Dry cleaning woes

[McMike]

Ok, so back when I wore suits regularly (decades ago), I dry cleaned them from time to time without incident. Now that I have started wearing sport coats, I recently took one into be cleaned, and learned the hard way about the downside.

This was a nearly new Jos. Bank wool sport coat (worn twice). I'd gone to a party with a bonfire, and the fire smoke smell showed no sign of abating.

When I got it back it seemed to me that the nap of the fabric feels much coarser than before, little bits of threads are pulling out in places, it has a faint cleaning smell, and (it may be my imagination), but seems like the coat doesn't hang as well anymore either.

Damage done.

My question is about going forward. How do I screen my dry cleaner, what options do I have for finding a good one? I live in a fairly rural place, so options are limited.

People recommend steaming. Okay, I suppose the $100+ investment pays for itself if it saves one sport coat. How does steaming work? Would it remove fire smoke smell just by running a steamer across the coat?

Thanks.

 

[Mark Seitelman]

First, I am sorry to hear that your sportscoat is not the same after a cleaning.

However, the dry cleaner may not be responsible. Jos. A. Bank uses cheap cloths and workmanship which may not withstand cleaning.

As for a the smoke smell, I understand that smoke may permeate a garment and may not be removed easily or at all. That is why clothing can be damaged by smoke from a fire even though the clothes neither get burned, singed, nor doused with water.

On the smoke smell, I would contact a top of the line cleaner, such as Rave in Scottsdale, AZ. You can ship your sportscoat. However, be advised that a top of the line cleaner can be expensive, and you have to throw-in shipping and handling.

Good luck.

 

[Xiaogou]

I agree with Mike. You need to send it to Rave or Madame Paulette in NYC. Any high end cleaner is your only hope. I live in The mid-west and send all of my stuff out of state. Been screwed too many times.

 

[sparrow]

Can you post what you paid for dry cleaning at madam Paulette
Prices aren't listed
Iirc $12 for shirt, how much suit or sports jacket ?

 

[Xiaogou]

Suits are $53 ($28 just for the jacket). Pants are $25. Shirts vary. Hand washing is more. I pay $11-14 per shirt.

 

[McMike]

Quote:

Ugh. Back in the day, I could reliably buy off the rack a decent suit at a decent price from Banks, Brooks Bros,, or Mark Shale. And Ralph Lauren made nice shirts.

Now I go into these stores and it appears to me they have completely sold themselves out, and are all getting the exact same clothes made by a single factory somewhere, all very very cheap. And it's all so hit and miss, like the old saying about not buying cars made on Monday or Friday.

I have resisted bespoke because as I battle middle age, my size and shape is fluctuating fairly significantly. But I cannot figure out how to get reliable decent quality materials and workmanship anymore.


Quote:
Sounds like shipping it out at perhaps $50 per pop is the only way.

 

[CousinDonuts]

Look up the SNL parody of Jos Bank, which will bring you to the conclusion that you can just throw it away and wear a new one.

 

[jeffd]

I have resisted bespoke because as I battle middle age, my size and shape is fluctuating fairly significantly. But I cannot figure out how to get reliable decent quality materials and workmanship anymore.

There is perhaps a middle ground between Jos Bank and bespoke.

Kidding aside, you might take a look at the Benjamin suits at eHaberdasher, which are in a similar price range to what you've probably been looking at.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/69315/www-ehaberdasher-com-affiliate-page/0_80

I've never bought one myself, but they have a loyal following here on the forum.

 

[McMike]

Ugh. Back in the day, I could reliably buy off the rack a decent suit at a decent price from Banks, Brooks Bros,, or Mark Shale. And Ralph Lauren made nice shirts.

Now I go into these stores and it appears to me they have completely sold themselves out, and are all getting the exact same clothes made by a single factory somewhere, all very very cheap. And it's all so hit and miss, like the old saying about not buying cars made on Monday or Friday.

I have resisted bespoke because as I battle middle age, my size and shape is fluctuating fairly significantly. But I cannot figure out how to get reliable decent quality materials and workmanship anymore.



Sounds like shipping it out at perhaps $50 per pop is the only way.

Quote:
Thanks.

 

[McMike]

Look up the SNL parody of Jos Bank, which will bring you to the conclusion that you can just throw it away and wear a new one.

Beautiful. Wow someone on SNL staff must have gotten really burned by a suit they bought.

 

[stubloom]

You've posed a number of questions related to (a) the stiff feel of your fabrics after cleaning, (b) the odor associated with dry cleaning solvents, (c) steaming of garments at home, (d) finding a competent cleaner, and (e) the elimination of smoke odor embedded in your sport coat.

To (e) first. Any reasonably competent dry cleaner should have the tools to remove odors associated with smoke. That's as basic as it gets.

As to (a), (b), (c) and (d), that requires more skill. So let me start by suggesting some old posts I've written. Read these posts as an introduction to the subject.


http://www.ravefabricare.com/true-q...ue-quality-dry-cleaner-and-shirt-laundry.aspx

http://www.ravefabricare.com/true-q...he-myth-of-pressing-a-garment-with-steam.aspx

http://www.ravefabricare.com/true-q...-cleaner-in-your-city-or-town-don't-fret.aspx