A
new client asked me why her dark colored garments looked
progressively dull and faded every time she got them back from the
dry cleaners.
My response was that dark colors -- blacks, reds, greens,
purples, etc. -- dull and fade for two reasons.
First, dry cleaning your dark colored garments and household
textiles in "dirty dry cleaning solvent" will tend to dull your
colors.
At a true quality cleaner, the dry cleaning solvent or fluid is
always crystal clear. As clear as bottled mountain spring water. So
cleaning your fine garments and household textiles in crystal clear
dry cleaning solvent or fluid won't dull your dark colors.
Second, perchloroethylene (also known as "perc") and synthetic
petroleum - the dry cleaning solvents used by 97% of all cleaners -
are not chemically inert. This means that these dry cleaning
solvents react chemically with the dyes in your garments. The
result? "Bleeding", "pulling" or "fading" of dyes.
At RAVE FabriCARE, our siloxane dry cleaning fluid is
chemica
lly inert. This means that our dry cleaning fluid
does not react chemically with the dyes in your fabrics. The
result? No "bleeding" or "fading" of dyes.
For example, if I cleaned a load of brand new black or red
garments, with our filters turned off, the color of my dry cleaning
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 color of the dry cleaning solvent will be slightly
black or red respectively.
Where does the dye come from? You guessed it. Right out of your
garments!
Does your cleaner guarantee the color intensity of all your dark
colored garments? Or are they quick to attribute any dulling or
fading of color to a "manufacturing defect" involving fabric or
dye?
How can I help you?