Don’t Stress Over Dry Cleaning ‘We all lave that one special garment hanging inthe back of cur closet. The one sui, dress o shirt we swear we'll save {or the right occasion but are teriied to wear sits uaworn Instead. What ICT eta stan om i? What FT have to ke it ‘0 tho diy cloasor? What ifthe dey cleaner ruinsit? Our f ‘em justified becanse we've seen an episode ofa steam ‘where someone's tig day is rinedby a dy cleaning mishap. On the contrary, protessionil dry cleaness are the most ‘custorthy people to wash your cloties. Waeter a garment 1s labeled “Ury clean only” ere 1s a mysery san We can't 28m fo got out oF tho fabric is to delicate for home Inuniry unis, prosessonal dry cleaners krow how to care {or our clottes and have the best methods for san removal. (Cloting manufactures are required to provide care labels ‘or garments ey produce with few exceptions. Some ‘toms, such as gloves, hats, genuine leather oF suoke, ot ted linens, likely won't corte with a care late, bt there ‘ae specific industry protocols for these. Dry cleaners fallow the provided iastrctionsalfiough sometimes what the manufacturer prints onthe care label nay be incorest. In cases whee 2 gurmeat is damaged depite you of 4 professional following th provided caro insrucions, ‘contact the store where you purchased the garment or the ‘mamifactures. ‘The dry cleaning process self sno all tha different fom ‘he laundry you do at home. Rather than tossing clothes ‘a machine with soapy water, te cleaners tos tem in a ‘chine wids acheaical solvent, AHowgh the solvent i 8 liguié and your clothes do become camp, this chniqe refered to as “iry” cleaning because it doesn’ use wate The solvent used most commonly inthe industry i called “pera” which is short for perchloroetnylne. Your garments only need fo be in the machine wit the solvent for eight ‘minutes in oer to effecively remove stains. Aer your clothes go though the solvent cyclo, the machiae cra all ofthe fd to te recycled and reused. The Environmental Protection Agency has specific resulations forthe disposal of pec, which is deemed hazardous. The chemical can be(Ox after extended exposure, but IE Wow"t harm you or your clothing. Allsmatively, there are organts,petroleem ‘asa salvents availble, but they are often less eflactive and, ths. Iss commonly used. Once the solvent is drained, the machine tumble dries your clothes with warm ai just ike your eryer at home. Finally, the dry cleaner removes. your clthes from the machite, rons and presses them, and. ‘prepares them be returaed 6 you, ‘fen, people take their clothes to the dry cleaner for spot ‘teatmeat rater than whole-zunment laundering. If you lave an ance of clothing that labeled “dry clan only; o oot try staia removal on your own. The fabrics or dyes ‘sed in mating these gamments aren't designed 10 be Weald witha star-removal sick or soap and water Real the care Inbel and set accordingly by taking these items to the fry leaner fora sgecalized spot treatment To prevent damage to your special-cae garments, void Ienghy sun exposure and washing garment too frequent. Don't be atald t0 Wear Your favorte clots jus ‘cause You'eafruid to gt themdliy. Dry cleaaers ‘ae tralued professionals ‘who know how tohaadle you clothes the way the manufcties intended ‘Ask your fiends and family for recommendations on dry clears they tnt in the area. Whoever yeu choose should be able 1 safely was even your most Galiceto garments and retum thoes Icoking brard cow. Dry cleaning int nearly at daunting or mysterious ae it may seem, Treat youself to the outfit you've Wanted an excuse ‘to wear, and leave your worties to the professionals. Alix Clise SEAS Home & Yard oe eC YAN ALLY aE ~ 4