A few helpful tips
- 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.
- 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 us of the location of specific stains and any procedures you have used to remove them, even if the stains are no longer visible
- What are some of the most common “Difficult Stains”?
Perspiration Stains. Perspiration contains salt that can damage fabrics, especially silks and wool garments. Perspiration, being acidic, turns alkaline on exposure to the atmosphere, causing color change and fabric disintegration. Repeated exposure of a garment to perspiration and body oils can create a permanent yellow discoloration 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. Haves these stains removed as quickly as possible.
"Color Change" Stains in Silks. This is usually caused by solutions that contain alcohol, as well as facial soaps, deodorants, detergents and even toothpaste. Have the stains removed as soon as possible.
"Invisible" Stains. Sometimes, stains from foods containing sugar – fruits, juices, soda, tea, coffee, etc. – dry and seem to disappear. However, after a period of time or when exposed to heat, as in the dry cleaning process, a yellowish or brownish stain appears. This is caused by oxidations or carmelization of the sugar in the staining substance (much like a peeled apple turning brown after exposure to air). These stains are very difficult, even impossible to remove. It is extremely important to point out these stains to the drycleaner so they can "pre-treat" before cleaning.
Hairspray Stains. Invisible at first, over the passage of time they appear. These stains can usually be removed with aggressive spotting with a moisture solution as long as the dyes are colorfast.
Bleeding Dye Stains. If the dye in a garment is not colorfast, it may bleed onto itself or fade. Dark colors usually bleed onto lighter portions of the garment. In some cases the appearance can be improved by recleaning.