There was a time when people used dry cleaning for little more than business suits and fancy dresses. No more. Nowadays, the service handles everything from draperies to boxer shorts.
“I’m amazed at the things people bring in to be cleaned,” says Ernie Waco, who owns USA Cleaners in Hanover Park. “We’ve been asked to do walking shorts, men’s briefs, sheets and towels–there’s no limit to what people want cleaned.”
According to studies by the International Fabricare Institute, the average person spends $90.70 per year on dry cleaning and related services.
“Our customers are the people who go out and have to meet with the public every day,” says Ken Faig, a consultant to the IFI. “But primarily (the person) driving our business is the woman who has returned to the work force and doesn’t have the time for the washing and ironing.”
There is a wide range of dry cleaning costs, and they often are set at the discretion of the stores.
“It depends on the region,” Waco says. “We charge 75 cents to do a man’s shirt if people bring in two pieces of dry cleaning. Along the North Shore, you’ll see prices more than double that for the same garment. You’re also more likely to see four or five dry cleaners in a mile or two (of one another) today, and so the competition affects things, too.”
Using receipts he has from a number of establishments, Waco estimates that the cost of cleaning men’s trousers ranges from $2.75 to $3.25 in most areas; two-piece suits are $5.50 to $8.50; and women’s blouses start at $2.75.
Waco says one of the problems with dry cleaners is never knowing the specific charges for services. “There aren’t menu boards like you’ll see at a fast-food restaurant, and people never bother to ask what they’re actually paying,” he says. “I’ll bet that 90 percent of the people who come in my store never even look at the window signs that advertise my prices.”
So-called “up charges” are levied at a cleaner’s discretion and represent an area where customers can be especially vulnerable if they don’t know base prices.
“Silk blouses are extra because they can run or bleed, and have to be dry-cleaned separately and pressed differently,” Waco says. “A price of $3.75 or more for a silk blouse isn’t unreasonable. Some places charge more for rayon, however, which doesn’t require special treatment as a fabric. You shouldn’t pay extra for that.”
Other “up charge” items can include stain removal, lined pants, pleated skirts and fancy blouses. “We use Teflon-coated irons for things done by hand, so they won’t burn,” Waco said. “But even our people who do this work every day can’t turn out more than two or three more blouses than someone doing it at home, and so it costs more.”
Here are some tips about using a dry cleaning service:
– For stains, the best course of action is to blot up as much of it as you can and leave the rest to the experts, says Kerry Kohn, owner of the American Ideal Cleaning Co. in Chicago.
“The toughest stains are from natural fruit coloring,” Kohn says. “It’s a natural dye, and when you try to get it out, it’s a test to see which dye is the strongest–the one used on your clothes or the natural dye.”
Experts also caution against the use of spray-on supermarket stain removal products. Clothes can develop a faded spot after application.
– Avoid constant starch for shirts; they’ll last longer.
“We know of a custom shirtmaker in Chicago who discovered shirts his clients owned had to have the sleeves lengthened because the shirt was starched every time and shrunk,” Waco said. “Starch prevents the material from stretching, so don’t use it every time.”
– Don’t waste money by buying “no-iron” shirts or pants and then taking them to the dry cleaner.
– Coupons that advertise, say “50 percent off for drapery cleaning” are misleading unless you know what the full regular price is. Many coupons also offer a certain percentage off, with a maximum dollar amount allowed. Again, know your base prices first to see if the coupon really is a good deal.
For inquiries about dry cleaners, you can call the IFI at 800-638-2627.
WHY WOMEN PAY MORE
`How come women’s clothes cost more to clean?” may be the most frequently asked question in the dry cleaning business. Among the reasons are the design of women’s clothing, the materials used to make them and the fasteners or buttons they have.
– Shirt-pressing machines are designed to fit a man’s shirt, not a woman’s blouse. “Men’s shirts don’t have darts, waists, shoulder pads or pleats,” said Kerry Kohn, owner of American Ideal Cleaning Co. in Chicago.”You can’t put blouses with those features on an automatic press and expect them to look right.”
– Women’s clothing uses alternative fabrics like silk that have to be dry-cleaned and pressed individually. Most men’s clothing uses cotton and polyester, which don’t require special treatment.
– Women’s blouses often have pearl, metal or specially designed fasteners that can’t be replaced if broken. Consequently, they’re ironed by hand. Men’s shirts typically use basic plastic buttons that are easily replaced if broken in a shirt pressing machine.
Some cleaners offer an “R&R” service, with buttons being removed before dry cleaning and replaced, in order to protect them. Anything involving extra time in the dry cleaning business winds up costing you more.
