What to Expect

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there anything you can't fix?

  Even the best cleaners cannot do the following:

  • Remove certain stains.
    The nature and age of the stains plus the color and the construction sometimes make stains impossible to remove without damaging the garment.
  • Prevent some colors from bleeding or fading.
    If the manufacturer does not thoroughly test the fabric to make sure they are color fast to both solvents and water some color may be lost during the cleaning process this is considered the manufacturer’s responsibility.
  • Prevent excessive shrinkage.
    If the manufacturer has failed to adequately pre shrink all components before that garment is constructed, shrinkage may occur.
  • Reverse worn or torn areas caused by wear, perspiration, etc.
    Such holes or rips may not appear before cleaning, but they result from a previous weakening of fabric.
  • Correct poor home spot removal procedures.
    Such as color loss caused by excessive rubbing of fabrics or color reactions or holes in fiber caused by failure to rinse stain removal agents from garments.
• What is dry cleaning?

  Dry cleaning is a method of removing stains and dirt from garments and fabric by using little or no water. Actually, dry cleaning is not “dry” because solvents are used to perform the cleaning but with little water. Dry cleaning machines are similar to front load washing machines in that a large tumbling basket is used to facilitate the cleaning process. Garments are placed in this basket, which is partially filled with solvent, and tumbled through the solvent. This agitation and flushing action of the solvent are responsible for the majority of the cleaning. There are filters to pick up impurities, storage tanks for the solvent – one for white garments and one for dark garments – and a distillation system to keep the solution clear.

• When a garment label says “Washable,” does it mean it cannot be dry cleaned?

  Not necessarily. The Care Label Rule states that only one suitable method of care must be on the label, and most cleaners usually follow the care instructions, unless otherwise requested.

• What do the care labels mean?

  

  Wash — May be washed at home following the recommended temperature

  

  Dry — May be tumble dried following the recommended temperature

  

  Bleach — May use bleach or non-chlorine bleach when needed

  

  Dry clean — Professional dry clean only or if recommended

  

  Iron — Iron following the manufacturer’s recommendations for settings

• Do you clean leather, suede, & fur garments?

  Specialty items such as leather or suede jackets and fur coats require a different cleaning process than regular clothing. We send these items out to one of the best specialty cleaners in the country, Leather Master in Joliet. They pick up and deliver to our store tri-weekly. Please call our office for more details and their delivery schedule.

• Do you preserve wedding gowns?

  We clean and press wedding gowns at our store; however, we leave the preservation to a wedding gown preservation specialist. Your gown will be personally picked up and delivered to our store by their company. Their newly-designed “Museum Style” storage boxes feature state-of-the-art moisture and oxygen control technology. Traditional wedding gown storage boxes do not protect or guarantee against oxidation or “yellowing” of the gown. This advanced system guarantees that your gown will be as good as the day you wore it down the aisle. Your dress is carefully sealed in an acid-free inner box that controls humidity. The oxygen is purged and replaced with an inert gas, virtually making oxidation impossible. The sealed packaging allows viewing of your gown and veil at any time. The inner box is placed in a durable long-term storage chest for additional safety. Please call our office for more details and the delivery schedule. You can save $50 by paying in advance.

• Do you offer shoe repair?

  We are a drop off location for Johnson’s Shoe Repair. Bring your shoes to us, we will deliver them to Mr. Johnson, Decatur’s shoe repair expert, and call you when they are finished. He can repair most shoe problems. Please call us or Johnson’s Shoe Repair at 217-875-1169 for further information.

• Do you offer pickup and delivery service?

  We offer FREE pickup and delivery service to the home or office. We are in certain areas on specific days. We offer service to Decatur, Mt. Zion, Forsyth, Pana, and Taylorville. Regular or as-needed pick-up service is available. Please call our office or refer to our map for more details.

• Why wasn’t my stain removed?

  Unfortunately, some stains are permanent. They simply become part of the fabric. Continued attempts to remove them will cause dye loss or fabric damage. Many stains are removed by the dry cleaning process and require no additional effort from the cleaner. Some stains require the attention of a stain removal specialist.

• Do you do alterations?

  We have an expert seamstress on staff who can do a variety of alterations and repairs. If you need to arrange to have an item fitted, please call our Forsyth location at 217-875-8170 to schedule a fitting.

  We do not alter formal dresses, wedding gowns or curtains.
• Why do some shirts & blouses cost more?

  We strive to provide our customers with superior quality dry cleaning and pressing. Unfortunately, the least expensive option does not always produce the quality results our customers have come to expect. When a cotton shirt or blouse is sent in to be laundered and pressed, most of the time, they are able to be pressed on our shirt machine. This machine presses the shirts at a high temperature to achieve a crisp look. However, many shirts and blouses do not fit onto this press. Also, many fabrics cannot be pressed at the higher temperature without damaging the shirt or blouse. If a shirt or blouse has fragile buttons, silk-screened designs, shoulder pads, etc., they can be also damaged on the shirt press. In these cases, we must hand iron the shirt or blouse at a higher rate. Our #1 goal is for your garments to look the best possible.

• Do you offer gift certificates?

  Yes. Please contact our office for more information.