Master Cleaners began business in 1973 as One Hour Martinizing during the “polyester years.” At this point in time, the future of dry cleaning was uncertain because of all the wash and wear clothing that came on the market. When wash and wear did not go over well with the public, the future of dry cleaning looked brighter and the company began to prosper.
When hurricane Frederick hit Mobile Bay in 1979, a number of company signs were destroyed. With the destruction came the opportunity to enhance our image by changing our name to Master One Hour Cleaners.
As the years passed, the company continued to grow and took on more of a quality-oriented form of operation utilizing new equipment, training and marketing strategies.
On January 3, 1995, we changed our name to Master FabriCare Centers, because of the development of new processes and fabrics. The dry cleaning industry was changing its outlook to a growing variety of fabrics and a number of more sophisticated technologies of fabric care.
On January 1, 1997, Master Cleaners was born to enhance our presence and image, stressing quality and service to the community and surrounding areas.
What is Dry cleaning?
Dry cleaning uses fluids to remove soil and stains from fabric. In fact, the term “dry cleaning” is misleading. It is called dry cleaning because the fluid contains little or no water and does not penetrate the fibers as water does.
Among the advantages of dry cleaning is its ability to dissolve greases and oils in a way that water cannot. Dry cleaning helps to return garments to a “like-new” condition using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of color, and fabric distortion.
The dry cleaning 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.
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.
What is Laundering?
Special detergents, additives and finishes set commercial laundering apart from home laundering. This process enables your cleaner to offer consistent quality shirts at reasonable prices.
Professional Cleaning Steps
Professional cleaning involves many different operations. The cleaning protocol is performed by skilled people and designed to give your garments a fresh and clean appearance.
Procedures Include:
The Importance of Care Labels
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 be 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 indicates dry cleaning, 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 you 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 dry cleaning 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 DLI’s Fair Claims Guide. If there is some doubt about responsibility, the member cleaner can send the garment to DLI’s Garment Analysis Laboratory to determine the cause of the problem.
How Can You Help Your Clothes and Your Cleaner?
Can I machine wash garments labeled “hand wash only?”
Care labels on many garments recommend hand washing procedures as the best method of care. Many consumers and dry cleaners believe that this means a gentle cycle machine wash is acceptable, and this is not the case.
There are several differences between hand washing and machine washing. The most important difference is the amount of agitation and length of time the garment soaks in moisture solutions. The hand washing procedure requires only a small amount of immersion in water and only a few minutes of soaking time in the washing solution. The garment is then rinsed and carefully extracted to remove water.
During a machine-washing procedure, a garment is soaked in the washer while it fills with water. In some cases, this soak-and-fill process may be repeated two or more times. After rinsing, the garment is subjected to a spinning process to remove the water. This spinning is another form of agitation. Dyes, sizing and finishes used on fabrics can often be successfully hand washed without damage, while machine washing may cause permanent damage.
