Problem: You have dry-clean-only clothes that are wrinkled but not dirty. Is it advisable to take them to the cleaner for a simple pressing?
Solution: Not if you’re talking about items that touch your skin directly. If there are traces of perspiration on a blouse, for example, the hot steam may cause them to oxidize and set, and you’ll end up with a permanently stained or sweaty-smelling garment. Pressing alone works fine for things like suit jackets and tablecloths — but note that just pressing will cost anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of the price of a full cleaning, because most of it is done by hand.
Problem: Your neighborhood cleaner charges a lot more than the one near your office, and you’re worried you’re paying extra for no good reason.
Solution: Rest assured, the difference between passable and premium cleaners is evident in the prices they ask — and the results they deliver. Quality cleaners take extra time when handling delicate garments, spot-treating trouble areas, and reinspecting for stains, and they’ll often hand press clothes for the best drape and body. If an item does not look perfect, they’ll touch it up or send it through the process again until it does. Any top-notch cleaner, including members of Leading Cleaners Internationale, typically offers a 100 percent safe-cleaning guarantee. “If we lose it, we pay you; if we damage it, we pay you. No questions asked,” says cleaning expert Steve Boorstein. That level of service helps explain why one establishment may charge five times as much as another to clean the same blouse. (If you’re not sure what guarantee your cleaner offers, ask. If the cleaner offers a complete one, he will be glad to tell you about the guarantee.) Women’s garments, as a rule, cost more to clean than men’s because their details, construction, fabrics, and delicate finishes often require greater attention and care. “We study each garment, we remove buttons, we clean by hand, and we guarantee all our work,” says Charles Ickes, manager of the New York City–based Madame Paulette, which cleaned Princess Diana’s gowns for a museum tour last year. “The cost of our service is inherent in what we do.” (Madame Paulette charges about $25 to clean a blouse, $50 for a suit.)
