled” into the water, and it can then be rinsed right down the drain.

So why can’t we launder all our garments? Certain fabrics (silk, rayon, and wool blends, for example) don’t do well when put into water: 

• The fabric shrinks
• The garment shape becomes distorted
• The fabric fades or changes color because of a chemical reaction

How Stuff Works explains that water molecules interact with certain fibers to make them expand, contract, or change.  Because dry cleaning solutions have a chemical makeup that is different from water, garments typically don’t shrink or fade.  At the same time, though, the dirt and stains “attach” and float off the clothes.

At Classic Cleaners, we know both cleaning and laundry play an important part in protecting your wardrobe.  We carefully check the care labels of your garments and use the dry cleaning or laundering process that will produce the best cleaning results.  We even go the extra mile and clean your garments by hand when needed.  At Classic Cleaners, we keep those molecules marching in exactly the right direction!

—Reb of the Classic Cleaners Blog Team

From March 4 to March 10, 2010, we are offering a very special special! 50% off all men’s and women’s pants. It’s time gather up all of the pants in the house you need laundered or dry cleaned and make them spiffy for spring!

–Matt
The Classic Cleaners Blog Team

Top 10 things to look for when choosing a dry cleaner

Post series intro

10. Knowledge of dry cleaning
9. Membership in a dry cleaning association
8. Clean stores
7. No odor on clothes
6. Properly removed stains
5. Skillful ironing
4. Intact buttons
3. Simple repairs made
2. White garments white
1. Ready to wear!
0. Environmental responsibility

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series on what to look for when choosing a dry cleaner. It’s also been a fun exercise for me, and new items continue to come to mind. For example, great customer service and great locations are also things to look for.

Of course, this series dealt mostly with the more concrete aspects of dry cleaning results, and I think we’ve covered a lot of ground. If you can verify that your dry cleaner does all of the above well, then you have in all likelihood found a “keeper.”

We’d like you to take a look at Classic Cleaners in light of the points above. We believe we can offer you extremely consistent dry cleaning results that are very hard to beat in the Indianapolis area. Thank you very much for giving us a try!

–Matt
The Classic Cleaners Blog Team

Top 10 things to look for when choosing a dry cleaner

Post series intro

10. Knowledge of dry cleaning
9. Membership in a dry cleaning association
8. Clean stores
7. No odor on clothes
6. Properly removed stains
5. Skillful ironing
4. Intact buttons
3. Simple repairs made
2. White garments white
1. Ready to wear!
0. Environmental responsibility

OK, I had an additional “thing to look for,” and it’s an important one. It’s great when you find a dry cleaner that offers superb customer service and fabulous cleaning results, but if that business is an environmental disaster in the making, then it’s doubtful that their customers would find that acceptable. After all, people care about their community.

There are strict laws governing how dry cleaners handle and dispose of dry cleaning solvent and other substances. Beyond the basics, however, there are many ways in which dry cleaners can go the extra mile and do things like recycling.

As we say on our Environmental Responsibilities page, Classic Cleaners was the first dry cleaner in the Indianapolis area to receive Certified Environmental Drycleaner certification from the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute. We have never been cited for an environmental violation and handle all dry cleaning substances with the highest level of care.

We also recycle wire hangers and plastic bags, collecting these items from customers. In the Indy area, we believe we offer an unbeatable level of environmental responsibility, and we are constantly looking for new ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

–Matt
The Classic Cleaners Blog Team