As a drycleaner one of our primary concerns with regard to caring for your garments is the minimization of color loss. That being said it is important for us to help you understand the differences that can be found in different types of fabrics. According to the International Fabricare Institute, not all colored fabrics are created equally. Some are woven from dyed yarns, some are dyed after weaving and others are colored by printing the surface, usually with several different colors.
So what does all of this mean to you? Well that’s where the whole labeling process comes in. The Federal Trade commission (FTC) requires manufacturers to attach a permanent label to textile garments that provides directions for their care. A label that states “Dry clean” should have dyes that can withstand dry cleaning solvents and” Washable” items should have dyes that should stand up to washing. Removing the care labels makes cleaning your garment by a professional dry cleaner nearly impossible.
As a rule here are a few steps you should follow.
- Always read and follow the care instructions.
- Protect white and color garments from excessive light exposure.
- Follow bleaching instructions on the care label. If using bleach, only use a product intended for fabrics. Do not use household bleach on fabrics.
I hope this has helped you understand the importance of labeling; they are not just there to annoy you and remember when in doubt ask your dry cleaner.
