Dry cleaning companies sit scattered throughout the US more than you probably realize. Currently, 36,000 dry cleaners, including Farragut Dry Cleaners, can be found across the country, and there's a reason for it! Sometimes throwing an old tee shirt and worn sleep pants in the washer isn't suitable for all your garments that may require more specialist washing. It's handy to dive into your hamper, fill your arms with easily washable cotton, and toss them into the washing machine for a quick spin. But if you're a professional who needs to dress to the nines, someone who recently attended a fancy soiree, or even a trendy dresser with unique ensembles, enlisting a dry cleaner's expert services would benefit you.

Farragut Dry Cleaners knows that sometimes you may own particular garments that demand extra care than what your laundry room can deliver. Knowing what you have on your hands and why dry cleaning may be the best option will benefit your clothes and preserve them for endless future uses.

What's in a Label?

Not everything you wear would benefit from a trip to the dry cleaners. Knowing and understanding the labels equips you with the ability best to decide the fate of your clothing in question. Farragut Dry Cleaners employs expert detectives experienced in decoding the labels. Teaching you how to decipher the labels will remove doubt on what to do so you best benefit from the right washing decision for anything you wear.

Snag that floral print summer dress from your closet and look for the label. That label packs a powerful punch of information on how to best care for the dress.

Some example labels you may encounter include -

1. If you see a picture of a bucket or tub containing water, this gives you the green light to toss it into the washer. It's a machine-washable garment. Within the picture, you may also see numbers or dots added to the image. They indicate the temperature level that's safe to use. If there's a cross over the bucket, it signifies that machine washing isn't recommended.
2. An empty circle on the tag tells you that hand washing is appropriate.
3. A circle inside a square tells you to dry clean only. Gather any of these items and bring them to Farragut Dry Cleaners. Labels within the circle inform the professionals which chemicals are safe to incorporate into the services. The dry cleaning process is much different than what you do at home.

If you locate a label that indicates dry clean only, you'll best benefit from taking that item out for a professional cleaning. Taking a chance and experimenting with washing it yourself risks damaging the material, shrinking or stretching it, fading it, and all other possible types of harm. Using a service like Farragut Dry Cleaners benefits your textiles, and you'll have the piece in its best condition for years to come.

Materials Matter

So, now that you know a little about the labels what about the actual materials? If you get down to the core of it, the fibers your clothing is comprised of can tell a lot about why it may benefit from a professional dry cleaning service. Ignoring the fabrics and taking matters into your own hands can cause harm to your precious garments.

1. Velvet, leather, and silk always warrant taking them to the dry cleaners. These materials cannot withstand a traditional way of washing. Water and fabrics like velvet, leather, and silk don't play well together.
2. Spandex, nylon, and polyester may be cleaned at home with care. If you try washing these at home, remember to hand wash them or use a delicate cycle and avoid extreme temperatures with them.
3. Viscose is another one that would best benefit from a trip to Farragut Dry Cleaners. Taking your chances trying to clean this one yourself will land you with a shrunken garment best suited for a doll.
4. Wool requires extra attention. Unless you want your once-fluffy cozy warm sweater to feel stiff and rough, you may want to consider dry cleaning it.

Additionally, the stylings of your items may impact your choice of what needs a trip to the cleaners. For example, crisp skirt pleats or straight-lined pant creases will not withstand your attempts at home to tumble through a quick wash cycle.

Navigating the world of labels and materials may seem tricky, but it can become easy as pie once you gain some understanding. Washing at home is convenient and works well on countless everyday items. However, encountering certain special or unique pieces and particular materials should cause you to question the best cleaning option for those items.

By bringing those textiles into Farragut Dry Cleaners, you'll be preventing an array of potential damage to your most-loved pieces. Shrunken, faded, stretched, and mutilated materials will suffer the fate of never going out again. When choosing to dry clean the right items, they'll be around (and in perfect condition) for your next outing.

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Farragut Cleaners is your locally owned and operated full-service dry cleaner. From dry cleaning to alterations and wedding dress preservation to home textiles, we are here to keep you fresh, clean, and looking & feeling impeccable.

Call 865-966-9414 or visit our website.