What does Spot Clean Only mean?

So that beautiful dress you found at that trendy little boutique fit perfect and looked amazing on you! Yay! It’s definitely a keeper, so now it’s time to clean it and have it ready for your next fancy shin-dig. Looking at the care label, you realize it says Spot Clean Only… Well what does that mean? Should you do it at home or take it to the cleaners?

Unfortunately this is a situation I see daily.  Clothing manufacturers are required by law to attach care labels to indicate the best way to clean a piece of clothing.  If any part of the garment is too delicate to be machine washed, dry cleaned, or even hand washed, then it may be labeled Spot Clean Only.

In theory, to spot clean something means to only clean a stain and not immerse the entire garment for cleaning.  Realistically, this is quite difficult or impossible. To treat most any stain or spot, water or chemical formula must be used. Even if the stain is removed, the water may leave a ring or the chemicals may leave a stain of their own requiring immersing in water or dry cleaning solutions. The chemicals must be flushed out as long term effects are uncertain. They may bleach, erode, or completely eat away at the fabric. The chemicals can also give you a nasty allergic reaction. When pressed, ironed, or steamed, the chemicals may also oxidize into an ugly yellow stain that is sometimes impossible to remove. So how does one go about removing this new hassle?

Well, that’s where knowledge and expertise come into play. For most garments, there’s no real way to “Spot Clean Only.” Usually the entire garment will have to be immersed or cleaned in some way to avoid water rings or residual chemicals. A Certified Professional Dry Cleaner will be able to determine the best method based on the garment. If she feels there is a risk to the garment, she should let you know in advance and have you make the decision as to whether or not you feel comfortable. Sometimes, especially with high value items, they may ask you to sign a waiver releasing them of responsibility in case the garment doesn’t come out as planned.

But why are some garments labeled as “Spot Clean Only?”  Usually it is because of the combination of fabrics in a garment that require different and mutually exclusive cleaning methods, the presence of embellishments like beads and rhinestones that cannot hold up to immersing, or fabric that does not hold dyes when cleaned.  Unfortunately, the care labels don’t have to say why it cannot be cleaned using traditional dry cleaning or wet cleaning methods.

 At left is the ruined hem of a Spot Clean Only Debutante’s gown. The hem was poorly sewn with raw edging under the skirt. The dress would have shredded it it were cleaned. The only issue was with the hem so the best result could be obtained by making it shorter an wearing it as a party dress.

 It might happen that a Dry Cleaner will not clean a Spot Clean Only item. It may mean that they know that any cleaning will ruin the item or that it is already beyond salvaging. It’s unfortunate but this does happen. Creative alterations can sometimes solve the problem.


Finding out an item is Spot Clean Only after it’s been worn is a real bummer. Here are a few tips to avoiding a blunder:

• Always check care labels when shopping. If something is spot clean only, you can then decide if you love it enough to be worth potentially only being able to wear it once.
• If you wear a spot clean only item, take precautions. Avoid getting things like hairspray and perfume on the garment. Don’t use spray tan. Be extra careful to keep it clean.
• If you do happen to get a stain or spot on the garment, take it to a dry cleaners immediately.

If you happen to see that a garment is labeled Spot Clean Only, take it to a Professional Dry Cleaner immediately. Attempting cleaning at home will more often than not lead to a ruined item.
 

Let’s Prevent Insect Damage to wool clothing

Few things are more disappointing than donning an expensive wool sweater, only to find that moths have been snacking on the threads for weeks. Reweaving is costly and patching is almost impossible.

Although we imagine that it is the winged creatures that have done the damage it is actually the larvae that feed on the wool, hair or feathers. What ever they can get access to.

In truth the larvae can"t live on pure wool.  They need proteins, mineral salts and vitamin B complex to complete their life cycle.  Sweat, food crumbs or beverage stains provide just what a healthy moth larvae needs. That why having your wool clothing cleaned regularly.  At Comet Dry Cleaners of Denton, Texas we know just exactly how to starve these guys.

If your planning to store your sweaters or other items away for the warmer months we have moth proof cedar lined bags available for storage. Remember, mothballs and moth flakes must be used in a tightly close container (not a closet) to be effective. Extreme caution should be used before breathing their vapors. Regular cleaning and tightly closed bags and chest are the best ways to deal with clothes moths.

How to Clean A Handmade Quilt - Advice From A Dry Cleaner

Quilts are perfect in the winter; they add warmth to the bed as a blanket or warmth to the walls as decor.  Cleaning a Quilt is a little more difficult than cleaning a standard blanket.   A quilt that is mass produced and purchased from a commercial retailer can be cleaned as directed on the care label.  Hand and machine artisan quilts (home-made) are quite different and require a more hands-on approach.  Antique and heirloom quilts are the most delicate of the three types.

How often should my hand-made quilt be cleaned?

Artisan quilts should be cleaned once per year, two or three times if a pet sleeps in the bed at night or your quilt happens to be a stain magnet.  Antique and heirloom quilts should be cleaned even less often due to their delicate nature.
As always, the best way to care for any quilt is to take it to a Professional Dry Cleaners like Comet Dry Cleaners in Denton, Texas.
You can do it yourself so here is our DIY Advice For Cleaning Your Quilt.  Be aware that many dry cleaners will not clean hand-made quilts or any quilt without a care label so don't be surprised if you get a rejection from your dry cleaner.  Not having a care label is an automatic rejection due to the liability the dry cleaner may incur with something a valued as a family heirloom.

So how do I clean a quilt at home?

1. Test for color-fastness. Take white fabric and moisten it.  Rub on all the colored parts of the quilt.  If any color shows on the white fabric, then the colors will run if washed traditionally.  Take this quilt to a Professional Dry Cleaners.
2. If the white fabric stays clean, fill a large sink or clean bathtub with cold water.  Use a gentle laundry detergent, preferably with no dyes or fragrances.
3. Agitate gently and allow to soak for 10 minutes, longer for heavy soil.
4. Drain tub and refill with clean water; repeat until water is clear and no longer suds.
5. When the water is clear, drain the tub and fashion a sling from a clean white sheet.
6. Carefully drape quilt over a sling and allow to drain.  Lay out towels on the floor, Lay quilt flat on top of towels and cover with an additional layer of towels.
7. Roll towels and quilt together to squeeze out water.  Repeat till fairly dry.
8. Place yet another layer of towels down and again lay the quilt flat.  Allow to sit until completely dry.  Note:  A quilt feels dry on the outside may not actually be fully dry.  The batting on the inside of the quilt can still be moist.  Placing a fan in the room can help speed up drying time.  This process may require several days to completely dry.  You may also need to turn the quilt over to allow it to thoroughly dry.
9. Another option is to dry the quilt outside.  Place a clean sheet on the ground and lay the quilt on top.  Cover with an additional clean sheet.  Allow to lay flat until dry.  Note:  Never hang a quilt to dry.  The quilt will be very heavy when wet and hanging can and will cause stitches to pull or break and the piecing will become misshapen.

Never machine wash a handmade quilt.  The agitation, even on the gentle cycle is far too rough for a quilt.

That's a lot of work!

It really is.  There are a lot of areas that Home Quilt Cleaning can go wrong.  For this reason, we always suggest taking any quilt, or garment of value, to your Local, Professional Dry Cleaners for Expert Care and Cleaning.

What is Dry Cleaning?

Doing laundry has been a common household activity for years. Whether the techn­ology­ was­ beating the garments on rocks by the river or pushing buttons on programmed washing machines, this process depends on water and a mechanical action usua­lly assisted by soap. Dry Cleaning uses the same washing machine principle but replaces the water used at home with a cleaning solvent. 

Like many inventions, dry cleaning came about by accident. In 1855, Jean Baptiste Jolly, a French dye-works owner, noticed that his table cloth became cleaner after his maid accidentally overturned a kerosene lamp on it. Operating through his dye-works company, Jolly offered a new service and called it “dry cleaning.”

The modern dry cleaning machine is generally a “dry to dry” machine like the one above.  That means the clothes go in dry, are cleaned as in your home washer and then dried as in your home dryer.  The primary difference is that as the cleaning solvent evaporates during the dry cycle it is condensed and returned to the storage tank at the bottom of the machine. The solvent is continuously filtered to remove soil, dye, oils and other “dirt” from the clothes.

A variety of solvents are used. At Comet Cleaners of Denton Texas we use a petroleum solvent. Safe, gently and environmentally friendly it cleans well without the health risks of other chemically engineered solvents.

Dry cleaning allow us to cleaning many natural and synthetic fibers without the risk of damage or shrinkage that would otherwise occur if washed in water.  It is generally much gentler and keeps your clothes looking new much longer.  A real benefit when you find something that you really like to wear and want to keep it around for a while.

Starch In My Dress Shirts

Found in vegetables like potatoes and corn, starch is a very versatile substance.
Anyone who has dropped off dress shirts at the Dry Cleaners like Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas knows a little bit about starch. They know there's the option of no starch, light starch, medium starch, heavy starch and extra heavy starch (Cowboy Starch). What kind of starch do you choose? There are both pros and cons to starching clothing, and not all clothing will react to being starched in the same way.
What is it?
Starch is a carbohydrate produced by all green plants as a source of energy. It is used in the Dry Cleaning industry as a stiffener for fabrics. There are three different types of starch that are used in a commercial laundry; corn starch, wheat starch, and synthetic starch.

	Corn Starch is a natural starch derived from the endosperm of the corn kernel. It's fine texture in powder form make a paste when mixed with water. This natural 'glue' sticks to the fibers of your shirt offering resistance against wrinkles when worn. It is a water soluble starch and will eventually wash out of your shirts. The drawback of corn starch is that the particles are rather small and a large percentage of starch added to the clothing is rinsed away in the rinse cycle.
	Wheat starch is also a natural starch that has a "glue-like" consistency. It is the starch of choice for most commercial cleaners who use natural starch since it sticks to fibers better than corn starch. Since the particles are larger microscopically, they are able to be caught and entwined in the fibers of the shirt with less being wasted in the rinse cycle.
	Synthetic Starch, also known as poly vinyl chloride or PVC is basically a plastic polymer. The particles are larger, like wheat, so they stick well to the fibers and less rinses away. During pressing of the shirt, heat is applied to the fabric which melts the PVC and bonds it semi-permanently to the fibers. This encases the fibers with a layer of plastic and keeps the individual fibers extremely rigid. This is fantastic for a crisp looking shirt that resists wrinkles well. It does wash out over time. Synthetic starches can also be made from a combination of difference natural starches with added plasticizers.

Here at Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas, we use the finest combination of natural and synthetic ingredients in our starch to make your shirt perfect every time. By combining, we are able to reap the benefits of both. Our starch features the consistency of natural starches with the staying power of synthetics.
Why Use it?
Starch is added in different amounts to different types of fabrics. Slight variances in fabric content, size of the individual strands, and even the type of weave can have an effect on how a particular shirt looks and feels after being starched. There are pros and cons to starch usage:
Pros:

• Leaves a crisp, clean appearance to dress shirts
• Makes ironing easier
• Helps resist stains

Cons:

• Some may find starched clothing itchy and scratchy
• May reduce the lifespan of clothing by stiffening fibers. When fibers come into contact with anything else, they offer more resistance and can fray or break.

Tips:

1. Know what type of starch is currently being used on your clothes.
2. Do not over starch shirts if you intend to keep them in usable condition for a while.
3. Starch of any kind will coat the individual strands of a shirt. Dark shirts do not respond well to starches and will begin to develop a "shine" if overly saturated.

If you have any questions regarding starch, take your shirts to a Professional Dry Cleaners.

Care and Cleaning of a Christmas Tree Skirt

Cleaning a Christmas Tree Skirt, regardless of the fabric composition, is a tricky process.  If done improperly, it can result in disaster.  The Professional Dry Cleaners here at Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas have been cleaning Christmas Tree Skirts for over ten years and have perfected methods based on what it's made of.  Felt cannot be cleaned the same way as silk, cotton cannot be laundered if it's on a skirt with embroidery thread, etc...  For the best possible results, we recommend taking all tree skirts to a Professional Dry Cleaners.
Common tree skirt stains include:

• Dirt, Dust
• Sap
• Animal messes
• Water Spots

As all materials are treated differently, there is no one way to clean a tree skirt.  We NEVER suggest cleaning one yourself. If you insist on trying, be sure to test out anything on a hidden area to avoid completely ruining the skirt.
Things to note:

• Felt is prone to shrinking and fading and must be handled carefully.
• Dyes are rich in tree skirts.  They can easily bleed onto other fabrics.
• Never attempt to clean a tree skirt that is lying on carpet.  The dye leakage could result in a permanent stain on your carpet.
• Do not agitate or rub
• Do not attempt to clean if there are both dark and light colors, like red and white.
• Always follow the care label.  Most will say Dry Clean Only.  If there is no care label, err on the side of caution and take it to a Professional Dry Cleaners who holds a Certification in Dry Cleaning and a Certification in Wet Cleaning.  This ensures that any cleaning will be properly handled.
• If you have pets, check you're skirt often. Animals seem to love using tree skirts as potties. 

We know all kitties love Christmas, but when they potty on a tree skirt it's time to pause the festivities and deal with the stain.  The ammonia in urine can cause the dyes of the fabric to run and stain anything underneath.  You also face the tree skirt itself being ruined.  Should you notice a spot, take to your dry cleaners immediately.

How To Remove Mold Smells and Stains From Clothes

Everyone at some point has left clothes in the washer for too long, or left smelly, sweaty stuff in a gym bag for a few days.  When this happens you may find yourself with mold stained clothes. Mold can and does occur often, no matter how careful you are. A wet and warm environment as well as stagnant air is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. If you find yourself dealing with a moldy situation, all is not lost. It's time to gather up some common household supplies and get to work restoring your clothes to their former, mold-free, fabulous selves.

Things you'll need:

1. Lemon

2. Salt

3. Water

4. Sponge

5. Perborate bleach

6. Chlorine bleach

7. Laundry Soap

 

	Take the moldy clothing outside and shake it lightly to remove any surface mold. Avoid doing this indoors so that your living space is not infected with the airborne mold spores which can cause allergies and illness.  Make every effort to avoid breathing in the spores and if it's a breezy day, be sure the mold doesn't fly back in your face.  If the clothing has molded in the washer, run a cleaning cycle with bleach and no clothes to kill any mold that may still be in the washer.
	Hand wash each item, one at a time, using lukewarm water and a laundry detergent. You may also choose to wash it in a washing machine, but do not add other clothing so that the mold doesn't spread to other clothing. Follow the garment care instructions on the clothing label by using the correct water temperature and detergent for the specific garment.
	Lay the garment outside in a sunny spot to dry, rather than drying in a dryer. The sun will lighten any mold stains and can entirely remove minor staining.  Keep in mind that the sun has a bleaching effect on clothing, so this may not be the best method if it's dark clothing that is affected.
	Apply lemon juice over the stain and cover with a layer of salt, if the sun alone did not remove the stain. Place the clothing back into the sun once you have treated it with lemon and salt so that it can dry, while the lemon, salt and sun remove the stain.  Again, do this only if the clothing is lighter in color.  The acidity of the lemon may also cause a slight bleaching of colors.  If you're unsure, test in an inconspicuous area first.
	Mix together perborate bleach and water, using a tablespoon of bleach to a pint of lukewarm water, according to the University of Georgia. Check the garment label to determine whether you should use lukewarm water or if the garment can handle hot water. Use a sponge to dab the bleach solution onto the mold stain and then rinse out. If the garment is delicate, test on an inconspicuous area before treating the stain.
	Soak the stain with a mixture of chlorine bleach and water as a last resort, if the stain persists. Mix together 1 or 2 tbsp. chlorine bleach in a quart of water and apply it to the stain with a sponge. Let the chlorine bleach work on the fabric for five to ten minutes before rinsing.  The combo of the lemon juice and bleach should remove any moldy or sour smells from the clothing.

Tips:

• If your garment is very delicate, dark, or especially meaningful to you, take it to a Professional Dry Cleaner and allow them to remove the mold and stain.

• Some people are sensitive to mold, so you may wish to cover your eyes and hands with protective eye wear and gloves while removing mold.

On Site Cleaning = Access To Professional Dry Cleaning Management At Comet Cleaners we do our dry cleaning and laundry on site. We have trained specialist in stain, mold and spot removal.