Finding the best dry cleaner can be harder than it seems at first. There are many services that promise one thing, but they end up underdelivering, while you end up paying for subpar service. This can be easily avoided with a bit of research and preparation. After all, dry cleaning your clothes should be done professionally, and this is why it’s important to find the best dry cleaner who’ll do it properly, with enough care and attention. So to make your search easier, here are some things you should know when looking for a dry cleaner.
If your clothes are stained, take them to the dry cleaner ASAP
Sure, stains happen when we least expect them. However, in order to avoid those stains setting into clothes, it’s crucial to take them to the dry cleaner as soon as possible, ideally the very next day. This includes odors from stains too. Dry cleaners use special chemical solvents that are made to treat particular stains, so remember to leave your clothes to them and them only. Pre-treating the stains at home might only make things worse, so don’t do that.
Make the job easier for the staff
Dry cleaners tend to get a lot of customers throughout the day, so in order to make their job easier, be sure to mark the stains on each and every garment. Feel free to mark the stain with a piece of tape or a pin, so they can be easily found and treated appropriately. Also, don’t forget to let them know about the origin of the stain (e.g. grease), so they’ll know what specific solvents to use. If possible, write it down, and attach it to the piece of clothing, so it won’t get lost.
Be careful when cleaning multi-piece clothing items
If your goal is to preserve the quality of your clothes, then it’s essential to treat them right. Also, if you happen to own some multi-piece garments, such as business suits, or bathing suits, then be sure to dry clean them at the same time. Meaning, that if your trousers are stained, make sure to bring a matching jacket as well. That will prevent fading at different rates, so your clothes will look equally intact and well-preserved.
Sustainability matters a lot
Dry cleaning uses a lot of energy and chemicals, which means that it also impacts the environment in some way. However, there is some great news: sustainable dry cleaning absolutely exists, you just need to find a business that employs these sustainable practices. If you happen to live in Illinois, then check out services that offer green cleaning in Chicago. When looking for a green dry cleaning service, make sure they’re as close to your home as possible, especially if you’re going to drive. Also, they shouldn’t use petrochemicals and other toxins that end up in the oceans, harming the environment (and your health) in the process.
Don’t overdo it
Since dry cleaning is amazingly effective and useful, many people do it on a regular basis. Although that’s perfectly fine, it is also necessary to point out that you should never overdo it when it comes to dry cleaning. This is due to the fact that certain clothes can be dry cleaned only once or twice a year, such as wool suits, for example. On the other hand, wool jumpers and similar items can be worn up to six times before dry cleaning. Knowing these differences can be extremely helpful, as well as post-dry cleaning tips and tricks.
Pricing and delivery option are also important
This is crucial especially if you’re on a budget, trying to live within your means. Therefore, you should find a dry cleaner that offers prices reasonable to you. The average cost of dry cleaning varies a lot, so if you’re budgeting, then be sure to ask around, until you find the best service that charges reasonably. Also, keep in mind that if the dry cleaner has the lowest prices in the area, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll offer the best service. There’s this saying, you get what you pay for, and in this case, it is true. A good value on good services is the best way to go about this, for sure.
Asking for recommendations is also valid
Recommendations exist for a reason: to help you choose the best product or service. In this case, it’s best to ask someone you trust, who values their clothes and pays attention to details. Aside from that, you can also read the reviews for a particular dry cleaning service. Also, be sure to set some criteria as that will help you manage your expectations. A good dry cleaning service should be customer-oriented, professional, and reliable, and asking around for recommendations will help you find the best one.
Ask them whether they offer delivery and other services
If you live a busy lifestyle, and you’re away from home often, then it’s recommended to find a dry cleaning service that offers delivery as well. That will make sure you’ll get your clothes delivered straight to your doorstep, so you won’t have to worry about picking them up, mainly if you finish work late. You can also notify the dry cleaner of your schedule, so they’ll deliver it to you when you’re at home. Besides, there are other important services that you might want to know about, particularly, wash and fold, or maybe even repairs and tailoring. Of course, the majority of these will be additionally charged, but if you want your clothes clean and in top condition, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Conclusion
You deserve to have beautiful, well-preserved, and clean clothes, and this is why you should invest some effort to find the best dry cleaner in your area. These tips and suggestions will help you make that happen, as long as you focus on the important aspects such as sustainability, service, availability, and pricing. Also, it’s important to build a relationship with your chosen dry cleaner, so you’ll get the best possible service for your money’s worth.