Fletcher's Fabricare – Dry Cleaning FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a dry-to-dry process for cleaning fabrics that cleans without water. Instead of water, the biodegradable detergent works with the soap and sizing to clean and restore your clothes. At Fletchers, our state-of-the-art equipment is maintained to the highest standards and ensures that garments are cleaned and dried in a safe environment.

What is biodegradable dry cleaning?

We use biodegradable detergents and environmentally friendly safe cleaning processes from System K4.

What is the difference in your detergents?

We use an odorless and colourless detergent called solvonK4, which is a non-toxic and nonhazardous, biodegradable and halogen free detergent. Many companies today still use perchloroethylene (perc), which is more aggressive and has been found to be carcinogenic.

Why didn’t the stain come out?

Though we try our utmost best to remove stains there may be many reasons as to why a stain may not come out:

The stain has set in the fabric over time (heat and time set stains).
The stain has been worked on before coming to Fletchers, and the water or chemical used has set the stain in the fabric.
Some stains such as: ink is not easily removed from some types of fabric.
The best advice we can offer regarding stains is to blot and not rub. Do not apply water or any other solution to the stain and bring the item in for professional cleaning as soon as possible.

This stain was not here when I brought my garment in. Why is it here now?

Often during the cleaning process, the heat and detergents used can cause the stain to react and oxidize, which makes the stain darker and more visible. Stains that are acidic or are sugar based are the most damaging to fabrics, especially to natural fibres.

Why do I have to pay for this garment when the stain did not come out?

Your garment received more than the usual care and attention during the cleaning process since our staff spent considerable time and effort on trying to remove the stains. Your garment has been through the pre-spotting and cleaning process more than once, and often several times, as we make every effort to remove stains before informing a customer that we cannot work on the stain further without damaging the fabric.

How do you press my shirt?

Shirts are laundered with our biodegradable laundry detergent and then pressed on a state-of-the-art shirt unit. The collars and cuffs are finished first. Then the body is pressed and finished, using a combination of steam and pressure. All collars are cured on a heated collar cone, which finishes the inside of the collar so that it is comfortable for you to wear.

What is the difference between a pressed and a hand finished shirt?

Instead of the dress shirt being machine finished, a hand finished shirt is pressed by one of our skilled pressers with a hand iron and a steam press by hand. A hand finished shirt requires additional time to press and is offered at an enhanced cost.

Do you replace buttons?

Buttons can break for a variety of reasons. We try our utmost best to check each button and replace it (free of charge!) with a new one when necessary. Sometimes buttons are not able to withstand the cleaning process (either laundry or dry cleaning). The heat used in finishing shirts can sometimes weaken the button; often it may not actually break until it has cooled or when pressure is applied to fasten it. Also, if the pressure on the buttons is too great when the cuffs and collar are being pressed, buttons can break.

Why do clothes shrink/stretch in the cleaning process?

Shrinkage or stretching can occur from improper stabilization of fabric before the garment was constructed. Often manufactures do not preclean the material and shrinkage can occur because of this during the first cleaning. The most common type of shrinkage is called relaxation shrinkage, which results from irregular fabric care, causing relaxation of the fabric and dimensional change or shrinkage.

What is wet cleaning?

Wet cleaning is a process for cleaning sensitive fabrics using water combined with specialized equipment, detergents and additives to minimize the potential for problems. Finishing techniques used for wet cleaning differ from those used for dry cleaning. Wet cleaning machines are different from your home washer, as they have a variety of programs to handle all kinds of fabrics – the mechanical action is like hand washing with gentle agitation. Successful wet cleaning depends on the cleaner’s extensive knowledge of how different fibers, fabric construction, dyes and trims will respond to water and detergents.

How long does dry cleaning take?

We typically require 5 business days to complete your order, however we are able to accomodate same day or next day rush orders. This request needs to be specified with our customer service representative before the cleaning process can begin.

How much does dry cleaning cost?

The million dollar question! This can be a challenging question to ask because price is dependent on the specific garment, its condition, the care label instruction, what possible risks may be involved, etc., which all affect pricing. Our team can provide you with an exact quote in-store once we inspect your item(s).

What is Dry Cleaning / How Does it Work?

Steps for Dry Cleaning

We have several steps to ensure that your garment receives a top of the line experience.
Here are our steps for cleaning:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dry Cleaning / How Does it Work?

Steps for Dry Cleaning

We have several steps to ensure that your garment receives a top of the line experience.Here are our steps for cleaning:

Frequently Asked Questions

We have several steps to ensure that your garment receives a top of the line experience.
Here are our steps for cleaning: