Tuesday, November 13, 2007

dry clean only is a scam

I often wonder if there is some sort of cash exchange between clothes manufacturers and dry cleaners. Are dry cleaners a mafioso type business where they threaten and strong-arm other businesses into doing their bidding? How else to explain the dry clean only label on practically everything I own?

For the record, I don't dry clean anything. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. The few times I have actually taken something to a dry cleaner, they managed to ruin it. The last time was about 6 years ago and I haven't been back since.

I put everything in the washing machine. The velour sweat pants I'm wearing have been put in the washer and dryer regularly for the past two years. The label says dry clean only. The feather duvet on my bed has been put in the washing machine twice a year since I got it a few years ago. The label says dry clean only. My winter coat of 6 years goes into the washing machine, faux fur and all. The faded label says dry clean only.

None of these dry clean only items have been damaged. To be fair, I have a front-loading washing machine and they are gentler than the top-loading ones. Though, when I lived in an apartment, I used the top-loader on the gentle cycle and nothing ever happened to my dry clean only items.

What to make of this? This is fear mongering, dry cleaner style. Lol.

SunnyShine
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RainyBow note: I think it's also a big CYA move in the litigious-happy US of A. You know, so nobody sues a manufacturer for $3M when he or she washes a shirt and the collar comes out a teensy bit wrinkly. I'm laughing while I write this, but remember the McDonald's coffee debacle? Oh, to be a lawyer with that wrinkly-collared shirt that doesn't say "dry clean only."

3 comments:

The CDM said...

Remind me not to ask you to wash my suits. I do agree with the fact that it is kind of a ripoff.
I've used the Dryel system and I like the smell better than my regular detergent.

Emory Mayne said...

I've been saying this for years; screaming it in Manderin. 'Round eye, you pay - you pay now!'

Anonymous said...

You people have no idea what your talking about. I actually work at a drycleaners for 7 years. What your really doing is breaking down the fabric of thd clothes and they wont last as long. Actually go to your local drycleaners and talk to them about before having a moan.