Ordinary
dry cleaners love their presses.
Why? Because, of all the functions performed by a cleaner,
pressing is where ordinary cleaners can achieve the greatest
productivity, i.e., where they can move garments through their
system with maximum speed.
Pressing is where your garments are banged out on a press at a
furious rate. Typically, 30 to 40 pants per hour per presser; 20 to
30 non-pant garments per hour per presser; and 40 to 50 laundered
shirts per hour on a "single buck" shirt pressing machine (80 to
100 per hour on a "double buck" shirt pressing machine).
Unless
the cleaner is operating their plant 24/7 and/or has almost no
business, machine pressing is the only way they can offer same day
or next day service or even 3 day pickup and delivery service.
Here's the problem: pressing is the area of operations where a
cleaner can inflict the greatest damage to a garment.
Pressing is where your garments are subjected to too much
pressure, with too much steam, for way too long. Especially when it
comes to wools, silks, rayons, knits, and other non-cotton and
non-linen fabrics.
Poor pressing results in shine; seam, flap and button
impressions; moi
re-like press pad impressions;
double creases; wrinkled seams and linings; and other "crimes of
fashion". Poor pressing transforms your fine garments from 3D to
2D.
By contrast, a true quality cleaner will hand iron your fine
garments. A hand iron in the hands of a skilled finisher
will produce an infinitely superior garment than a press in the
hands of a unskilled presser.
Someone ought to introduce ordinary cleaners to the hand
iron.
But that's just me letting off steam.
How can I help you?