The short answer is only if you will be wearing them this season. It is not recommended for storing garments for more than a season.

Plastic bags inhibit the fabric from breathing and can promote the formation of mildew and cause fume fading. Fume fading can yellow whites and discolor the colored garments. 

RECOMMENDATION: Store garments in cloth garment bags that breathe and will provide some protection from insect and moth damage.

Not always. Care labels mainly address the fabric but do not always address the beading, sequins, leather trim, etc. that may have been placed on the garment. These embellishments can severely limit the serviceability and care of a garment.

There are many factors that determine the stability of a garment and the type of cleaning required. Was the material pre-shrunk? Dry cleaning will generally induce less shrinkage than machine washing. Are the dyes stable? Some dyes are stable when cleaned in water but not when dry cleaned and vice versa and some dyes cannot withstand either cleaning process. When there is a question, a test will be done first and if it does not pass the test, we will call you to let you know that result.

This is all part of the customized and expert care you can depend on from Village East Cleaners.

No. Although we are fully capable of such feats, our services are focused on alterations only. We can custom fit your wedding gown and suits or we can simply sew on your son’s boy scout patches. We can hem your pants and take them in or let them out. We can also make repairs. Whatever your needs we are here to help you to look your very best.

Call for an appointment or simply stop by.

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” as solvents or liquids are used to perform the cleaning, but with little water thus the term “dry”.

Dry cleaning machines are similar to washing machines in that a large tumbling basket is used to facilitate the cleaning process. Garments are placed in this basket that is partially filled with solvent and tumbled in a manner in which they drop through the solvent. This agitation and flushing action of the solvent are responsible for the majority of the cleaning.

Certain elements must be present in a dry cleaning system. These include a rotating wash cylinder, a tank for storing solvent, a pump to circulate the solvent, filters, a distillation system, a dryer and of course, the solvent itself. Other components which may or may not be found includes refrigerated condenser for capturing solvent vapors, vapor absorbers, moisture injection system, computer or card controllers, and others.

The solvents most widely used are percloroethylene (PERC) and hydrocarbon. The cleaning solution is comprised of approximately 98% pure solvent, 1% water, 1% sizing and detergents. If impurities comprise any more than an additional 1% of the cleaning solution, the cleaning quality can be detrimentally affected by odor and dinginess.

Some of the more difficult stains are removed with the use of chemical agents, water, steam, air, and a vacuum. This is completed on what is called a “spotting board”. This technique is performed both before and after cleaning and the stains are removed individually.

Simply said; washing machine uses water and agitates your clothes while dry cleaning uses chemicals and agitates your clothes

Spot cleaning is basically what the title implies. A garment is hand cleaned only in the areas where spots are noticeable. Spot cleaning is performed if portions of a garment are not capable of withstanding an overall cleaning method or if the garment is basically clean and just a small area has a stain.

Spot cleaning is accomplished using a stain removal board, removal agents as necessary, steam and vacuum.

We, Village East Cleaners, also perform a process called “Freshening Up”. In freshening up a special attention is given to the under arms, wiping down the lining with a solvent, spot cleaning and hand pressing.

We have seven different and specialized finishing stations. You can’t get the finest results on an evening gown by a finisher if he/she is expected to produce khaki pants on the same station. The gown requires a softer press while the khaki pants are best produced with a harder press pad to generate the crisp finish.

Due to the variance in materials and construction, we do not have a single set price for an item category. Example: a blouse can have a large range of prices from a simple cotton tee to a silk designer top with rhinestone buttons and a temporary pleated finish requiring re-pleating with each cleaning. We are always happy to take the time at drop off to provide an exact price for articles being left for service. Please be patient as the pricing step is slightly involved and requires reading every care label and can take a few minutes.

Rayon is a man made material composed of regenerated cellulose usually obtained from wood pulp. Rayon can be made to simulate common materials such as wool and silk and can be used by itself or blended with other materials.

The advantages of rayon is its versatility, moisture absorption and dye compatibility.

The disadvantages or limitations include its sensitivity to heat and light exposure. Water can also weaken the material as well as cause shrinkage and many spot removal techniques are incompatible.

Some types of fabric and garment construction make dry cleaning advisable. Wet cleaning can make some fabrics limp and may cause shrinkage.

View the website of the Federal Trade Commission.