Whether you have just relocated, and need a place you can trust to clean your clothes well, or whether you simply prefer the ease of having your clothes cleaned for you by a laundromat, knowing the etiquette around dropping and collecting your clothes at a dry cleaner will get you better service. Here are some inside tips, your laundromat wishes you knew.
1. Examine your clothes
Make sure you know what condition you are leaving your clothes in. Take note of small holes or missing buttons, even stitching that may be coming undone needs to be noted. Some of these small problems will need to be repaired before the garment can be cleaned. Some cleaners will charge a small extra fee to have the item repaired, while others ma happily do it for free provided it’s not too big of a job. It is best to get absolute clarity on this before you assume anything. In order to help the cleaner do a better job, point out any marks or stains, and ask the cleaner whether that stain can be removed. It is often very helpful to the cleaner if you can tell them what caused the stain.
2. Don’t DIY
When it comes to removing stains, it is best not try and fix it yourself before you take the clothing to the laundromat. Rather decide beforehand to leave it to the professionals, before you end up compounding the problem further. Furthermore, getting the item to the cleaners as soon as possible will help to make the stain easier to remove, before it sets.
3. Pocket Checks
Ensure your pockets are empty before you take your clothes to the dry cleaners/laundromat. The reason for this is not only to prevent valuables going missing but also because items such as candy or marker pens can ruin your clothes once they enter the wash. A laundromat may not always check everyone’s pockets before each wash, and ensuring that the clothing is ready to be washed is really the responsibility of the individual. In the case of jewellery or other valuables going missing from pockets, this cannot be claimed back from the laundromat company, as the clothing should have been checked by the customer before being handed over.
4. Try It Before you Buy It
Prior to taking your clothes to be cleaned, make sure you know how it fits you. All too often a client may wish to wear something that has been in storage for a while, because a special occasion is looming, and they may decide to have it dry cleaned before trying it on. Make sure your outfit still fits, before spending money to get it cleaned, and then possibly wrongly accusing the cleaners of shrinking an item that has not been worn in years.
As with any service, always request a quote before you decide on taking the service. Make sure you know exactly what to expect for the money you are paying. A written quote is always the better option, to ensure that there are no misunderstandings later. For a conveniently located laundromat near you, find a dry cleaning service or laundromat on Snupit.