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You can help us care for your clothing!
Extend the life of your garments
Contrary to the belief of some, frequent cleaning does not damage clothes. Frequent cleaning extends the life of a garment by removing stains and ground-in dirt and soils that can cause fiber abrasion.
Moths and other insects
Insects can damage clothes either directly or indirectly. Direct damage is caused by a group of insects feeding on a fabric. Indirect damage is caused when insects feed on spilled food or perspiration on the fabric. Moths attack the garment directly, especially wool and wool blends. Clean clothes are the first step to preventing moth and other insect damage.
Stain removal
Removing stains require the use of complex procedures and special stain removal chemicals. Stains are divided into two major categories: solvent-soluble stains and water-soluble stains. Different stains require different treatments. Don’t risk a disaster using over-the-counter "all-purpose" stain removal products or "home remedies" when you can rely on our trained stain-removal experts.
Yellowing
Frequent cleaning removes stains that, if left untreated, could oxidize and cause yellowing. Exposure to heat or the passage of time can cause stains from food, beverages, and other oily substances to oxidize and turn yellow or brown, much the way a peeled apple turns brown after exposure to air. Once they become yellow or brown, these stains become much more difficult to remove and often cannot be removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does it mean to professionally clean garments?
A: Professional cleaning is a lot more than one process. At Amicleaners, we employ a number of techniques to give your garments that "like new" appearance. Professional cleaning can be broken down into three general categories –dry cleaning, wet cleaning, and laundering.
Q: What is dry cleaning?
A: Dry cleaning uses solvents to remove soil and stains from fabric. In fact, the term "dry cleaning" is misleading. Although a little water is used, it is called dry cleaning because the solvents contain no water and do not penetrate the fibers as water does. Most machines today wash and dry the garments in the one continuous process known as “dry to dry”, meaning it goes in dry and comes out dry.
Q: What is wet cleaning?
A: It’s the term used by professionals for washing garments in water. Wet cleaning is the most effective method to remove water-based stains. Like in the dry cleaning process, wet cleaning starts with the pretreatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. The Amicleaners process uses planet friendly solvents and gentler agitation for the more delicate fabrics.
Q: What is laundering?
A: Amicleaners’ special detergents, additives, and finishes, all of which are planet friendly, set our commercial laundry apart from home laundering. Starch, if requested, is added during the wash cycle, so the entire garment receives the treatment. The garments are still damp when pressed. Garments are put on a series of presses that dry them during the process to get that crisp finish.
Q: Does frequent dry cleaning 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 not wearable, 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 that mean it can not be dry cleaned?
A: Not necessarily. The Care Label Rule states that only one suitable method of care must be on the label. Amicleaners follow the care instructions, unless otherwise requested.
Q: Are suede and leather cleaned the same way other fabrics?
A: No. Special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain their color and texture. Sometimes suede and leather are dyed to replace color loss. It is not always possible to replace or match the colors.
Q: Does dry cleaning shrink clothes?
A: No. The dry cleaning process is carefully controlled by our professional cleaners. Excessive shrinkage is usually caused by improper preshrinking by the manufacturer.
Q: Does Club Soda help with stains?
A: Club soda is usually the first thing people reach for and it is often a mistake! Club soda is effective on some drink spills and assorted food stains but it can also “set” stains, spread them and make their future removal difficult. You’re better off doing nothing to the stain. Just get it to us as fast as you can.
Q: Is my garment ruined? I spilled spaghetti sauce on my blouse during lunch and I had to go back to work, what should I do?
A: When you put water on a napkin and rub the stain, you rough up the fabric, dull the dye and break hundreds of fibers. If the blouse is washable, then use a little water to dilute the stain and then stop! If the blouse can only be dry cleaned, then blot it with a dry napkin and try to leave it alone and take it to be cleaned as soon as possible.
Q: So what should I do when I get a stain?
A: Think of water and club soda as the same, and never apply them to oily stains, lipstick & ink stains. Especially on dry clean-only fabrics. Water can spread stains, bleed dyes and ruin silk – and other dry clean-only fabrics – making future removal or restoration by our experts an impossible task! Gently blot the stained area with a dry, white napkin and stop. Try to dry clean all stained clothing within 24-48 hours and always point out the stains. Time and heat can set stains, so take care not to leave your soiled garments in hot cars before taking them to be cleaned. If the garment is washable, and the stain has no oil in it, you have our blessing to use water or club soda - in small amounts!