FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Top Quality Cleaners offers professional dry cleaning, wedding gown cleaning, shirt laundering, draping, pleating and other services in Duncan and Nanaimo. Below, we have listed some frequently asked questions from our clients. Browse through them and call us for further information.

What is dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning is not actually dry as the clothes get wet using a solvent rather than water. Our machine looks similar to a large washer but the clothes are cleaned with soap and sizing, extracted and dried all in the same machine. Our solvent is cleaned after every cycle to provide us with solvent free of soil and dyes. We recycle all our solvent so there is very little waste and we dispose of residue according to environment Canada’s strict guide lines.

Why is dry cleaning so expensive?

The expense in dry cleaning comes from the hands-on work provided by our experienced staff and costs associated with this. Although clothing has remained relatively inexpensive over the past few decades through manufacturing abroad, we cannot provide services at the same cost as a few decades ago. Education, equipment replacement and increasing cost of materials make dry cleaning a costly process.

What do the care labels mean?

Laundry Symbols Checklist

Washing Labels

Cotton wash at 30°

Wool wash at 40°

Synthetic wash at 60°

Hand wash only

Drying Labels

Do not dry clean

Do not tumble dry

May be tumble dried with high heat

May be dry cleaned

Ironing Settings

Cool

Warm

Hot

Do not iron

Why do I have to pay if the stain isn’t removed?

Although we try every procedure at our disposal, not all stains can be successfully removed. If we realize there is no hope at intake we will inform the customer immediately. However, if we try to remove the stain and are unsuccessful we will charge you for the work, products and extra processing required to try. This cost is usually no extra from the cleaning charge unless it is a particularly time consuming job.

Unlike a mechanic who can fix your car with a new part, we cannot replace a part of your garment if it wears away. Because of this, care, knowledge and experience are necessary in your stain removal expert.

Can I wash dry clean only garments?

Although many have successfully washed dry clean only garments, you should carefully consider the risk involved. Once you have washed a dry clean only garment you cannot return it to the store, so if things go wrong so make sure it isn’t an expensive piece. Rayons, silk, wool, acetate, and viscose are particularly high-risk fabrics to wet clean. These garments can not only shrink and are susceptible to dye run, but they are also susceptible to loss of body and structure. Keep in mind that finishing of the garments will also be challenging with a home steamer and iron. Although we do offer press-only processing on freshly cleaned garments, you should be aware that the cost saving is minimal compared to our full service on the garment.

How hard is dry cleaning on my clothes?

Dry cleaning as a process is much gentler on garments the wet cleaning. The process preserves colour, sizing and protects against shrinkage. For an example dry cleaning a tissue it comes out as a full tissue the solvent cleans through the fibres. Silks retain their lustre and wools don’t become matted and shrunk. Dry cleaning removes perspiration and oils that can be damaging to colour, linings and finishes.

How often should my bedding be cleaned?

Although this is a personal preference we recommend cleaning your bedding every season. As you switch your bedding from winter to summer it’s important to have your duvets cleaned. Staining from oils from your skin will yellow over time and regular cleaning will mitigate this. Mites and other unknown visitors can be eliminated with the dry cleaning process.