welcome to rave fabricare

Nationally recognized as one of
the nation’s premier cleaners by
Leading Cleaners Internationale

Locally recognized as metro
Phoenix’s best drycleaner by
Phoenix Magazine

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For ease of reference, we have grouped our FAQs into the following sections:

General
Services

Drycleaning
Wetcleaning
Garment Restoration
Chemically-sensitive Cleaning
Knit Blocking & St. John Knits
Couture Garments
Specialty Garments
Ties & Scarves
Formal Wear
Equestrian Wear
Gown Cleaning and Preservation
Theatrical Costumes
Vintage Garments
Heirloom, Antique & Museum Pieces
Shirt Laundry
Repairs & Alterations
Reweaving
Fine Bed & Table Linens
Pillow Renovation
Household Textiles
Area Rugs
Textile Art
Suede, Leather & Fur
Purses & Handbags
Fire, Soot and Water Contaminated Garments & Household
Textiles
Services to Couturiers & Upscale Retail Stores
Services to Upscale Hotels & Resorts

* Conveniences

Local In-store Service
Local Pickup & Delivery Service
Nationwide Clean by Mail Service
24 Hour Drop off Service
Call Ahead Pickup Service
Drive Through Service
House Moving Service
Travel Packing and Shipping Service
Wardrobe Management Service
Personal Preference Profiles
Client Charge Accounts

* Pricing and Turnaround

Pricing Turnaround

* General

* Services -- couture garments

Do you care for couture garments and gowns?

* Services -- specialty garments

Can you clean garments and gowns with trim and embellishments?

* Services -- ties & scarves

Coming soon

* Services -- formal wear

Coming soon.

* Services -- equestrian wear

Coming soon.

* Services -- gown cleaning and preservation

What is Museum Quality Gowncare?

There are literally hundreds of service providers who "clean and box""bridal gowns. What makes Museum Quality Gowncare different?

What bridal gown services do you offer?

Very briefly, what is Museum Quality Gowncare's basic process for cleaning, finishing and preserving a wedding gown?

I've read something about invisible sugar and salt stains. What's that all about?

My bridal gown is heavily beaded, pearled and sequined. I've been told that the beads may melt and that the pearls and sequins may deluster in the cleaning. Is this true?

I've heard that the packaging of any textile, including a bridal gown, is scritical to it's long-term preservation. Is this true?

How can I assess the purity of the packaging materials being used to preserve my bridal gown?

How are your bridal gown storage chests different?

Why do drycleaners and bridal boutiques continue to promote and use etraditional storybook wedding gown boxes?

I recently saw a wedding gown box on display at a cleaner. Can a box that small accommodate my gown?

Do you seal your bridal gown storage chests?

Do you purge the oxygen from your bridal gown storage chests?

If I open my bridal gown storage chest, will this "unpreserve the preservation" of my gown?

Are all your preservation practices consistent with the advice I would receive from a museum textile conservator?

Other than my bridal gown and veil, what else should I include in the bridal gown storage chest?

Can I inspect my bridal gown before you package it in the bridal gown storage chest?

How much does it cost to clean, finish and preserve a bridal gown?

What's your turnaround time?

What guarantees or warranties do you provide?

Do you offer gift certificates for cleaning, finishing and preserving a bridal gown?

What should I do once my bridal gown has been cleaned, finished and preserved?

What is the Zurcion process?

What is the MuseumCare or True Preservation process?

What is the Lab Cleaning Process?

Can I ship my gown to you?

* Services -- theatrical costumes

Coming soon.

* Services -- vintage garments

Coming soon.

* Services -- heirloom, antique and museum pieces

Can you clean heirloom textiles?

Can all heirloom textiles be safely cleaned?

* Services -- shirt laundry

When should a shirt or blouse be drycleaned? And when should a shirt or blouse be professionally laundered?

Why don't my shirts survive more than 25-35 visits to the cleaners?

Why do my white shirts come back from the cleaners with yellow rings around the collar? Why do my dark colored shirts come back with oil slicks around the collar?

I've heard that you soak your shirts prior to laundering them. Why?

What else's different about your shirt laundry process?

Are there things you don't do?

Why do you use Sanitone® shirt laundry detergents? My cleaner tells me that he's developed a laundry detergent that yields spectacular results. Can this be true?

My cleaner tells me that he routinely hand-irons all my laundered shirts. Can this be true?

I always ask for light starch on my shirts. Why do they come back from the cleaners so stiff?

Why do the collars and cuffs of my shirts abrade so quickly?

I get my shirts "professionally laundered." Yet I always end up re-ironing them at home. Why?

Do you automatically crease the sleeves of all your laundered shirts?

I travel frequently and sometimes have my shirts folded. Why do my folded shirts look like a wrinkled mess when I unfold them? Do you glue bar coded labels onto the collar, front placket or inside seams of my shirts?

* Services -- repair & alterations

Do you do repairs and alterations on premises?

Do I need an appointment?

What's the turnaround time for alterations?

Do you have private fitting rooms?

* Services -- reweaving

What is reweaving?

What's the cost and turnaround time?

Do you guarantee that the reweave will be invisible?

Should I clean the garment prior to reweaving?

* Services -- fine bed & table linens

I've spent a fortune on fine, high-thread count bed and table linens. But I'm scared to send them to an ordinary cleaner. Can you help?

What can I expect from an ordinary cleaner?

What's different about your french laundry for fine bed and table linens?

Should I starch my bed or table linens?

I panic at the mere thought of sending my matelasse coverlets and lace tablecloths to a cleaner. Can you help?

How do you pack your bed and table linens?

How does your french laundry compare to other french laundries around the country?

What are your prices for fine bed and table linens?

Can I ship my fine bed and table linens to you?

I operate a fine linens store and would like to refer my customers to you. Do you offer commissions (cash or in kind) on business referred to you?

* Services -- pillow renovation

What is White Knight Pillowcare?

Do you clean synthetic pillows?

Why should I clean my down and feather pillows?

How often should I clean my down and feather pillows?

Can I wash my down and feather pillows?

What is your basic process?

Do your pillow shells meet AAFA standards?

Are your pillow shells certified to be downproof?

Are your pillow shells certified to be an effective barrier against dust mite allergen transfer?

Are your pillow shells certified to be free of harmful chemical substances?

Are your pillow shells comfortable?

My pillows are top quality. How do I know that the down and feathers taken from my original pillows will be the same down and feathers returned to me in my renovated pillows?

What can you do to ensure that my pillows are restored to the "right" level of support?

When you're adding down to pillows, what type of down do you use?

How long does it take to renovate pillows?

How much do you charge to renovate down and feather pillows?

Can I ship my down and feather pillows to you?

* Services -- household textiles

Why should I clean my household textiles on a regular basis? Does RAVE FabriCARE clean household textiles?

* Services -- area rugs

Why should I clean my area rugs on a regular basis?

Do you steam clean area rugs?

What about Navajo and other southwestern rugs?

* Services -- textile art

Coming soon.

* Services -- suede, leather & fur

Coming soon.

* Services -- purses & handbags

Do you clean personal accessories such as purses and handbags? What's the cost and turnaround time?

* Services -- fire, soot and water contaminated garments & household textiles

Coming soon.

*Services -- services to couturiers and upscale retail stores

What types of retailers do you serve?

What types of services do you provide?>

What's the philosophy underpinning your services to retailers?

*Services -- services to upscale hotels and resorts

Coming soon.

*Conveniences -- local in-store service

Do you offer local in-store service?

What are your in-store service hours?

Can you give me directions to your fabricare facility?

*Conveniences -- local pickup & delivery service

Very briefly, how does your pickup and delivery service work?

Do you have a dedicated pickup and delivery service line?

Which zip codes in the Phoenix metro area do you serve?

On what days do you pickup and deliver?

What if I don't have cleaning on a regular basis?

What if I leave town for a brief or extended period of time?

Do you offer a full range of services to pickup and delivery clients?

Do you charge extra for your pickup and delivery service?

Do you charge a membership fee?

Is there a minimum monthly expenditure target for a pickup and delivery client?

What's your turnaround time?

Do you provide bags for my cleaning?

Do I need to keep track of the items I send in for cleaning?

Do I need to separate drycleaning from shirt laundry?

How do I communicate any special instructions to you?

Do I have to be at home when your delivery representative arrives?

I'm concerned about my clothes being stolen. Has this ever happened?

Are your delivery representatives bonded and insured?

Can we agree on a specific time your delivery representative will pickup and deliver?

Do you pickup and deliver from offices?

Do I need to leave payment every time you make a delivery?

Do I have to tip your delivery representatives?

Do you offer corporate accounts?

Do you send out monthly statements?

Do I need to complete any paperwork before your delivery representative picks up my first order?

What happens on the first pickup?

What happens if an order is incomplete?

What do I do if I have a question regarding the status of an order?

What do I do if I have a question about or problem with an order you've delivered?

What if I have a question about an invoice or about my monthly statement?

How do I change my personal account information and/or my cleaning preferences?

How do you protect my personal information, including my credit card information?

Do you recycle hangers, plastic and tissue?

How do you handle holidays?

Do you close for an annual vacation?

* Conveniences -- nationwide clean by mail service

What is nationwide clean by mail?

Do you serve international clients?

Briefly, how does your nationwide clean by mail work?

What's the turnaround time?

Is there a minimum service order?

Do you charge extra for shipping containers?

Do you charge extra for packing?

Do you charge extra for shipping

What about insurance?

Do you charge extra for your nationwide clean by mail service?

What methods of payment do you accept?

What shipping carriers and methods are available?

What if I have my own personal or business shipping account?

What do I do if I have a question about the status of an order?

* Conveniences -- 24 hour drop off service

Coming soon.

* Conveniences -- call ahead pickup service

Coming soon.

* Conveniences -- drive through service

Coming soon.

* Conveniences -- house moving service

Coming soon.

* Conveniences -- vacation packing service

Coming soon.

* Conveniences -- personal preference profiles

Coming soon.

* Conveniences -- client charge accounts

Coming soon.

* Pricing

Are your prices competitive?

What are your prices?

Do you add an "environmental surcharge" to each invoice?

*Turnaround time

What's your turnaround time?

Why's your turnaround time 5 days? Why don't you operate like ordinary cleaners?

GENERAL

Very briefly, why RAVE FabriCARE?

Here's 10 primary reasons:

National recognition
Local recognition
Retailer recognition
Industry-leading quality standards
Extraordinary drycleaning/wetcleaning
Extraordinary shirt laundry
Comprehensive range of other specialized fabricare services
Wide array of supporting conveniences
State-of-the-art fabricare facility

Safe Cleaning Guarantee K .

What follows is a brief summary of each ...

1. National recognition

We are the only drycleaner in Arizona recognized as one of the nation's premier drycleaners and designated a Certified Couture Cleaner® -- 1 ofpossibly 20 true quality drycleaners in North America.

This recognition is based upon a rigorous, third party evaluation of our quality standards and a comprehensive, on-going review of our work product by Leading Cleaners Internationale (LCI).

LCI is a membership-by-accreditation organization that sets the worldwide standard for specialized drycleaning services. LCI has a membership comprised of some of the nation's most respected and critically acclaimed drycleaners who have chosen to specialize within the high fashion end of the drycleaning industry.

2. Local recognition

The Arizona Republic cited RAVE FabriCARE as one of only six Scottsdale/Paradise Valley businesses that have developed strong reputations by focusing on the needs of a narrow market segment.

Readers of Phoenix Magazine voted RAVE FabriCARE "Best Drycleaner In The Valley".

3. Retailer recognition

We are referred by most of the Valley's upscale department stores, clothing boutiques and custom clothiers, and are the preferred drycleaning service provider for many.

The stores and their associates know who produces the "best work" in town.

These stores know RAVE FabriCARE because they regularly call on us to care for inventory that has become soiled, and for customer-owned garments that have been rejected as "uncleanable" or that have been improperly cleaned and/or finished by other cleaners.

Over the years, we've demonstrated that many so-called "uncleanable" garments were eminently cleanable, and we've saved many garments that were previously thought to be unsalvageable.

Their associates know RAVE FabriCARE because many are, themselves, clients of ours.

4. Industry-leading quality standards

We have detailed, written quality standards covering every facet of our drycleaning/wetcleaning and shirt laundry operations.

These standards result in the consistent delivery of extraordinary care for all your fine garments and household textiles. Every order. Every item.

5. Extraordinary drycleaning/wetcleaning

Our technical expertise and skill is unmatched anywhere in Arizona.

At RAVE FabriCARE, you can consistently expect:

Garments and household textiles that are exceptionally clean.
Spectactularly bright whites, creams and pastels (as long as they've always been cleaned at RAVE FabriCARE)
Colors that are rich and lustrous, without that "washed out", faded look (as long as they've always been cleaned at RAVE FabriCARE)
Renewed, revitalized fabric textures.
The softest, silkiest fabric feel, even on heavy cotton sweaters.
Garments that are meticulously finished. Inside and out. By hand. Not by machine.
Garments that are carefully and thoroughly inspected. From top to bottom. From inside to outside.
Garments that are individually and elegantly packaged.
And, of course, absolutely no drycleaning solvent smell. Or fragrance or perfume smell. Ever.

6. Extraordinary shirt laundry

We deliver the cleanest, brightest and finest hand-ironed shirt in the Southwest. And, unlike ordinary cleaners, we do this without brushing, bleaching, boiling and baking the life out of your shirts.

Specifically, we don't:
Scrub your collars and cuffs with nylon brushes
Wash your shirts in hot water
Use harsh, caustic industrial grade detergents
Add fabric-destroying bleach
Starch your shirts with cheap synthetic glue
Press your shirts by machine at the rate of 40 to 50 an hour
Return your shirts with puckered seams and wrinkled underarms
Crease your sleeves (unless specifically requested)
Stuff your shirts in a single, narrow poly bag.

7. Comprehensive range of other specialized fabricare services

In addition to drycleaning/wetcleaning and shirt laundry, we offer a comprehensive range of other specialized fabricare services designed to meet the needs of the most discriminating of clients.

In particular, very few cleaners can match our extraordinary care for designer, high fashion, specialty and couture garments.

8. Wide array of supporting conveniences

At RAVE FabriCARE, we offer a wide array of conveniences to support our specialized fabricare services.

These conveniences include local in-store service, local pickup and delivery service, nationwide clean by mail service, 24 hour drop-off, call ahead pickup service, and client charge accounts.

9. State-of-the-art fabricare facilities

Our fabricare facility is, without doubt, one of the very finest and best equipped facilities in the Southwest.

From the moment you step into our spacious fabricare facility, you’ll recognize that there are major differences between our fabricare facility and the store fronts operated by ordinary cleaners. In particular ...
The vast majority of ordinary cleaners are designed to meet the needs of their "average customer".

By contrast, our fabricare facility has been specially designed to meet the special handling needs of our clients’ designer, high fashion, specialty and couture garments.
The vast majority of ordinary cleaners are equipped and staffed to meet the needs of their "average customer".

By contrast, our fabricare facility has been specially equipped and staffed to meet the special handling needs of our clients’ designer, high fashion, specialty and couture garments.
The customer service counters and drive through lanes of the vast majority of ordinary cleaners are designed to get their customers in and out. In short order. It's an approach that's in perfect harmony with their bang and hang, same or next day service approach to "garment care."

By contrast, our client service environment has been specially designed to be an inviting oasis in a hectic world of same or next day service cleaning. It's a difference you'll see, smell, hear and feel.

10. Safe Cleaning Guarantee sm

We are the only drycleaner in Arizona to offer you the Safe Cleaning Guarantee.

This means that we guarantee the safe cleaning of your garments, that you'll never be left adrift if a problem does arise, and you'll never be bounced to the retailer or manufacturer with an unserviceable garment.

Summary

Whether you use our services on a regular basis for all your cleaning needs, or only occasionally for that prized designer, high fashion, specialty or couture garment, you can trust RAVE FabriCARE to keep all your fine garments looking, feeling and smelling great. And to preserve your investment in those garments for as long as possible.

You deserve extraordinary care.

You deserve RAVE FabriCARE.

How do I select a true quality drycleaner?

You can identify the true quality drycleaner in your area by examining a combination of three factors:

* Upscale stores

Call a few upscale department stores, clothing boutiques and custom clothiers. Ask to speak to the manager of the mens, ladies or couture departments. These individuals know clothing. And they know who does the "best work." If there is a consensus of opinion, you've probably discovered the true quality drycleaner in town.

Then visit that cleaner. Talk to them. Ask questions. And, most importantly, don't be afraid to examine some of their work -- selected at random -- right off their conveyor.

* National recognition

Identify cleaners in your area who have been recognized as the one of the nation's premier drycleaners and are designated a Certified Couture Cleaner ® .

You should be aware that there are, currently, two organizations that recognize “quality drycleaners.”

One organization, Leading Cleaners Internationale (LCI), sets the world-wide standard for specialized drycleaning services. To earn accreditation, LCI requires a rigorous, third party evaluation of a drycleaner's quality standards relative to the minimum quality standards in place at a group of the most respected and critically acclaimed drycleaners in the nation. As well as a comprehensive on-going review of that drycleaner's work product to ensure that the drycleaner actually adheres to those quality standards on a consistent basis.

The other organization, despite counting a handful of excellent drycleaners among its ranks, is, for all practical purposes, open to any cleaner willing to pay the monthly dues -- irrespective of their quality standards and the quality of their work product.

In December 2003, RAVE FabriCARE was invited to join this organization (see testimonial). After a thorough investigation, we declined.

* Local Recognition

Identify cleaners in your area who have been recognized by authoritative local publications as "best in class" -- by a vote of subscribers conducted and tabulated by an independent third party (often referred to as the "reader's choice"). Not by the opinion of a single writer for that publication who, in almost every case has no experience in drycleaning (often referred to as the "critic's choice").

* Quality Standards

Ask the cleaners on your short list for a detailed, written list of their quality standards.

The absence of detailed, written quality standards probably signifies that the cleaner has no defined standards, no consistent basis for holding their associates accountable for the quality of their work, and no basis upon which you, in turn, can hold them accountable for the quality of their work.

Why's there no "cleaners" in "RAVE FabriCARE"?

We hear many questions at RAVE FabriCARE. Questions like "What makes you different from ordinary cleaners?" Or "Why don't you clean in perchloroethylene or synthetic petroleum like ordinary cleaners?" Or "Why don't you offer same or next day service like ordinary cleaners?" Or "Why don't you pick up and deliver in 2 or 3 days like ordinary cleaners?"

While each of these questions is perceptive and probing, no question digs deeper into the essence of RAVE FabriCARE than "why isn't there a 'cleaners' in 'RAVE FabriCARE'?"

What may appear to be an omission or oversight is really a conscious decision. Simply put, we're fabricare specialists. Not cleaners. There is a difference. And it's not just one of semantics.
In a nutshell, we could ...

No-spot or post-spot like ordinary cleaners instead of pre-spot.
Clean in an aggressive drycleaning solvent (perchloroethylene or petroleum) like ordinary cleaners instead of an odorless, dermatologically-friendly, fabric-gentle drycleaning fluid (siloxane).
Inject moisture, fragrance and sizing into our drycleaning fluid like ordinary cleaners instead of operating with zero moisture, zero fragrance and zero sizing.
Wash as many of your cotton and linen garments as possible like ordinary cleaners instead of drycleaning them as you specified.
Machine press your garments like ordinary cleaners instead of hand finishing them.
Conduct cursory lookovers of garments like ordinary cleaners instead of detailed, personalized inspections.
Shuttle your garments around our facility on a roller-coaster-like automated system like ordinary cleaners instead of moving them gently by hand.
Return your garments in a manner that suits the cleaner instead of customizing your garments to your personal preferences.
Stuff your fine garments in a narrow poly bag like ordinary cleaners instead of packaging them individually.
Pickup and deliver your garments and household textiles in 2 or 3 days like ordinary cleaners instead of the 5 days necessary to do the job right (in many cases).

The list of differences is endless.

As fabricare specialists, we could conform to the conventional wisdom of ordinary cleaners but we wouldn't dream of it.

If all this sounds a little complicated, technical, labor-intensive and time consuming, it is. Luckily, there's an easier way to identify a true fabricare specialist: a fabricare specialist will be delighted to disclose the ins and outs and the hows and whys of their processes to you. In great detail. And in writing.

You see, fabricare specialists have nothing to hide. Quite the contrary. They believe the more you understand about their processes the better. So they distribute fact sheets, ebooks and white papers. And conduct educational seminars and tours.

Ordinary cleaners, on the other hand, shun disclosure. They provide little or no information, often citing “trade secrets” as an excuse. Instead of solid information about their processes or craftsmanship, they profer meaningless platitudes such as:
We provide great cleaning, fabulous service and quick turnaround.
Each and every day we work hard to earn compliments from our customers.
We treat your everyday wear -- polo shirts, chinos and jeans -- as if they were fine couture pieces.
We give your shirts the focused care that only we can provide.
Our packaging is the talk of the town.

And, consistent with these meaningless platitudes, their testimonials focus on the friendliness of their staff. Not a whisper about their processes or craftsmanship. You've heard the food-related expression "mystery meat". Welcome to the world of "mystery cleaning".

You see, it’s not that ordinary cleaners can’t disclose the ins and outs and the hows and whys of their processes. It’s just that they won’t.

And why won’t they make full disclosure? Simply, because they’re afraid that disclosure -- any disclosure -- will make it easier to evaluate the relative quality of the product they deliver. And will point to the fact that their “exceptional or award winning" cleaning is no different from the “bang and hang” cleaning offered by any other cleaner across the street or across town.

Finding a true fabricare specialist in your city is actually quite simple. Ask for a detailed fact sheet covering each of their processes: The ins and outs. The hows and whys.

Bet you come up empty handed. As empty as their platitudes.

My cleaner tells me that he "meets or exceeds the industry's highest standards." Is this an objective way to select a true quality drycleaner?

No. And here's why.

There are over 34,000 cleaners in the USA and over 400 in the metro Phoenix area. If you polled all these cleaners, every single one would claim that they "meet or exceed the industry's highest standards."

Today, "meeting or exceeding the industry's highest standards" is nothing more than a meaningless buzzword. And, in many cases, it's used by cleaners to hide the fact that they have no detailed quality standards -- written or otherwise.

In the past, organizations such as the National Cleaners Association and the International Fabricare Institute have published minimum standards for drycleaners.

Unfortunately, few cleaners have any interest in such trivia. That's because the entire modus operandi of the vast majority of ordinary cleaners is geared to getting your garments into a machine, onto a press, and into a bag. ASAP. They're in by 9:00 and out by 5:00; or picked up on day 1 and delivered on day 3.

At ordinary cleaners, production efficiency is the holy grail of their entire operation. Quality standards just get in the way of their "production system".

Today, only one organization -- Leading Cleaners Internationale (LCI) -- sets the world-wide standard for true quality in the drycleaning industry.

LCI's quality standards are based on minimum quality standards in place at a group of the most respected and critically acclaimed drycleaners in the nation.

So when you assess your cleaner's claim that he "meets or exceeds the industry's highest standards", what you really need to do is to access your cleaner's specific quality standards relative to LCI's minimum quality standards.

My cleaner tells me that he "focuses on the details." Is there an objective way to assess the voracity of this claim?

Possibly. But it's not easy. That's because there are over 34,000 cleaners in the USA and over 400 in the metro Phoenix area.. And every single one will tell you that they "focus on the details."

Your intuition and experience should tell you that the vast majority of these claims are, at best, nothing more than puffery. So couple your intuition and experience with this thought: true quality is not about a few details. It's about hundreds of details. And, specifically, it's the combination of those hundreds of details that produces true quality. It's the difference between a little black dress by Armani® and a sixty-nine dollar knockoff by Candie's Creations.

Here's another key point: how can a cleaner claim that he "focuses on the details" when his entire operation is geared to same or next day service? How can a cleaner claim that he "focuses on the details" when your garments are in by 9:00 and out by 5:00; or picked up on day 1 and delivered on day 3?

Find the answer these questions, and you'll know whether your cleaner really focuses on the details.

Do you have detailed, written standards for your drycleaning/wetcleaning and shirt laundry?

Of course. Detailed and written.

For our quality standards on drycleaning, wetcleaning and shirt laundry, click here.

Do you offer in-store same or next day service on drycleaning and shirt laundry? Do you offer 3 day pickup and delivery service on drycleaning and shirt laundry?

No. Not as a matter of routine.

And here's why.

There are over 400 ordinary cleaners in the metro Phoenix area. And every single one would be delighted to accommodate your request for same or next day service. And every single one who offers pickup and delivery service will be delighted to pickup your cleaning on day 1 and deliver on day 3. That's because their entire modus operandi is geared to getting your garments into a machine, onto a press and into a bag. ASAP. At ordinary cleaners, same or next day service is standard operating procedure.

Fact is, they're so proud of their same or next day service, and 3 day pickup and delivery service that they promote it on their signage and on their websites -right next to their claim that their "exceptional drycleaning and laundry service" is a direct result of their "attention to detail"! Yeah. Right. And donkeys fly and jaybirds wear derby hats!

Truth is, you can't have it both ways: true quality, in garment care, is simply not compatible with speed. At least, on a consistent, routine basis.

It's the same reason Morton's® or Ruth's Chris® cannot prepare their fine steaks at the speed of a Denny's . And the same reason Vidal Sassoon's or Rolf's cannot execute their styles at the speed of a Great Clips®.

By contrast, we take an entirely different approach to garment care at RAVE FabriCARE. We focus all our resources on consistently producing the finest cleaning in Arizona. There are no compromises. No shortcuts. No "bang and hang" work. No same or next day service work. No pickup-on-day-1-and-deliveron-
day-3 service.

Fact is, same day, or next day and 3 day pickup and delivery service is the very antithesis of true quality fabricare.

In a hectic world of same day and next day service cleaning, you can take comfort in the fact that we take the time to do it right. Because when it comes to caring for your fine garments and household textiles, faster isn't better. Never has been. Never will be.

I've read about the RAVE FabriCARE Garment Comparison Test ChallengeK. What's that all about?

There are over 400 cleaners in the metro Phoenix area. And almost every one claims to be best of class -- Scottsdale's premier cleaner, Arizona's finest cleaner, and even America's best cleaner, etc.

How can all these claims be true?

Truth is, they aren't. And you can prove that to yourself in less than 15 minutes by taking the RAVE FabriCARE Garment Comparison Test Challenge.sm

Here's how it works ...

Bring us any standard garment such as a shirt, blouse, trousers, slacks, sport coat or blazer that has just been "cleaned and pressed" by ANY cleaner in the metro Phoenix area (please retain as much of the original packaging as possible). We'll examine that garment and provide you with an objective critique relative to RAVE FabriCARE's quality standards.

And to make the critique more tangible, we'll invite you to compare your garment to any like garment -- selected at random -- right off our conveyor. This way you'll be able to make your very own comparison of relative quality.

Why not take us up on the offer? After all, you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain: valuable insight into the difference between true quality fabricare and ordinary cleaning.

What is drycleaning?

Today, the term "drycleaning" is used somewhat loosely to describe "what I get back from the cleaners."
In general terms, drycleaning is one step in a multi-step care process for garments and household textiles. Specifically, drycleaning is the (attempted) removal oil-based and water-based stains and other soils from a garment or household textile by agitating and flushing the garment or household textile in a drycleaning machine using a drycleaning solvent or fluid. As the drycleaning solvent or fluid contains (or rather should contain) little or no water, this step is called "dry cleaning."

The term "drycleaning” or "cleaning" is really a dated concept, referring as it does to only one step in the garment and household textile care process. At RAVE FabriCARE, we prefer a more exacting term: fabricare.

What drycleaning solvents or fluids are used today?

There are primarily 5 drycleaning solvents or fluids in use today.
Perchloroethylene

Perchloroethylene (aka perc or PCE) is the most common drycleaning solvent in use today. Used by approximately 95% of the 34,000 plus cleaners in North America, perc (brand name: Dowper) is valued for its grease-cutting properties. (If we ran a uniform rental operation specializing in auto repair shops, we'd definitely want to clean in perc.)

In recent years, perc has been attacked by governmental agencies and environmentalists as a potential carcinogen, as well as a ground water and air pollutant. By contrast, advocates for perc have argued that perc, used correctly, is perfectly safe.

The debate over perc is on-going and contentious with a wealth of "scientific" evidence supporting both sides of the debate.
Petroleum or synthetic petroleum

About 5% of all cleaners use petroleum (brand name: Stoddard) or synthetic petroleum (brand name: DF-2000 from Exxon Mobil or EcoSolv from Conoco Phillips).

While petroleum or synthetic petroleum is relatively more gentle on your garments and household textiles than perc, these hydrocarbon solvents are, nonetheless, subject to the same regulatory/environmental oversight regulations as perc.
Siloxane

Fewer than 1% of all cleaners use siloxane (brand name: Green Earth). It's completely odorless. Dermatologically friendly. And extremely gentle. So gentle, in fact, that it's used as a base ingredient in many personal care products you apply to your skin on a daily basis. It's also chemically inert. Which means that siloxane won't "bleed" or "fade" your colors.

From an environmental point of view, siloxane is non-toxic. It's biodegradable. And it's environmentally benign. In the event of a spill, siloxane degrades into sand, water and carbon dioxide.

Contrast this to perc, petroleum or synthetic petroleum. In the event of a major spill, a drycleaner using siloxane will need a bucket and a mop. In the event of a major spill, a drycleaner using perc, petroleum or synthetic petroleum will need the Fire Department's Hazardous Materials team.
Liquid carbon dioxide

Liquid carbon dioxide is the newest drycleaning fluid available today.

At room temperature and normal atmospheric conditions, CO2 is a gas. When subjected to high pressure in a closed vessel such as a high pressure drycleaning machine, CO2 transforms into a liquid. This is the principle behind CO2 cleaning.

Although CO2 is a naturally occurring and generally benign substance, there are relatively few CO2 installations in North America.

That's because the acquisition cost of a CO2 machine is relatively high (about 2 to 3 times the cost of an equivalently sized perc, petroleum, synthetic petroleum or siloxane machine); the cleaning performance is relatively poor (CO2 is a good rinse but removes next to no soil or stains); and the environmental impact is not as advertised (a CO2 machine releases 6 to 10 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere with each cleaning cycle).
Water

Let's not forget that water is the oldest "solvent" and is often used in combination with drycleaning to ensure that both oil-based and water-based stains and soils are removed from garments and household textiles.

Today, this water-based process is often called wetcleaning.

It is important to note, however, that wetcleaning is not "washing". Even the most technologically advanced home washing machines or professional shirt washers cannot match the capabilities of today's specialized, computer-controlled wetcleaning equipment. Microprocessors control water temperature, cylinder speeds, mechanical action and moisture removal. Special detergents and conditioners protect the feel or "hand" of the fabric.

Now that you've identified the specific solvents and fluids used in drycleaning today, three important questions remain: What specific drycleaning solvent or fluid does your cleaner use? What are the specific properties of that solvent or fluid? What is the impact of the specific solvent or fluid on your fine garments and household textiles?

In answering this question, forget about popular terms such as non-toxic, EPA-approved, non-regulated, non-ozone depleting, VOC-free, environmentally friendly, earth friendly, eco friendly, green, organic, etc. Too many cleaners use these terms to intentionally confuse or obfuscate, not to educate or enlighten.

Instead, focus your questions on the specific solvent or fluid used, the specific properties of that solvent or fluid, and it's impact on your fine garments and household textiles.

Knowing the specific solvent or fluid used, its properties and it's impact is critical to cutting through the fog of confusing terms in the drycleaning marketplace.

What is "organic drycleaning"?

Believe it or not, some cleaners are now proclaiming themselves to be "organic cleaners."

Clearly, these cleaners are attempting to capitalize on the public perception that "organic" equals "safe." That, in much the same way that organic foods equal "safe for consumption" and "safe for the environment", organic drycleaning similarly equals "safe for fine garments" and "safe for the environment".

There are three things you need to know about "organic drycleaning":

There's no such thing as "organic drycleaning".
Almost every single one of the 400+ cleaners in the metro Phoenix area and 34,000+ cleaners in North America qualifies to be called an "organic drycleaner."
"Organic drycleaning" almost never equals both "safe for fine garments" and "safe for the environment".

Here's the background:

Here's why ...

Almost every cleaner in North America cleans in one of four primary drycleaning solvents or fluids:

Perchloroethylene aka perc or PCE (brand name: Dowper).
Petroleum (brand name: Stoddard).
Synthetic petroleum (brand name: DF 2000 or EcoSolv).
Siloxane (brand name: Green Earth).

Perc, petroleum, synthetic petroleum and siloxane are ALL ORGANIC SOLVENTS OR FLUIDS BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ALL CONTAIN THE CHEMICAL ELEMENT CARBON. That's a basic -- and indisputable -- fact of chemistry. Accordingly, almost every cleaner in North America can proclaim themselves to be "organic cleaners."

You may recall from your organic chemistry classes that there are 3 main types of organic solvents:

Oxygenated solvents

These solvents contain oxygen and are synthesized from other chemicals.

No oxygenated solvents are used in drycleaning.
Halogenated solvents

These solvents contain one or more halogen elements: chlorine, bromine, fluorine or iodine. As most halogenated solvents contain chlorine, they yare often called chlorinated solvents.

Perc is a chlorinated solvent, and is, therefore, organic.

90% of the drycleaners in North America clean in perc.
Hydrocarbon solvents

These solvents contain hydrogen and are derived mainly from petroleum.

Both petroleum and synthetic petroleum are hydrocarbon drycleaning solvents and are, therefore, organic.

About 10% of all drycleaners in North America clean in petroleum or synthetic petroleum.

Because perc, petroleum and synthetic petroleum are volatile organic compounds (VOCs),the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies them as Toxic Air Contaminants. As such, they are strictly regulated at the federal, state and local level -- both in how they're used and how they're disposed of.

The last remaining drycleaning fluid is siloxane.

Since 2001, RAVE FabriCARE has been cleaning fine garments and household textiles in siloxane. We love siloxane for two primary reasons:

Siloxane is great for your garments and household textiles

Siloxane fluid is dermatologically friendly (even for the chemically-sensitive). It's fabric gentle. It's non-dye stripping. It's odorless. And its sizing and fragrance free.

That means that your whites and pastels will be brilliantly bright. Your colors intense and vibrant. All with the softest, silkiest feel. And zero odor, of course.
Siloxane is great for the environment.

Siloxane contains no hazardous chemicals. None.

That means that, unlike perc, petroleum or synthetic petroleum, there's nothing to dirty the air, contaminate the soil, or pollute the water. And unlike perc, petroleum, siloxane can be safely disposed of. It's biodegradable. It's environmentally benign. If released into the environment, it merely breaks down into its three natural components. As such, RAVE FabriCARE is the only "green" drycleaner in the Scottsdale metro area.

Given that almost every cleaner in North America can proclaim themselves to be an "organic cleaner", why are some cleaners resorting to using the "organic cleaning" hook?

We can only speculate ...

Overwhelming competitive pressures

Ordinary cleaning is a highly competitive business. Apart from fast turnaround, competitive prices, convenient location and broad smiles, most cleaners offer little to separate themselves from their competition down the street or across town.
No drycleaning industry standards

There are no drycleaning industry standards governing the use of the term "organic".

Contrast this to the agricultural and meat products industries. For most of us, organic has come to mean
- plant based foods grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides,plant-based foods
  fungicides and herbicides
- animal foods that have been fed organic plant-based foodsanimal foods during their lives and are free of growth hormones, antibiotics and irradiation.
In 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced strict standards for labeling food as organic (primarily to stamp out the abuse of the term "organic" in the marketplace). You can see the impact of these standards for yourself by studying the labels on products in the organic section of your local supermarket.
Lack of understanding of basic drycleaning chemistry
Organic chemistry, in general, and stain removal chemistry, in particular, is clearly a mystery to those operating under the "organic drycleaning" banner. There again, why bother with such technical knowledge when your entire operation is geared to getting garments into a machine, onto a press, and into a bag. ASAP. They're in by 9:00 and out by 5:00; or picked up on day 1 and delivered on day 3.
Substitute for "alternative to perc"
It's quite possible that those cleaners using the term "organic cleaning" are merely searching for a catchy phrase to describe the fact that they do not clean in perchloroethylene (aka perc or PCE).

If this is true, the term "organic cleaning" commits all the six sins of greenwashing™: the sin of the hidden trade off; the sin of no proof; the sin of vagueness; the sin of irrelevance; the sin of fibbing; and the sin of the lesser of two evils.

The big question is this: Are they using the term "organic cleaning" because they're afraid to disclose that they still clean your fine garments in a toxic, environmentally hazardous solvent -- only now it's manufactured by Exxon Mobil (DF 2000) or Conoco Phillips (EcoSolv) instead of Dow Chemical (Dowper)? Or are they using the term simply to pull the wool over the eyes of an uninformed and gullible public?

"Organic cleaning": fact or con?

You be the judge.

Return to Index of FAQs

SERVICES -- DRYCLEANING
Very briefly, what can I expect from your drycleaning?

At RAVE FabriCARE, you can consistently expect:

Garments and household textiles that are exceptionally clean.
Spectactularly bright whites, creams and pastels
Colors that are rich and lustrous, without that "washed out", faded look
Renewed, revitalized fabric textures.
The softest, silkiest fabric feel, even on heavy cotton sweaters.
Garments that are meticulously finished. Inside and out. By hand. Not by machine.
Garments that are carefully and thoroughly inspected. From top to bottom. From inside to outside.
Garments that are individually and elegantly packaged.
And, of course, absolutely no drycleaning solvent smell. Or fragrance or perfume smell. Ever.

Very briefly, what would cause me to have these expectations?

You can count on RAVE FabriCARE for technical expertise and skill in 11 areas that's unmatched anywhere in Arizona:

Professional stain removal: Exceptional stain removal and garment restoration skills.
Proprietary drycleaning fluid: An odorless, dermatoligally friendly, fabric-gentle, non-dye stripping drycleaning fluid that's used by fewer than 1% of all cleaners.
Drycleaning fluid purity: Crystal clear, freshly purified and freshly filtered drycleaning fluid. As clear as bottled mountain spring water.
Sanitone drycleaning chemistry: Top-of-the-line Sanitone® drycleaning fluid additives.
Zero moisture: No moisture added or injected into our drycleaning machines. Ever.
Zero fragrance or perfume: No fragrance or perfume additives. Ever.
Zero sizing: Sizing according to your personal preference only.
Operational excellence: Lighter loads, zero moisture, longer cleaning cycles and lower drying temperatures.
Meticulous garment finishing: Old fashioned finishing craftsmanship. Inside and out. By hand. Not by machine.
Personalized inspections: Careful, thorough inspections. From top to bottom. From inside to outside.
Exquisite packaging: Individual and elegant packaging.

Is your drycleaning fluid gentle on my clothes and household textiles?

Yes. Our proprietary drycleaning fluid is extremely gentle on your fine garments and household textiles.

Fact is, our drycleaning fluid is so gentle on fabrics, it's six times less aggressive than chlorinated drycleaning solvents like perchlorethylene (also known as "perc"), and two times less aggressive than hydrocarbon drycleaning solvents like petroleum or synthetic petroleum, the drycleaning solvents used by more than 99.9% of all cleaners.

So gentle, it's used as an ingredient in many personal care products you apply to your skin on a daily basis. Such as shampoos, antiperspirants, deodorants and moisturizing creams.

And because it's so gentle, our drycleaning fluid is highly compatible with the delicate nature of the designer, high fashion, specialty and couture garments in which we specialize.

What is Sanitone®?

Sanitone is a drycleaning fluid detergent that's injected into the drycleaning machine during the wash cycle. In much the same way you inject detergent into your home washer.

There are many home washer detergents on the market: some premium priced, some inexpensive; some effective, some ineffective; some branded, some generic.

Same with drycleaning fluid detergents.

At RAVE FabriCARE, however, we only use Sanitone drycleaning fluid detergents. Recognized internationally, Sanitone is the only drycleaning fluid detergent specifically recommended by leading designers and custom clothiers to restore and revitalize the color and texture of their fashions.

RAVE FabriCARE is the exclusive licensee of Sanitone products in the Phoenix metro area.

Cleaning your fine garments and household textiles in our fabric gentle drycleaning fluid with Sanitone detergent additives is just like washing your hair in soft, purified water with a fine salon shampoo and conditioner.

Why do so many of my garments have spots and stains when they come back from the cleaners?

A true quality drycleaner should:

Perform extensive stain removal and cleaning procedures on every garment and household textile. Before they're loaded into a machine.
Employ an array of specialty agents to battle even your toughest stains.
Utilize a combination of delicate drycleaning, wetcleaning, handwashing and/or restoration techniques to protect your investment.

And a true quality drycleaner should do all this even if it means taking the time to treat the same garment or household textile multiple times until the stain has been removed or minimized.

Truth is, the vast majority of ordinary cleaners skip the stain removal process entirely.

Instead, their "stain removal technician" merely loads and unloads a machine. And hopes that the spots and stains will miraculously disappear based on a combination of the drycleaning solvent, the drycleaning detergent (if any), the addition or injection of moisture into the drycleaning machine (a reckless undertaking), and the drycleaning machine's tumbling action.

And if any spots or stains remain, they simply hang one of those sorry-we-triedbut- we-couldn't tags on your garment.

Problem is, hope is not an effective strategy for dealing with spots and stains. Technical skill and the allocation of appropriate time is. Unfortunately, technical skill and time is in short supply at ordinary cleaners.

That's because most ordinary cleaners operate on the in-by-9:00-out-by-5:00, picked-up-on-day-1-delivered-on-day-3 principle. Even if you ask them (or beg them) to take their time and "do it right." At ordinary cleaners, there's barely enough time to load their machine, bang the garment out on a press, and stuff it in a bag.

True quality cleaning simply can't be "done" in a few hours, or even in a day or two.

Why do spots show up after drycleaning that weren't on the garment before drycleaning?

You don't remember seeing a stain before you took that garment to the drycleaner. Or before you put it away for the season.
It couldn't have been there. You'd have surely seen it. Right?

The more likely scenario is that the stain was not visible when you took it to the drycleaner, or when you put it away for the season.

The transformation from an invisible to a visible stain is best explained by the common apple. When an apple is cut in half, the oxygen in the air causes the sugars in the apple to caramelize and turn brown.

Similarly, many stains are colorless when they first come into contact with your garment or household textile. After a period of time, they combine with oxygen in the air and/or heat, and transform from an invisible to a visible stain.

So just because you couldn't see a stain doesn't mean it wasn't lurking in the fibers of your garment or household textile.

You see, any time there is a stain, residue from the liquid that caused the stain is left on the garment or household textile. In fact, no matter how well you blot up the liquid (never wipe or rub!), something will always be left behind. It's the residue from the liquid that causes invisible stains.

And when the garment or household textile is drycleaned and finished, the heat generated by the process can act as a catalyst to highlight the stain. And when a garment or household textile is stored in a closet for a period of time, the oxygen from the air can act as a catalyst to highlight the stain.

When a stain suddenly appears, it means that the stain has oxidized. Heat, oxygen and time can oxidize and set the stain. A skilled stain removal technician can often remove the stain -- provided it has not completely oxidized or "set".

Some common liquids that can transform from an invisible to a visible stain include:

Oil stains such as linseed, peanut, coconut, soy bean and salad oils.
Tannin stains such as liquor, tea, soft drinks and medicines.
Albumin stains such as egg, milk, perspiration, blood and urine.

The best advice?

If you think you've stained a garment or household textile, inform your drycleaner. This way the stain can be located and treated (provided, of course, that the drycleaner has a skilled stain removal technician on premises). It's the best way to prevent a hidden problem from popping out into the open.

Do you spot clean garments?

Yes, we can spot clean a garment. But, in most cases, we prefer to clean the garment completely.

And here's why.

Spot cleaning is essentially an attempt to remove a visible stain without subjecting the garment to any drycleaning, wetcleaning, handwashing and/or restoration process.

Spot cleaning is accomplished by a stain removal technician on what is called a spotting board (a piece of equipment shaped like a home ironing board), using a combination of steam, specialty cleaning agents, vacuum and/or air drying.

The problem with spot cleaning, and the reason we generally prefer to clean the garment completely, is that it's almost impossible to completely remove (or "flush out") the residue of any chemical agent that might have been used in spot cleaning -- residue that would normally be flushed out of the textile by the drycleaning solvent or fluid.

This means that the chemical residue remains in the fabric with unpredictable long-term results.

Of course, there may be unique situations where a garment either cannot or should not be completely cleaned due to its fragility, finish, embellishment or trim. But, typically, these situations are few and far between -- even if the garment is labeled "Do not dryclean. Do not wetclean. Spot clean only."

Looking for an opinion? Stop by our fabricare facility. At RAVE FabriCARE, our strength is our personalized advisory service. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your options, advise you as to any risks associated with each option, and identify the results you can or cannot expect from each.

Why are my whites, creams and pastels greyish or dingy when I get them back from the cleaners?

Garments and household textiles should always be cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's both continuously purified and continuously filtered. Every single drop. This way your garments and household textiles are cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's absolutely crystal clear. As clear as bottled mountain spring water.

Continuous purification is much like boiling your tap water at home to obtain pure water; continuous filtration is much like filtering your tap water to remove any additional impurities.

Fact is, crystal clear, freshly purified and filtered drycleaning fluid is your only guarantee against greyish and dingy whites, creams and pastels; dull and faded colors; and that all-to-familiar "drycleaning solvent smell."

Unfortunately, very few ordinary cleaners both continuously purify every single drop of their drycleaning fluid before and after each load, and continuously filter every single drop of their drycleaning fluid during each load.

So soluble impurities, such as bacteria, residual dyes, food fats and body oils, accumulate in the drycleaning fluid. And insoluble impurities, such as sand, skin flakes, dander and hair, float around in the drycleaning fluid.

These impurities, especially the soluble impurities, are then absorbed by the fibers of your garments and household textiles during the drycleaning "wash" cycle. In particular, natural fibers, such as silk, wool, linen and cotton, absorb these impurities like a sponge absorbs liquid.

Instead of your cleaner both continuously purifying and continuously filtering his drycleaning fluid, your garments and household textiles are functioning as your cleaner's "cleaning filter."

In effect, your garments and household textiles are being cleaned in "dirty drycleaning solvent." It's just like washing your clothes at home and reusing the same dirty water over and over again.

That's why your whites, creams and pastels come back greyish or dingy.

Why do my dark colored garments look dull and faded when they come back from the cleaners?

Your dark colors -- blacks, reds, greens, purples, etc. -- look dull and faded for two reasons.

First, drycleaning your dark colored garments and household textiles in "dirty drycleaning solvent" will tend to dull your colors.

At RAVE FabriCARE, our drycleaning fluid is always crystal clear. As clear as bottled mountain spring water. So cleaning your fine garments and household textiles in our drycleaning fluid won't dull your dark colors.

Second, perchlorethylene (also known as "perc"), petroleum and synthetic petroleum, the drycleaning solvents used by 99.9% of all cleaners, are not chemically inert. This means that these drycleaning solvents react chemically with the dyes in your garments. The result? "Bleeding", "pulling" or "fading" of dyes.

At RAVE FabriCARE, our drycleaning fluid is chemically inert. This means that our drycleaning fluid does not react chemically with the dyes in your fabrics. The result? No "bleeding" or "fading" of dyes.

For example, if we were to clean a load of brand new black or red garments, with our filters turned off, the color of our drycleaning fluid will be crystal clear. If the same garments were to be cleaned in perc, petroleum or synthetic petroleum, with the filters turned off, the drycleaning solvent will be black or red respectively.

Where does the dye come from? You guessed it! Right out of your garments.

Why do my dark colored casual garments, such as my Tommy Bahama shirts, look so faded when they come back from the cleaners?

Typically, these dark colored casual garments are not manufactured from fabric that has been woven from thread that has been dyed prior to weaving. They're manufactured from fabric that has been dyed after weaving.

These fabrics are called "top-dyed" or "surface printed" fabrics. Tommy Bahama print and dark colored garments are top-dyed or surface printed.

Top-dyed or surface printed garments tend to fade or streak (a process known as "crocking") when cleaned in perchlorethylene ("perc"), petroleum or synthetic petroleum, the drycleaning solvents used by 99.9% of all cleaners.

At RAVE FabriCARE, we'll always maintain the intensity of your colors. Even on top-dyed or surface printed garments.

For two reasons.

One, our proprietary drycleaning fluid is so gentle on fabrics. In fact, its six times less aggressive than perc and two times less aggressive than petroleum. So gentle, it's in many of the personal care products you use on a daily basis. Such as shampoos, antiperspirants, deodorants and moisturizing creams.

Two, our drycleaning fluid is chemically inert. Meaning that our drycleaning fluid does not react chemically with garment dyes, "bleeding" or "fading" the colors.

Why do my clothes smell of drycleaning solvent when they come back from the cleaners?

Your clothes will only smell of drycleaning solvent if your cleaner shortens the dry and deodorize cycle of his drycleaning machine.

This often happens in ordinary cleaners where the pressure to "get the garments out" (i.e., into a machine, onto a press and into a bag) is constant and hectic.

But more likely than not, you're not smelling drycleaning solvent. You're smelling contaminants in the drycleaning solvent.

Let's explain.

Garments and household textiles should always be cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's both continuously purified and continuously filtered. Every single drop. This way your garments and household textiles are cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's absolutely crystal clear. As clear as bottled mountain spring water.

Continuous purification is much like boiling your tap water at home to obtain pure water; continuous filtration is much like filtering your tap water to remove any additional impurities.

Fact is, crystal clear, freshly purified and filtered drycleaning fluid is your only guarantee against greyish and dingy whites, creams and pastels; dull and faded colors; and that all-to-familiar "drycleaning solvent smell."

It's the difference between a black and white TV with mono sound and a high definition screen with surround sound.

Unfortunately, very few ordinary cleaners both continuously purify every single drop of their drycleaning fluid before and after each load, and continuously filter every single drop of their drycleaning fluid during each load.

So soluble impurities, such as bacteria, residual dyes, food fats and body oils, accumulate in the drycleaning fluid. And insoluble impurities, such as sand, skin flakes, dander and hair, float around in the drycleaning fluid.

These impurities, especially the soluble impurities, are then absorbed by the fibers of your garments and household textiles during the drycleaning "wash" cycle. In particular, natural fibers, such as silk, wool, linen and cotton, absorb these impurities like a sponge absorbs liquid.

Instead of your cleaner continuously purifying and continuously filtering his drycleaning fluid, your garments and household textiles are functioning as your cleaner's "cleaning filter."

In effect, your garments and household textiles are being cleaned in "dirty drycleaning solvent." It's just like washing your clothes at home and reusing the same dirty water over and over again.

So, what you're smelling is probably not drycleaning solvent. It's the accumulated contaminants in your garments and household textiles that you're smelling -- contaminants absorbed from your cleaner's "dirty drycleaning solvent."

I've always been told to clean all pieces of my white, cream and pastel outfits at the same time. Why?

The "rationale" for this misguided notion is that this might help ensure that your outfits have "consistent coloring."

Truth is, this concept is, at the same time, both absurd and appropriate, given the nature of ordinary cleaning.

We'll explain.

Garments and household textiles should always be cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's both continuously purified and continuously filtered. Every single drop. This way your garments and household textiles are cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's absolutely crystal clear. As clear as bottled mountain spring water.

Continuous purification is much like boiling your tap water at home to obtain pure water; continuous filtration is much like filtering your tap water to remove any additional impurities.

Fact is, crystal clear, freshly purified and freshly filtered drycleaning fluid is your only guarantee against greyish and dingy whites, creams and pastels; dull and faded colors; and that all-to-familiar "drycleaning solvent smell."

Unfortunately, very few ordinary cleaners both continuously purify every single drop of their drycleaning fluid before and after each load, and continuously filter every single drop of their drycleaning fluid during each load.

So soluble impurities, such as bacteria, residual dyes, food fats and body oils accumulate in the drycleaning fluid. And insoluble impurities, such as sand, skin flakes, dander and hair, float around in the drycleaning fluid.

These impurities, especially the soluble impurities, are then absorbed by the fibers of your garments and household textiles during the drycleaning "wash" cycle. In particular, natural fibers, such as silk, wool, linen and cotton, absorb these impurities like a sponge absorbs liquid.

Instead of your cleaner continuously purifying and continuously filtering his drycleaning fluid, your garments and household textiles are functioning as your cleaner's "cleaning filter."

In effect, your garments and household textiles are being cleaned in "dirty drycleaning solvent." It's just like washing your clothes at home and reusing the same dirty water over and over again.

That's why you've been told to clean all pieces of your white, cream and pastel outfits at the same time. So all pieces of your outfit will then have "consistent coloring" -- "give-it-away grey" or "dryclean dingy."

Ouch!

I've always been told to ask the cleaner to clean my whites, creams and pastels in "new solvent." Is this good advice?

Yes, it's good advice. But for all the wrong reasons.

The term "new solvent" is a misnomer. That's because drycleaners don't start with "new solvent" on a particular day of the week.

Drycleaners add newly purchased, virgin solvent to their systems only to replace solvent that has evaporated. Or to replace drycleaning solvent that remains in your garments and household textiles when cleaners shorten their dry and deodorize cycles in their constant attempt to "get the work out".

The fact that you need to ask is, at the same time, both absurd and appropriate, given the nature of ordinary cleaning.

It's like asking your doctor to scrub his hands and sterilize his surgical instruments prior to performing surgery. Shouldn't he do this as a matter of routine before and after every procedure?

Of course, he should!

So why should your drycleaner be any different? Shouldn't your drycleaner purify every single drop of his drycleaning solvent as a matter of routine before and after every load?

Of course, he should!

Garments and household textiles should always be cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's both continuously purified and continuously filtered. Every single drop. This way your garments and household textiles are cleaned in drycleaning fluid that's absolutely crystal clear. As clear as bottled mountain spring water.

Continuous purification is much like boiling your tap water at home to obtain pure water; continuous filtration is much like filtering your tap water to remove any additional impurities.

Fact is, crystal clear, freshly purified and filtered drycleaning fluid is your only guarantee against greyish and dingy whites, creams and pastels; dull and faded colors; and that all-to-familiar "drycleaning solvent smell."

Unfortunately, very few ordinary cleaners both continuously purify every single drop of their drycleaning fluid before and after each load, and continuously filter every single drop of their drycleaning fluid during each load.

So soluble impurities, such as bacteria, residual dyes, food fats and body oils, accumulate in the drycleaning fluid. And insoluble impurities, such as sand, skin flakes, dander and hair, float around in the drycleaning fluid.

These impurities, especially the soluble impurities, are then absorbed by the fibers of your garments and household textiles during the drycleaning "wash" cycle. In particular, natural fibers, such as silk, wool, linen and cotton, absorb these impurities like a sponge absorbs liquid.

Instead of your cleaner continuously purifying and continuously filtering his drycleaning fluid, your garments and household textiles are functioning as your cleaner's "cleaning filter."

In effect, your garments and household textiles are being cleaned in "dirty drycleaning solvent." It's just like washing your clothes at home and reusing the same dirty water over and over again.

Asking your cleaner to use "new solvent" is good. But asking him to only use drycleaning solvent that's both continuously purified and continuously filtered is much better.

The only question is: if your cleaner hasn't done this as a matter of daily routine in the past, why do you think he'll change his operating procedures just for you?

You've been telling me that ordinary cleaners clean in "dirty drycleaning solvent." My cleaner says his drycleaning solvent is "clean and pure." Am I missing something?

Yes. Because the issue is not whether his drycleaning solvent is "clean and pure", but how clean and how pure? "Clean and pure" like bottled mountain spring water? Or "clean and pure" like the effluent from your dishwasher?

There are 3 critical things to understand about "clean and pure" drycleaning fluid.

Drycleaning fluid must be continuously purified before and after each and every load. Every single drop. To remove all soluble impurities such as bacteria, residual dyes, food fats and body oils.
Drycleaning fluid must be continuously filtered during each and every load. Every single drop. To remove all insoluble impurities such as sand, skin flakes, dander and hair.
The drycleaning machine's internal tanks and piping must be absolutely clean. To preclude contamination of the drycleaning solvent by gunk in the machine's internal system.

This is where the confusion comes in.

Many ordinary cleaners are unclear about the definition of purification and filtration, and uncertain about the role of purification and filtration in the drycleaning process.

One local cleaner's literature states that "distillation is the process of removing non-soluble by-products of the cleaning process (hair, dirt, pet dander) ... If your drycleaner does not distill, those very same by-products will adhere to your garments." The literature goes on to say that "many of our competitors simply pass off the odor as unavoidable," implying that any odor in drycleaned garments and household textiles is the result of the presence of non-soluble by-products such as hair, dirt and pet dande