In a previous post (
On the internet, everyone's an expert - part one), I commented
on the avalanche of "advice" flying around the internet when it
comes to removing stains, spots and odors from garments and
household textiles.
To illustrate the point, I offered two examples, one from an
ordinary Joe, the other from home cleaning expert and published
author.
Here's three more gems ...
A men's fashion writer and owner of a
specialty store for men's fashion accessories tells us
that drycleaning your shirts is a "bad idea because drycleaning
solutions are vicious on shirt fabrics" and that "there is a good
chance that your shirts will come back from the drycleaners
blotched with yellow or, even worse, discolored to the shade of
parchment."
A bad experience at an ordinary cleaner situated next door to
your local supermarket doesn't translate into good advice. Clearly,
the writer knows nothing about shirt care. And, even worse, has no
qualms about disseminating his poor advice to his readers.
A retailer of home laundry detergents, stain
removal and other related products cautions that "the
easiest way to ruin shirts is to dry clean."
We all have biases. But dispensing advice that would make the
most vocal critic of drycleaning blush won't help you sell more
detergent.
A drycleaner with 40 years "experience"
advises you to carefully study the care label on a garment before
you purchase that garment. Nothing wrong with that. I don't think
anyone would challenge that idea. But then she advises you to
beware of labels that say "professionally dryclean only." Why?
Because, she says, that label spells "problems." She goes further:
"If there is no explanation as to why then leave it on the rack.
The label needs to tell you and me why they want professionals to
clean it. But if it says professionally dryclean only and gives a
reason it may be o.k. So what will make it o.k.? If it requires a
specific solvent, such as petroleum, then it will be fine."
I can understand if this advice came from a member of a newly
discovered tribe living in the Amazon rain forest. But from a
drycleaner with "40 years experience"?
As I said before, beware of free advice. Evaluate the source and
assess the basis for their advice. What you'll find unreliable
antidotes masquerading as facts.
How can I help you?