Star Cleaners

Why is it called "dry cleaning"?
Dry cleaning involves the use of a solvent, most commonly perchloresthylene (perc), instead of water to immerse the garment in for cleaning. This solvent is far gentler to the fabric, especially silks, wool, rayons and polyesters, and more effective than water in removing many types of oily stains. Additives such as special detergents, are used to aid the solvent in removal of water-based stains as well.

What happens to a garment labeled"Do Not Dry-clean"?
The dyes of some garments are solvent soluble, meaning that in Perc the dyes will bleed or be removed totally. Our dry cleaning specialists will test the garment to ensure the garment is cleaned in the safest manner possible.

I like to have my clothes dry-cleaned. If the care label says "washable" can it be dry-cleaned?
Not necessarily. The dyes and or sizing may be solvent soluble, (dyes not stable in Perc), and may require wet cleaning for best results. The manufacturer is required to list only one safe method of cleaning on the care label.

Does dry-cleaning shorten the life of a garment?
On the contrary, dry-cleaning prolongs a garments life. Not only do stains set with age, making the garment unwearable, but ground-in dirt and soil act as abrasives, causing rapid wear of fibers. Insects are also attracted to soiled clothing and can cause further damage.

Should I clean all matching pieces at the same time?
Preferred. All garments will fade some over time and with cleaning. We can never be certain as to the types of dyes and sizing used by the manufacturer or importer. Standards on imported garments are not as strict as those items manufactured in the U.S. If all clothing is cleaned together, the color and sheen will always match. This also applies to bedroom ensembles and drapery treatments as well.

What causes tiny holes in 100% cotton oxford shirts?
The oxford cloth weave consists of two, thin warp yarns to every soft, thicker yarn in the filling direction. The unbalanced construction causes the thin yarn to break, leaving tiny holes. Manufactures sometimes will use a high twist in the yarn to retard the development of holes, but eventually any oxford weave will develop tiny pinholes.
Remember, all yarns in an oxford shirt receive the same care, but the constant abrasion in wear cause only the thin yarns to weaken and tear.

What causes a "puckering" and excess fabric in collars of shirts or suit jackets?
This is caused by excessive shrinkage of the interfacing within the collar, cuffs and lapels of coats. Sometimes the glues used in the interfacing will break down in water or solvent and the fabric will separate.

What causes shirt buttons to crack or break?
Buttons may crack during the pressing process for different reasons. Some buttons will absorb starch during the washing process and become brittle over time. Most buttons are made from a polyester resin. The strength of the buttons depends on the amount of polyester in the resin. Some importers use off-quality buttons that do not hold under pressing. Off quality buttons do not meet the requirements in one or all of the following criteria: color, visual inclusions, chips or cracks, and uniformity of size. Manufactures use these types of buttons to save money, which can result in higher than average breakage.

I purchased an expensive multicolored shirt and the colors bled during cleaning. Should this have happened?
If the dyes in a multicolored shirt are not colorfast to water, bleeding of the dark colors onto the light colors will occur. This migration of the dye into the surrounding areas is not acceptable. This is a manufacturing problem in the application and stabilization of the dyes to the fabric. The shirt should be returned to where it was purchased since the shirt does not hold up to the cleaning recommendation stated on the care label.

How long can I expect a shirt to last?
The average shirt should have a wear life of 35 to 50 professional washings and pressings. This can vary depending on the amount of abrasions and strain place on a shirt during wear, the fiber content, the type of fabric, and the laundering procedure.

Can I wash a "Dry Clean Only" garment at home?
Garment manufactures are responsible for labeling a garment with at least one appropriate cleaning method. When you see an absolute, like "Only" or "Do Not", it is best to abide by the label instructions. Ignoring this warning may cause damage to the fabric, and or the dyes used during manufacturing.

I am told that club soda is the best thing to use in trying to get a spot out at home or in a restaurant?
Water and club soda can cause problems on certain fabrics, dyes, and sizing. If you want to try something, you should pretest an unexposed seam, wet the fabric and blot it with a white cloth. Rubbing while wet during home spotting can distort the yarns, causing light areas or chafing. Allow the area to air dry to determine if the dye or sizing have been disturbed.

Can every stain be removed every time?
No. Some stains can be "set". The enemies of successful stain removal are time and temperature. The sooner that a soiled garment can be worked on, the better chance that the stain can be removed. If you leave a dirty garment in a car too long before having it cleaned, the heat can set the stain and make it very difficult or impossible to remove completely. Also the fabric type, cotton, polyester, etc... will determine how difficult it will be to remove the stain.

Is there any way to remove bad odors from a garment such as smoke or mildew?
Most odors can be removed from clothing and textiles with a specialized process of using ozone.Ozone generators create free oxygen molecules which attach to other oxygen molecules. When these free oxygen molecules come in contact with the odor-causing molecules,oxidation occurs eliminating the odor and releasing oxygen.

How do you remove perspiration stains?
Most perspiration stains will come out in normal cleaning. Remember that perspiration contains acids and salts which can cause significant damage to fabrics if left on the fabric too long. Use of antiperspirants will reduce the amount of perspiration produced, but the chemicals in antiperspirants and deodorants can also damage fabrics if not treated properly. The longer these are left on a garment the worse the possible damage.

I've noticed some "dark spots", almost like raindrops on the shoulder area of my silk blouse. What can they be?
Some silk dyes bleed or change color when exposed to solutions containing alcohol such as perfume or hairspray. Use perfume and hairspray before you dress or place a towel over your shoulders before spraying. Silk exposed to sunlight or high wattage artificial light can also cause dye bleed or a change in dyes.