FAQs - What you need to know about Laundry, Drycleaning & more

DollarWise Quality Cleaners Advantage

A DRYCLEANER WORTH SWITCHING TO...We have the most advanced state of the art facility in the country.

We are a full service cleaner: we offer drycleaning, wet cleaning, laundry, and a complete alterations department. All work is done at our 2 plants in Winnipeg.

OUR DRYCLEANING MACHINE

• Exceeds all environmental regulations.
• Removes all of the solvent, thus leaving clothes odour-free.
• Our dry cleaning solutions ensure that whites remain white and that colours remain bright and vibrant.

DRYCLEAN PRESSING

• All items are pressed by hand.
• We have pressure controls which ensure that we do not put a sheen on clothes. These controls also avoid the cracking / breaking of buttons.

THE LAUNDRY / WET WASH MACHINE

• Detergent is injected by a monitoring computer which ensures that proper amounts enter the wash on time every time.
• All dress shirts have their collars and cuffs thoroughly scrubbed as required before being washed.
• This machine also allows us to do what is known as wet washing / green cleaning. This is only performed at the customer's request.

LAUNDRY PRESSING

• All laundered items are pressed by hand.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Minor alterations and repairs are done free of charge.
• All garments to be cleaned are pre-spotted using the most advanced techniques available.
• From the time a garment enters our facility to the time it leaves our facility, it has been inspected at least 5 times. This ensures the highest possible quality.

DollarWise Quality Cleaners Service Questions

Who founded DollarWise Quality Cleaners?

Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners was founded by Paul Walsh, our President, and Shane Johnston, our General Manger.

What services are offered by DollarWise Quality Cleaners?

Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners is a high-end drycleaning operation that specializes in the production of quality cleaning and home / office pick-up and delivery. We offer a wide variety of services including: drycleaning, laundry, wet cleaning and alterations.

How does DollarWise Quality Cleaners ensure the highest quality product?

Through state-of-the-art machinery, environmentally-friendly cleaning detergents and years of industry experience and expertise, Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners management and trained staff are familiar with the various techniques necessary to produce the highest quality work.

Care Labels / International Care Symbols

Government Regulations require manufacturers to attach a permanent label to textile garments that provides directions for their care. Manufacturers and importers must list at least one method of safe care for a garment.

The care label must be easily found, not separate from the garment, and remain legible during the garment's useful life. The label must warn about any part of the recommended care method that would harm the garment or other garments being laundered or drycleaned with it. It also must warn when there is no method for cleaning a garment without damaging it.

Symbols also may appear on a care label to supplement written instructions. When a garment carries an international symbol tag, all care methods will usually be listed. If you are not sure of a symbol's meaning, ask us to explain it to you.

MAY I REMOVE THE CARE LABEL?

Garments are required to have a care label attached at the time of purchase so that you can take care instructions into consideration when you buy an item. Removing the care label entails some risk, as full information or warnings regarding proper care will no longer be available to you or your cleaner.

CLEANING METHODS DEFINITIONS

Dryclean: Uses normal drycleaning fluid found in any commercial or coin-operated drycleaning establishment. The process may include moisture added to the fluid, hot tumble drying (160"F), and pressing by steam press or steam air-form finishing.

Machine Wash: Indicates use of either a commercial or home washing machine. Other information may be added giving specific washing temperatures, size of the load, or drying procedures.

DOES "WASHABLE" MEAN IT ALSO CAN BE DRYCLEANED?

If a garment's care label says "washable," it may or may not-be safely drycleaned; there is no way of telling from the label. A manufacturer or importer is only required to list one method of safe care, no matter how many other methods also could be used safely. The manufacturer or importer is not required to warn about other care procedures that may not be safe. The International Fabricare Institute (IFI) supports voluntary "alternative labeling" by manufacturers to inform consumers of all satisfactory care methods.

If you request a method of cleaning not listed on the care label, we may ask you to sign a consent form. With or without the form, we are obligated to clean items in a professional manner.

WHAT IF YOU FOLLOW THE LABEL AND A PROBELEM DEVELOPS?

If you or the cleaner follow the manufacturer's instructions and the garment is damaged, you should return the garment to the store and explain what happened. If the store will not resolve the problem, ask for the manufacturer's name and address and write to the company. Provide a full description of the garment and state all the information that is given on the labels and tags. Estimate how many times the garment has been washed or drycleaned, and provide the full name and address of the store where it was purchased.

Clothes

WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL CLOTHES CLEANING?

You bring your clothes to Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners, drop them off at the counter, and a few days later you return to pick them up looking as good as new. But what happens to your clothing in between? To many people, professional cleaning is a mysterious process and you may be surprised to learn that professional cleaning is a lot more than one process. In fact, we might employ a number of techniques to give your garments that "like new" appearance. Basically, professional cleaning can be broken down into three general categories – drycleaning, wetcleaning, and laundering.

DRYCLEANING

Drycleaning uses fluids to remove soil and stains from fabric. In fact, the term "drycleaning" is misleading; it is called drycleaning because the fluid contains little or no water and does not penetrate the fibers as water does.

Among the advantages of drycleaning is its ability to dissolve greases and oils in a way that water cannot. Natural fibers such as wools and silks dryclean beautifully, but can shrink, distort, and lose colour when washed in water. Synthetic fibers such as polyester also respond well to drycleaning, while they can retain oily stains after washing. Drycleaning helps to return garments to a "like-new" condition using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of colour, and fabric distortion.

The drycleaning process begins with the pretreatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. The garments are then loaded into a machine resembling an oversized front-loading home washer. It produces similar mechanical action to loosen embedded dirt. Throughout the cleaning process, the fluid is filtered or distilled to ensure its clarity.

Today, the solvent used by almost 90 percent of all drycleaners is perchloroethytene, commonly known as "perc." Introduced to the drycleaning industry in the late 1930s, perc offers many practical and environmental benefits which have led to its popular use as a cleaning agent. It is completely non-flammable and non-combustible, of low toxicity, and can be efficiently reused and recycled.

WETCLEANING

Based on the care label instructions and your professional cleaner's expertise, wetcleaning might be the best method selected for some garments.

Like in the drycleaning process, wetcleaning starts with the pretreatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. Wetcleaning is the professional process of removing soils from garments and other textile items through the use of water and additives (such as detergents) and using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of colour, and fabric distortion.

LAUNDERING

Professional laundering for shirts and other "washable" items is another process our cleaner uses to keep your garments looking their best. Special detergents, in our case "ZOP", additives, and finishes set commercial laundry apart from home laundering. This process enables your cleaner to offer consistent quality shirts at reasonable prices. Collars come cleaner and the professional pressing affords a crisper finish. If you request a method of cleaning that is not listed on the care label, your cleaner may ask you to sign a consent form showing that you accept the potential risks of cleaning the garment.

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING STEPS

Professional cleaning involves many different operations, all performed by skilled people and designed to give your garments a fresh and clean appearance. Procedures include:

1. Checking the labels for adequate care instructions and fiber content.
2. Classifying the garment according to fabric type, colour, and degree of soiling.
3. Removing spots and stains using special equipment, special stain removal agents, and water.
4. Drycleaning, wetcleaning, or laundering, only if so labeled.
5. Reapplying any sizing, water repellency, and other finishes when necessary and possible.
6. Finishing the garment on professional pressing equipment to restore its original shape and appearance.
7. Replacing missing or damaged buttons and performing minor repairs whenever possible, according to plant policy.
8. Packaging the garment neatly in a protective wrapping.

Along with these basic procedures, Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners offers additional services such as cleaning furs, and leathers, rug cleaning, drapery cleaning, smoke removal, pillow cleaning, shirt and family laundry, wedding gown preservation, and alternations and repairs.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Here are some tips that can help you get the most from your cleaning dollar:

• Bring a garment in for professional cleaning as soon as possible after staining occurs. Stains and soil left too long can be impossible to remove and will shorten the life of your garment.
• Discuss any stains with us. Be especially sure to point out light-coloured or invisible spills, such as those from soft drinks, fruit juices, or white wine. It is also important to point out and identify any other beverage or food spillage so that we can treat the stain prior to putting the garment through the drycleaning process.
• Keep perfumes, lotions, deodorants, antiperspirants, and other toiletries from coming into contact with your clothes. These products likely contain alcohol, which can affect some dyes. Allow them to dry before you dress.
• Protect your garments from excessive perspiration, especially silks. Perspiration left on fabric can cause many dyes to discolour.
• Have matching pieces cleaned together, including bedspreads and drapes, so that any colour loss will be uniform and the pieces will still match.
• Protect your garments from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or strong artificial light. Keep in mind that even normal lighting can affect some dyes. Don't press stained or soiled clothes. The heat may set some stains.

QUESTIONS OFTEN ASKED

Q. Does frequent drycleaning shorten the life of a garment?

A. On the contrary, frequent cleaning prolongs the life of a garment. Not only do stains set with age, making the garment unwearable, but ground-in dirt and soil act as an abrasive, like sandpaper, causing rapid wear of fibers. Also, insects are attracted to soiled clothes and will cause further damage.

Q. When a garment's label says "washable", does this mean it cannot be drycleaned?

A. Not necessarily. Only one suitable method of care must be on the label. We follow the care instructions, unless otherwise requested. If you want your washable items drycleaned, we may ask you to sign a damage waiver.

Q. Are suedes and leathers cleaned the same way as other fabrics?

A. No. special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain their colour and texture. Sometimes suedes and leathers are redyed to replace colour loss. It is not always possible to replace or match the colours.

Q. Does drycleaning shrink clothes?

A. No. The drycleaning process is carefully controlled by professional cleaners. Excessive shrinkage is usually caused by improper preshrinking by the manufacturer.

Q. Can Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners safely stretch fabrics?

A. Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners can steam-finish and stretch fabrics that have relaxed in drycleaning. This does not damage the fabric.

Q. Should I store my clean garments in the plastic bag they are returned in?

A. The bags are provided by the cleaner to protect the garment until you get it home. It is best to store garments uncovered or in fabric garment bags.

WHAT DOLLAR WISE QUALITY CLEANERS CANNOT DO

Even the best cleaners can not do the following:

• • Remove certain stains. The nature and age of the stain, plus the colour and construction of the fabric, sometimes make stains impossible to remove without damaging the garment.
• Prevent some colours from bleeding or fading. If the manufacturer does not thoroughly test the dyes to make sure they are colourfast to both solvent and water, some colour may be lost during the cleaning process. This is considered the manufacturer's responsibility.
• Prevent excessive shrinkage. If the manufacturer has failed to adequately preshrink all component parts before the garment is constructed, shrinkage may occur.
• Reverse worn or torn areas caused by wear, perspiration, damage caused by insects, or liquid spills. Such holes or rips may not appear before cleaning, but they result from a previous weakening of the fibers.
• Prevent or correct holes caused by insects or acid spillage. Such holes may not appear before drycleaning, but they result from a previous weakening of the fibers.
• Correct excessive shine on clothes caused by wear or extreme heat and pressure used in home ironing.
• Correct poor home spot removal procedures such as colour loss caused by excessive rubbing of delicate fabrics or colour reactions or holes in the fabric caused by failure to rinse stain removal agents from the fabric.

COLOUR LOSS 

Not all coloured fabrics are created equally. Some are woven from dyed yarns, some are dyed after weaving, and other fabrics are coloured by printing the surface, often with several different colours. Colour performance has improved with modern technology, but failures may still occur.

The best way for the manufacturer to determine care procedures is through testing. Unfortunately, this is not always done, and sometimes items are drycleaned or washed with poor results.

As a general rule, you have the right to assume that a properly cared-for white garment will retain reasonable whiteness for its normal life expectancy, and that coloured garments will retain their depth or brightness.

To ensure the best colour performance of our garments:

• Always read and follow the care instructions.
• Protect white and coloured garments from excessive exposure to light.
• Follow bleaching instructions on the care label.
• When in doubt, consult a professional cleaner.

COLOUR LOSS IN DRYCLEANING

A dye that is soluble in drycleaning solvent may severely fade during the drycleaning process. If two or more dyes have been used and only one is solvent soluble, you may see a dramatic colour change. For example, the yellow component may be removed from a green garment, leaving it blue. Drycleaning also may affect various pieces of a garment differently. For example, a dyed blue dress may retain its colour, while its blue-and-white surface-printed jacket may face, so that the blues no longer match.

Fading commonly occurs in household items, such as bedspreads and draperies. Often, it may not appear severe until the item is compared with a matching item. Matching bedspreads and draperies should all be cleaned at the same time.

WASHABLE AND WATER-BASED DYES

Some dyes bleed when laundered or exposed to perspiration, rain, or water. Since many stains require water and water-soluble chemicals for removal, even drycleanable items should have water-resistant dyes.

Water can also cause problems with sizing, which is used to provide body in fabrics such as rayon. Water spills may cause sizing to migrate and form dark rings or streaks as it dries. These discolorations are difficult to remedy on drycleanable fabrics because they require additional water to remove the sizing disturbance, and this may aggravate the problem.

WHITES

Most people do not think of white as a colour, but it is. Many fabrics naturally have an off-white or yellowish cast. White fabrics may even be treated with optical brighteners, also called fluorescent whitening agents, to enhance their whiteness.

Some of these brightening agents are unstable and may lose their whitening power when exposed to light, giving the exposed fabric a yellow or gray hue or a pink or green cast. For example, the front of a sweater laid out to dry in the sun may turn yellow, while the back remains white. Brighteners are especially sensitive to light exposure when garments are wet.

Yellowing also may occur when chlorine bleach comes in contact with resins, which sometimes are added to impart a "permanent press" quality. You can avoid this by following the care label instructions for bleaching.

Some white fabrics yellow from normal aging, oxidation, and exposure to atmospheric soils. This process sometimes can be reversed by careful wetcleaning and bleaching. If not too severe, it may be corrected with a fluorescent brightener during the drycleaning process or by using a laundry detergent containing brightener.

LIGHT & CHEMICAL DAMAGE

Most dyes eventually fade with exposure to sunlight or artificial light. Colour failure may occur rapidly on exposed areas, such as shoulders, collars, and sleeves. Many blue, green, and lavender dyes are light-sensitive, especially on silk and wool fabrics.

Household substances also can affect dyes. Be careful not to expose fabrics to alkaline toiletries, such as toothpaste, hair spray, perfume, or deodorant, which contain alcohol. The acidity of lemon juice affects some dyes. Bleach, one of the most common causes of colour loss and fabric damage, should be used with extreme care

Environment

DOLLARWISE QUALITY CLEANERS RECYCLES ALMOST EVERYTHING

We recycle almost everything – from used cleaning solvent to unclaimed garments. Here are some of the ways we keep waste to an absolute minimum:

Drycleaning Solvent

Drycleaning solvent is readily reused and recycled on-site through distillation, filtration and drying. Special stills and filters remove impurities from used solvent, leaving it crystal-clear and ready to be used again. As garments are dried, solvent vapors are recaptured and condensed back to liquid form for reuse.

Hangers

Special recycling bins are provided in our front counter area. It's a good idea for customers to first remove all staples and tags or receipts before returning hangers.

Leather & Suede

CHOOSING A LEATHER GARMENT

A leather or suede garment is a major investment, so it is important to choose it carefully and care for it wisely. In selecting a leather garment:

• Buy from a reputable retailer.
• Look for careful matching of colors and textures between portions of the garment. Suede will never be completely uniform, but this is part of it desirability.
• Avoid a snug fit. Hides are stretched during tanning and some relaxation shrinkage can be expected in use and cleaning.
• Read and save any accompanying care information.

WEAR AND CARE

Proper care of leather and suede begins at home. To get the maximum life from your garment:

• Wear a scarf to protect the collar area from perspiration and body oils.
• If the garment gets wet, let it air-dry away from heat.
• Store in a cool, ventilated area. Leather can dry out if exposed to dry heat or mildew if stored in a hot, humid environment.
• Do not store leather in a plastic bag.
• If staining occurs, take the garment to a professional suede and leather cleaner as soon as possible. Do not try to remove spots at home.

CLEANING YOUR LEATHER

When you take your leather or suede garment to a Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners, it is helpful if you can provide any care information that came with the garment. Be sure to point out any stains, since stains that are old and set cannot always be removed safely. Have all matching pieces cleaned at the same time.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER CLEANING

Although cleaning technologies for leather and suede are constantly improving, some changes will almost always result from the cleaning process. The following gives you an idea of what to expect:

Variations among the garment's sections.

Leather garments are made from skins taken from various portions of the animal and usually from several different animals. The manufacturer tries to match the skins as uniformly as possible, but even the best matching may still show some variance in texture, weight, and color uniformity. These may be accentuated after cleaning.

Loss of Colour.

Be prepared for a slight variance in the depth of color after cleaning. Skins from various parts of the animal may have different colorfastness. Also, some leather dyes may be soluble in drycleaning fluid, resulting in overall color loss. We may be able to correct some color loss and variance with spraydyeing.

Loss of oils.

During cleaning, some of the oils used in the tanning process to keep leather supple may be lost. A professional leather cleaner has special additives to restore suppleness, but there still may be some change in the feel of the garment.

Some changes will almost always occur in the cleaning process; a hand-painted, suede vest is wearable art, but challenging to clean.

Scar tissue and vein marks.

Tanners often use fillers before dyeing to mask any scar tissue or imperfections on the leather. Cleaning may remove some of the fillers and cause the defects to reappear.

Wrinkles.

Skins taken from certain parts of an animal are naturally wrinkled, and have been stretched during manufacturing to achieve a smooth appearance. The agitation of cleaning can relax the leather, accentuating the wrinkles.

Texture and shading changes.

Manufacturers sometimes combine a smoother skin with a coarser – textured skin. Cleaning may make this more apparent. Different textures also may vary in how they absorb the fat liquors and additives in the cleaning process, resulting in some areas being darker than others. It is a natural phenomenon that is beyond the control of the cleaner.

Shrinkage.

Although some shrinkage is likely to occur over time as the skins relax, this may be accentuated in cleaning. As you wear our garment, this snugness should dissipate. If the skins have been overstretched during manufacture, they may relax permanently.

Damage to thin skins.

Some skins are extremely thin and too fragile for use in apparel. These skins tend to wear exceptionally fast, even with normal usage. The agitation of cleaning will further aggravate the damage of thin skins.

Shading from adhesives.

Adhesives used to glue seams, hems, and other areas may not be solvent-resistant. When the glues do not dissolve completely, they may seep through the leather and cause shaded areas.

Leather trim bleeding and transfer.

Leather buttons and piping on fabric items sometimes cause problems by bleeding color onto the adjacent fabric. All attached trim should be able to withstand the care method on the label. If this problem occurs, the item should be returned to the retailer.

Oxidation.

Exposure to light and atmospheric gases can cause leather dyes to oxidize over time. Protected areas, such as under the collar, will retain more of the original color.

This may become more noticeable after cleaning, and usually cannot be corrected by the leather cleaner.

Problems with imitation leathers and suedes.

Imitation leathers and suedes are produced in a variety of ways and are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Some may be coated with vinyl – or urethane-based films; others may be made to look like suede. These coatings and imitations may be vulnerable to self-sticking, blistering, puckering, or stiffening in drycleaning.

Who's Responsible

Whether it's a broken button, a previously unseen spot, or colour fading, imperfect results are a problem for both drycleaners and their customers. Damage that occurs during the drycleaning process may stem from the failure of a component part to be drycleanable or from the circumstances of use. Regardless, drycleaning customers need to know who is responsible for damaged items and what recourse they have to remedy the situation.

MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY

The care label is intended to give both the consumer and the drycleaner guidance on how to care for the item properly. If a label says "dryclean," this should mean that all components including the outer shell, lining, buttons, interfacing, fusing material, and trim will be colorfast and will not be altered during cleaning. If any such problem occurs, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer, who has not tested the component accurately before labeling.

Manufacturing problems arise in fabrics as well. Defects to look for are:

• Dyes that dissolve in drycleaning solvent, causing excessive bleeding or fading.
• Sizing that dissolves in solvent or water.
• Shrinkage due to failure to preshrink fabric before garment construction. Loss or dulling of surface sheen due to wear and tear of finish. Colour loss or change in dyes sensitive to light or to action of the surrounding air. Shrinkage or separation of attached interfacing and bonded fabrics.

WHY SIGN A CONSENT FORM?

The great majority of garments and household articles clean satisfactorily, without any problems at all. Occasionally, Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners may recognize a potential problem and ask you to sign a consent form before cleaning the item.

The use of a consent form is a signal that Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners is aware of a potential problem and is showing consideration and prudence in the handling of your clothes. If you agree, the item will be processed with extreme care and probably returned to you in good condition. If damage does occur, however, we should not be held responsible; we warned you of the risk and obtained your consent to proceed.

Signing a consent form, of course, does not relieve the cleaner of the normal responsibility of handling the item with professional care, according to accepted industry standards.

Silk & Rayon

Silk is a soft, elegant fiber, prized for its many unique qualities. Rayon was the first manmade fiber produced. It gives the look of silk at a fraction of the cost. Rayon is regenerated cellulose material.

WASH OR DRYCLEAN?

Both silk and rayon fibers dryclean very well. If the manufacturer has not tested for appropriate care instructions, however, certain dyes or finishes applied to the fibers may react adversely to drycleaning. Washing may damage garments containing sizing and / or dyes that are sensitive to water. It is important that you follow the care label on the garment.

"WASHABLE" SILK AND RAYON

Washable silk and rayon have become increasingly popular. Some dyes on "washable" silk and rayon actually dissolve in water, causing considerable dye bleeding and transfer of the dye. This is especially true on many darker colours; most pastels have a greater degree of colourfastness. Multicoloured articles should be tested for colourfastness before washing them.

It is important to keep the washing cycle very short, followed by rapid rinsing and drying. Never soak these garments for extended periods of time.

Drycleaning is not advised for articles of this type. Tests have shown that many of these dyes may be solvent soluble. When consumers bring these washable garments to be drycleaned, the drycleaner should clean them according to the instructions on the care label. If those care instructions are not followed and a problem occurs, the retailer cannot be held responsible.

SHADING DAMAGE

A frequent problem with silk and rayon is the tendency of the sizing or finish applied by the manufacturer to discolour upon contact with moisture. The moisture effects of water-soluble food and beverage spillage, perspiration, and rain may disturb sizing. If the article is badly stained by moisture, and labeled as "drycleanable," it may be very difficult for a drycleaner to correct this shading. A bad discolouration may necessitate a short wetcleaning process. This is only done with the consumer's consent.

Changes in colour shading can result from a variety of outside sources.

HOME STAIN REMOVAL

Because of the extreme sensitivity of many dyes and sizings to moisture, consumers are not advised to attempt any stain removal using water unless they have pretested an unexposed seam. Wet the fabric and blot it with a white cloth. (Rubbing while wet during home spotting can distort the yams, causing light areas or chafing.) Allow the spot to air dry to determine if the dye and sizing are disturbed.

Oily-type greases and soils often can be more readily removed by a drycleaning fluid without adverse effects. However, in all stain-removal techniques, the fabric should only be lightly blotted with the fluid; never rubbed. Rubbing damages the colour of the fabric, often permanently.

PERSPIRATION PROBLEMS

Perspiration contains salts that can damage fabrics, especially silk. Perspiration is acidic and turns alkaline on exposure to the atmosphere. This can cause the fabric to change colour and may disintegrate and weaken silk. Have perspiration stains removed as soon as possible to avoid permanent staining. If you perspire heavily, consider wearing underarm shields.

COLOUR CHANGES

Some silk dyes bleed or change colour when exposed to solutions containing alcohol. Allow perfume, deodorant, and hair spray to dry before you dress, and remove spills from alcoholic beverages as soon as possible.

Some dyes, especially blues and greens on silk, are sensitive to alkalis. Many facial soaps, shampoos, detergents, and even toothpastes are alkaline enough to cause colour loss or change on sensitive items. If this happens, talk to your drycleaner promptly about possible restoration.

Many bright colours used on these fabrics can fade from exposure to sunlight or artificial light. Some blue and green dyes fade exceptionally fast, especially on silk. Store garments in closets away from any light, such as windows or electric lights left on.

Never use chlorine bleach: it permanently damages silk.

Stains (General)

STAIN REMOVAL

Clothing stains are one of the main reasons people seek the help of Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners. With our special solvents, equipment, and training, we can remove some of the most disastrous-looking stains with relative ease. Successful stain removal depends largely on the nature of the stain, the type of fabric, and the colourfastness of the dye. Ink stains and dried paint, for example, can be impossible to remove. Also, some fabrics are not made to withstand the use of cleaning or stain removal agents.

"INVISIBLE STAINS"

Many stains that are caused by food, oily substances, or beverages may become invisible when they dry. But later on, with exposure to heat or the passage of time, a yellow or brownish stain will appear. This is caused by the oxidation or carmelization of the sugar in the staining substance. It is the same process that makes a peeled apple turn brown after exposure to air.

You can help us do a better job by pointing out such stains when you take a garment to be cleaned. We often treat these stains prior to cleaning, since the heat of drying or finishing may set the stain.

When an oily substance is exposed to heat or ages in a garment for an extended time, it also oxidizes. This type of stain can be distinguished by the irregular "cross pattern" the oil makes when it follows the fabric fibers. Oily substances are successfully removed in drycleaning unless they are left to oxidize. Once they become yellow or brown, they become much more difficult to remove.

PERSPIRATION STAINS

Perspiration can also cause problem stains, particularly on silk and wool garments. Perspiration left in a silk garment can eventually cause deterioration of the silk fibers.

Repeated exposure of a garment to perspiration and body oils can create a permanent yellow discolouration and an objectionable odor. In addition, perspiration can react with the dye or sizing in the fabric, making it even more difficult to remove the stain. People who perspire heavily should have their clothes cleaned more frequently and might consider using perspiration shields. Clothing frequently worn or heavily stained also requires frequent cleaning.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

To help Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners do a better job of stain removal, we suggest the following:

• Never put a garment away with spills or stains on it. The warmth of a closet and exposure to natural or artificial light and to the atmosphere can contribute to setting a stain.
• Bring in a stained garment as soon as possible, preferably within a few days, to prevent the stain from setting.
• Do not iron stained or soiled clothes; this will set stains and drive the soil deeper into the fabric. Always have soiled clothes cleaned or washed before ironing.
• Do not attempt home spot removal with either water or a cleaning fluid without testing first for colourfastness. Wet an unexposed area, such as an inside seam, and blot with a paper towel to make sure the colour is fast.
• Never rub a stain, especially when attempting to remove a stain from silk. Blot the stained area. This will help remove the staining substance without spreading the stain and will avoid damaging the fabric.
• Inform our drycleaner of the location of specific stains and any procedures you have used to remove them, even if the stains are no longer visible.

Textiles

DRAPERIES

Drycleaning or professional laundering often can prolong the life of household draperies. With proper care, draperies made of an average grade of fabric can be expected to last many years.

Drycleaners often encounter problems with draperies because of environmental conditions in the household. Water damage from window condensation, prolonged exposure to moisture and humidity, and sunlight can discolour and weaken fabric, causing shredding when draperies are exposed to the agitation of cleaning. The combined effects of age, moisture, light, heat, tobacco smoke, and other atmospheric soils can cause fabrics to permanently yellow.

Laundering, drycleaning, or excessive changes in relative humidity can cause shrinkage in draperies that have not been properly preshrunk, particularly cotton and rayon. Special drapery finishing equipment that re-stretches the fabric often can correct such shrinkage.

Distortion and fabric stiffening also can occur during the cleaning process. Some drapery constructions use a combination of several fibers to produce a desired weave or design. The presence of heat-sensitive fibers can cause considerable distortion during the normal cleaning, deodorizing, and finishing cycle. Other draperies contain reflective coatings that may not be totally resistant to drycleaning and may stiffen and blister the fabric. Some coatings may separate, peel, or self-stick in cleaning.

BEDSPREADS AND COMFORTERS

Many bedspreads and comforters, especially those that are tailored and quilted, should be drycleaned or professionally laundered. Check for care instructions when making your purchase since they may appear on a temporary label or on the packaging instead of being attached to the items themselves. It is wise to dryclean or launder all matching or coordinating items at the same time and by the same process. This way, any colour changes, however minimal, will be uniform.

UPHOLSTERY AND SLIPCOVERS

Upholstery is usually cleaned in place by a professional cleaning process, so that cushion covers continue to match the rest of the furniture. Many slipcovers and sets of cushion covers for rattan furniture are suitable for drycleaning, but consumers should be aware of potential problems with some upholstery fabrics.

Some fabrics may not be suited for immersion cleaning. Haitian cotton and other fabrics with a loose weave are easily damaged by the agitation of cleaning. Unfortunately, backings that are added to loosely woven upholstery fabrics for stability often soften or dissolve when cleaned with solvents. Also, fabrics not adequately preshrunk in manufacturing may shrink in cleaning. Obviously, if this happens with a cushion cover or a slipcover, it will no longer fit the piece of furniture.

HEIRLOOM TEXTILES

Antique quilts and linens require great care in cleaning, and Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners is equipped to perform this delicate work. Let Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners know that the item is old and will require special treatment. Often, antique linens or old quilts will be badly discoloured, but, using proper cleaning procedures we are able to remove some stains or discolourations.

PROLONGING TEXTILE LIFE

How long textiles will last depends in part on their selection and on the care you give them. Here are some hints to prolong their usefulness:

• Remember that closely woven fabrics are more durable than loosely woven fabrics.
• Consider the amount of sun exposure the fabrics will receive.
• Silk is the most vulnerable to light degradation, and acrylic, modacrylic, polyester, and glass fibers are the most resistant.
• Read all care instructions before making a purchase.
• Rotate draperies to vary light exposure.
• Inform your cleaner about any care information you may have from the original hang tag or literature obtained at the time of purchase.
• Remember that regular cleaning is important in prolonging the life of textiles.
• Surface soils can abrade carpets, rugs, and upholstery fibers.

Since there are so many potential problems, many drycleaners are reluctant to clean draperies or upholstery items without having you sign a statement accepting the potential risk. Bear in mind that this does not release the cleaner from an obligation to treat the item with appropriate care.

POOR GARMENT CONSTRUCTION

Although garments that are labeled "Dryclean" should be made to withstand proper finishing that is not always the case. Steam used to remove wrinkles and restore a garment to its proper shape can sometimes cause damage, particularly to suede, leather, fur, and certain synthetic materials. Garments with decorative trim elements placed very close together also can be difficult to finish, even with a hand iron.

Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners sees hundreds of garments each week. We may suggest that there is considerable risk in processing a garment whose trim may be damaged by following the care label. In that case, we may ask you to sign a consent form before proceeding with any cleaning.

Unfortunately, we are faced with the fact that there are many poor-quality garments on the market today. If you experience a problem with an inaccurate care label, do not hesitate to return the garment to the retailer for an adjustment. The retailer should likewise return it to the manufacturer.

LEATHER LOOK–ALIKES

Some trim that looks like suede or leather may actually be vinyl. These vinyls may stiffen, pucker, or curl upon exposure to drycleaning.

Fabrics that are treated with a plastic finish to give the appearance of smooth leather may separate, peel, or blister during drycleaning.

In some cases, simulated leather may be a combination of materials treated with a surface finish. This finish may abrade and wear off from use or care. Imitation-leather trim may lose its surface finish, stiffen, or fray during drycleaning. Some imitations look so realistic that no one can predict their cleanability. It must be assumed that the trim is compatible with the care procedures stated on the label.

FUR TRIM

Problems can arise with fur trim on combination cloth-and-fur garments. Occasionally, the trim is composed of small pieces of older or thinner fur which can crack, peel, or shed during cleaning. Fur trims also do not have the same wear and cleaning characteristics as the fabrics to which they are attached. Some furs may be tipped with colours which are not colourfast to drycleaning, causing disappearance of the fur's intricate designs.

Wedding Gowns

Your wedding gown is one of your most precious possessions. It is a symbol of an important event in your life and, as such, should be treated with special care. Whether you are borrowing it from a relative or buying it new, your gown deserves your attention, both before the wedding and afterward.

CHOOSING A WEDDING DRESS

Wedding consultants agree that if you are buying a new dress for the big day, you should begin shopping at least six months before your wedding date. This will give you ample time to find the style, fabric, and accessories that suit you. It also will allow time for the manufacturing and shipping of a dress that is special-ordered. Today's bridal gowns are made from satin, taffeta, chiffon, organza, brocade, and lace and are accented with delicate trims, such as beads, seed peals, sequins, embroidery, lace, and appliqué.

When shopping for your dress, ask the salesperson whether both the dress and trim are drycleanable. If possible, get the information in writing. Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners often finds that trim that is glued on rather than sewn on sometimes does not stand up to the drycleaning process. Other trims, such as beads and pearls, dissolve when cleaned with solvent. You want to make sure that your entire dress is drycleanable so that you can preserve your investment for many years.

If you are wearing an heirloom gown, allow plenty of time for professional cleaning as well as any alterations that may be necessary. Because many fabrics naturally yellow with age, you should check the gown carefully for any discolourations. Often, yellowing can be overcome if the gown can be carefully wetcleaned.

AFTER THE WEDDING...

Most brides want to preserve their dress as a keepsake, perhaps for their own daughter to wear on her wedding day. Cleaning industry experts recommend that you have the dress cleaned by an expert before storage.

The dress may have invisible stains from food, beverages, and body oil. If these stains are not properly cleaned, they may become permanent. Therefore, it is important to point out any stains or spills to your cleaner before cleaning.

Most wedding gowns have some sort of decorative trim. Again, it is important to inspect these trims with your cleaner prior to cleaning since many trims are not made to withstand the drycleaning process. For example, many beads, glitter, sequins, and laces are attached to gowns with adhesives that dissolve during drycleaning. Some beads and glitter are made of plastics or covered with surface coatings that are not solvent resistant. In many of these cases, the trim becomes separated from the dress or altered in some way.

In some cases, decorative trims yellow as their finishes oxidize. An ivory or ecru trim may lose its colour and no longer match the gown if a dye component is lost in cleaning. Colour failures of this type are due to poor colourfastness of the dye, not to improper cleaning.

SPECIAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Wedding gowns must have a care label that provides a viable care method. The care label covers all component parts of the gown, including all decorative trim. Gowns that fail to withstand the care procedure on the label should be returned to the retailer for an adjustment. Look at the care label before purchasing your gown to make sure you understand the recommended cleaning instructions.

With proper care, your wedding gown will remain a keepsake.

STORING YOUR GOWN

Unfortunately, no process or storage method can guarantee against yellowing or possible deterioration of fabrics. There are, however, several steps you can take to protect your garment:

• Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners will pack the gown in a special storage box that will help prevent contamination.
• Store your gown in a cool, dry place. Do not store it in a basement or attic. Basement dampness could cause mildew; attic heat could promote yellowing of the fabric.
• If you are storing a long gown on a hanger, sew straps to the waistline of the dress to relieve pressure on the shoulders from the weight of the skirt. Wrap the dress in a protective white sheet or muslin covering.
• Whether the gown is hung or boxed, the bodice should be stuffed with white tissue paper to prevent wrinkles. Fabric-covered buttons, pins, sponge padding, and perspiration shields should be removed and stored separately to avoid damage to the fabric.
• Never store headpieces, veils, shoes, or other accessories with your gown.
• Inspect your gown from time to time during storage. Stains not initially apparent could appear later, and should be tended to immediately.
• Preserving the quality of your wedding gown may be the finest gift you can give yourself and a loved one.

QUALITY POLICY

Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners provides cleaning and repairs to garments that are either picked-up by our valet service, or dropped off by customers at our plants and depots.

Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners is a provider of fine drycleaning, laundry and alternation services.

It is our policy at Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners to meet and exceed all of our customers' expectations through the quality of our cleaning and the level of our service.

This is accomplished through the hiring of trained drycleaning experts and experienced customer service representatives. Quality control and assurance are vital links in the drycleaning and laundry process as are the use of quality assurance techniques.

We know that our immediate and future success is dependent upon satisfying our customer's needs. We work closely with both our customers and suppliers to ensure that we have the necessary information and materials to properly satisfy their needs.

Our goal is to build a relationship with our customers and suppliers to ensure that quality is never compromised.

ZOP

ZOP is the professional, commercial laundry detergent formulated exclusively for Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners and used by Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners in its operations.

ZOP is available at both Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners plants at 1150 Nairn Avenue and 115 Pembina Highway and at most Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners depots.

ZOP is highly concentrated and only 1 ounce or 30 milliliters is required for each load. This is one-third of the amount required by brand name "ultra" products. Each 2 liter container of ZOP will do 64 loads.

ZOP has more cleaning agents than the major brands and clothes are cleaned whiter, brighter and exceptionally colour fast.

ZOP is environmentally friendly, contains no phosphates, and has been formulated for local water conditions.

Simply stated: ZOP is used by Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners, because it is the best detergent. Now it is available to retail customers.