For the Quality and Service You Expect!

What is drycleaning?

Drycleaning uses fluids to remove soil and stains from fabric. In fact, the term "drycleaning" is misleading; it is called drycleaning because the fluid contains little or no water and does not penetrate the fibers as water does.

Among the advantages of drycleaning is its ability to dissolve greases and oils in a way that water cannot. Drycleaning helps to return garments to a "like new" condition using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of color, and fabric distortion.

The drycleaning process begins with the pretreatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. The garments are then loaded into a machine resembling an oversized front-loading home washer. Throughout the cleaning process the fluid is filtered or distilled to ensure its clarity. A special detergent should also be used. Hart's feels that Sanitone detergent is the best available.

Top

What is wetcleaning?

Wetcleaning starts with the pretreatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. Wetcleaning is the process of removing soils from garments and other textile items through the use of water and additives (such as detergent) and using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of color, and fabric distortion. In many cases, soaking and hand washing is necessary.

Top

What is laundering?

Professional laundering for shirts and other "washable" items is another process your cleaner uses to keep your garments looking their best. Special detergents, additives, and finishes sets commercial laundering apart from home laundering. This process enables your cleaner to offer consistent quality shirts at reasonable prices. Collars come cleaner and the professional pressing affords a crisper finish.

If you request a method of cleaning that is not listed on the care label, your cleaner may ask you to sign a consent form showing that you accept the potential risks of cleaning the garment.

Top

What do care labels mean?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that manufacturers attach a permanent care label to textile garments to provide directions for their care. Manufacturers must list at least one method of safe care for a garment. The rule covers all textile clothing except footwear, gloves, hats, suede and leather clothing, and household items such as linens. The rule stipulates that the care label is easily found, will not separate from the garment, and will remain legible for the garment's useful life.

The label must warn about any part of the recommended care method that would harm the garment of other garments cleaned with it. It must also warn when there is no method for cleaning a garment without damaging it. Symbols also may appear on a care label to supplement written instructions.

If a label indicated drycleaning, ALL components of the garment, including the outer shell, lining, buttons, interfacing, fusing material, and trim should be colorfast and remain unaltered during cleaning. If any such problem occurs, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer. If your or your cleaner follow the manufacturer's instructions and the garment is damaged, you should return the garment to the store and explain what happened. If the store will not resolve the problem, write to the manufacturer and send a copy of your complaint letter to the FTC.

The information you provide the FTC may reveal a pattern or practice requiring the Commission's attention. If you purchase a garment with no care label, you should contact the FTC, giving the name and address of the store and manufacturer.

Occasionally, damage done in drycleaning is the responsibility of the drycleaner and not the result of preexisting conditions or defects. In such cases, the cleaner will usually settle the claim promptly and fairly, often using the International Fabritech Institute's (IFI's) Fair Claims Guide. If there is some doubt about responsibility, the member cleaner can send the garment to the IFI's Garment Analysis Laboratory to determine the cause of the problem.

Top

How Do You Iron Sheets and Tablecloths?

Sheets and tablecloths are called flatwork.

We have a large machine called a flatwork ironer. It is about 10 feet wide. Two associates stand in front and feed one edge of the sheet under a 10 foot roll, 2 feet in diameter, which as it turns catches the sheet pulling it through and pressing it against a large iron chest. The chest is heated with steam and dries the sheet while it passes through the two rolls.

Belts, at the back, guide the sheet back to the front, holding it against the bottom of the heated chest continuing to dry. It may take 25-30 seconds for the sheet to be ironed.

The two associates will then fold and stack the sheets completing the order of sheets and pillow cases.

Remember, there is nothing quite like "sleeping in the luxurious comfort of freshly ironed sheets!"

Top

How Do You Iron Shirts?

Hart's uses two-person shirt units, although one-person units are made.

Two-person units have:

  1. A sleever - which measures the length of the sleeve and only irons the sleeves.
  2. Two cuff and collar presses - two because it takes longer to dry the two or three layers of material.
  3. One double buck press that presses the body of one shirt while the operator is taking the other shirt off of the one buck and dressing it for the next shirt to be pressed.
  4. The two bucks will then switch positions.


Our standard is 85 shirts per hour for two people, although more than one hundred is possible.

Top