1-800-DryClean Special Services: Dry Cleaning Comforters and Other Household Items
Bedspreads, Draperies, Upholstery, Heirlooms, and More
Household fabrics are subject to different soil and exposure damage than clothing, however the 1-800-DryClean professionals are experts in caring for the special needs of these textiles. Your dry cleaner will pay close attention to the durability of each fabric and the manufacturer’s care instructions, as well as any you provide upon pick up.
Care instructions are especially important for household items, and are generally labeled with a manufacturer-recommended cleanability code. Some codes indicate cleaning treatments you can do at home, while others will inform you if you should take your item to a professional dry cleaner.
- Code W: Spot clean, using foam only from a water-based cleaning agent, such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product.
- Code X: Clean only by vacuum or light brushing.
- Code S: Clean with pure solvent in a well-ventilated room. Cleaning by a professional cleaning service only is recommended.
- Code W-S: Spot clean using either a mild solvent or a water-based cleaning agent.
Even though many items may not be marked with a Cleanability Code S, they will still benefit from periodic professional cleaning. Dry cleaning and professional laundering can prolong their useful life.
Comforters and Bedspreads
Bedding is often tailored, quilted, or adorned, requiring special attention to the item. Your 1-800-DryClean professional will select the best care method for your comforter or bedspread. Iit is best to clean all matching items (curtains, pillow shams, skirting) simultaneously to ensure that any minimal color variation resulting from the cleaning process will be uniform.
Draperies
Draperies may undergo a multitude of exposure damages. Water damage can occur from window condensation and prolonged exposure to humidity, including fabric shrinkage in material that has not been pre-shrunk. Years of sunlight can discolor and weaken fabric so intensely that it will shred when washed in an agitation-washer. Age, moisture, light, heat, tobacco smoke, and other atmospheric soils combine to permanently yellow fabric.
With regular professional dry cleaning, draperies made of an average-grade fabric are expected to last three to five years.
Upholstery
Many upholstery textiles are not suitable for immersion cleaning, and should be cared for by a professional dry cleaner to ensure cushions and covers continue to match the rest of the piece of furniture. Please note that you should never remove cushion covers when dry cleaning or washing them—should any shrinking or other damage occur you may not be able to use them again, destroying your entire piece of furniture.
Heirlooms
Antique fabrics require special care. To best preserve your heirlooms, please inform your 1-800-DryClean driver that your items are old or antique. Your dry cleaner will pay special attention to these treasured items, and attempt to safely removed stains or discoloration.
Things to Remember
- All fabric is susceptible to light degradation, but some more so than others. Silk is often the most vulnerable, while acrylic, modacrylic, polyester, and glass fibers tend to be the most resistant.
- Rotate your draperies or sunlight-exposed upholstery often to vary light exposure.
- Surface soils will damage carpets, rugs, and upholstery fibers over time. Regular dry cleaning is important to prolong the life of even your toughest household items.
Much of this information is provided to us courtesy of the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute, the premier trade association for garment care professionals. Please visit http://www.ifi.org for further details.