Can someone explain what's going on here?

[Betelgeuse]

What are the measurements on the jackets now that they are shrunk?

Ah!

According to SS, the BOC was 31.1" now it is 29.4" and the sleeves were 26.1" now they are 25".

 

[paxonus]

Ah!

According to SS, the BOC was 31.1" now it is 29.4" and the sleeves were 26.1" now they are 25".

How about shoulders, chest and waist? You could put them up for sale. Sounds like they might be close to my size.

 

[Betelgeuse]

How about shoulders, chest and waist? You could put them up for sale. Sounds like they might be close to my size.

Let me confirm you the shoulder measurement, chest and waist. It can be let out since I had to take in around 2" inches. I think it may have become like a 44 Short.

 

[Betelgeuse]

How about shoulders, chest and waist? You could put them up for sale. Sounds like they might be close to my size.

Just measured it

Shoulders: 18.8"
Chest: 22.5"
Waist: 20.5"
BOC: 29.5"
Sleeves: 25"

If you are interested, let me know and I'll send you a DM.

 

[paxonus]

Just measured it

Shoulders: 18.8"
Chest: 22.5"
Waist: 20.5"
BOC: 29.5"
Sleeves: 25"

If you are interested, let me know and I'll send you a DM.

Thanks, but a bit too big in the shoulders for me.

 

[stubloom]

Clearly, the jacket has shrunk. That's obvious. But that's not the issue.

The issue is why?

Based on the answers to the questions I asked, you indicated that you sweat profusely in the summer. So you probably have extensive perspiration stains in both underarms.

Perspiration is a water-based stain. Dry cleaning is a great emulsifier of oil-based stains but does practically nothing for water-based stains. Unless both the odor and the stains are removed by a technician prior to inserting it into the dry cleaning machine, either the stain, the odor or both will remain after dry cleaning.

One way a dry cleaner could deal with this issue is to (1) wet clean or soak the jacket first in a water-based solution, (2) hang dry it, (3) reshape it with steam, (3) hand iron it to intermediate quality standards, (5) dry clean it, and (6) hand iron it to final quality standards.

The ability to wet clean this jacket despite it's fabric composition (linen, wool, silk, cashmere blend) shouldn't be complicated for a skilled dry cleaner. For the ordinary dry cleaner, however, the likelihood that they'll screw it up is significant.

My assessment: The jacket was probably wet cleaned using excessive mechanical action (tumbling). In addition, the jacket might have been dried in a dryer. At that point the damage has been done (even though it might have been subsequently dry cleaned to restore some of the "hand" or texture).

You can read more here...

http://ravefabricare.com/why-dry-cleaned-garments-still-smell-perspiration-after-dry-cleaning/

Hope this helps explain what probably happened to your jacket.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Clearly, the jacket has shrunk. That's obvious. But that's not the issue.

The issue is why?

Based on the answers to the questions I asked, you indicated that you sweat profusely in the summer. So you probably have extensive perspiration stains in both underarms.

Perspiration is a water-based stain. Dry cleaning is a great emulsifier of oil-based stains but does practically nothing for water-based stains. Unless both the odor and the stains are removed by a technician prior to inserting into the dry cleaning machine, either the stain, the odor or both will remain after dry cleaning.

One way a dry cleaner could deal with this issue is to wet clean or soak the jacket first in a water-based solution and then dry clean afterwards.

The ability to wet clean this jacket despite it's fabric composition (linen, wool, silk, cashmere blend) shouldn't be complicated for a skilled dry cleaner. For the ordinary dry cleaner, however, I'd suggest that it's Russian roulette.

My assessment: The jacket was probably wet cleaned using excessive mechanical action (tumbling). In addition, the jacket might have been dried in a dryer. At that point the damaged has been done, even though it might have been subsequently dry cleaned.

You can read more here...

http://ravefabricare.com/why-dry-cleaned-garments-still-smell-perspiration-after-dry-cleaning/

Hope this helps explain what probably happened to your jacket.

Thanks! So basically they didn't knew how to treat the fabric, right? I mean, it didn't smell a lot in order for them to wet clean it.

 

[zunker]

I read this and think I will never get anything dry cleaned ever again.

 

[stubloom]

I read this and think I will never get anything dry cleaned ever again.

If you have a problem with one particular dry cleaner, the right approach is not to give up on dry cleaning.

The right approach is to find a dry cleaner with the technical skills to address the problem(s) you might have. In much the same way that you don't give up on medicine because one doctor proved to be less skilled than others in the medical community.

 

[zunker]

If you have a problem with one particular dry cleaner, the right approach is not to give up on dry cleaning.

The right approach is to find a dry cleaner with the technical skills to address the problem(s) you might have. In much the same way that you don't give up on medicine because one doctor proved to be less skilled than others in the medical community.

I can survive without dry cleaning thanks.

 

[Betelgeuse]

If you have a problem with one particular dry cleaner, the right approach is not to give up on dry cleaning.

The right approach is to find a dry cleaner with the technical skills to address the problem(s) you might have. In much the same way that you don't give up on medicine because one doctor proved to be less skilled than others in the medical community.

How can I know they are technically good?

 

[stubloom]

Assessing technical skills is always difficult from a consumer's point of view.

Lets start with this broad statement: The overwhelming majority of the 26,000 (approx) cleaners in the USA are "bang and hang" cleaners.

Low prices (think $10 to $20 for a ladies or mans 2 pc suit) and fast turnaround (think 1,2 or 3 day turnaround) are two obvious signs that the cleaner is probably a bang and hang cleaner. Low prices and fast turnaround speaks volumes: despite their protestations to the contrary, the cleaner doesn't really care about true quality work. That's not the product they're selling. After all, why bother to employ (and pay) technically skilled craftspeople if the business model is low prices and fast turnaround. Dry cleaning/washing machine loaders and pressing machine operators are much cheaper!

So what can you, as a consumer of dry cleaning services do, to make a good assessment:

1. Level 1 assessment (quick)

Take a look at google and yelp reviews.

But take with a grain of salt. That's because many of the reviews address factors that are unrelated to the quality of the work -- speed, low prices, convenience, friendliness, etc. These reviews almost never address the quality of the "work." And there's reason for that: Aside from relying on the cleaner's slogan (such as "top quality at an affordable price"), the overwhelming majority of reviewers have no basis for judging the quality of the "work" being delivered.

2. Level 2 assessment (takes a few minutes)

Contact the manager of the most expensive department stores, boutiques, custom clothiers in your area. Ask the manager where the store sends their soiled/stained/unserviceable garments for cleaning so that those garments can be placed back on the racks for sale at full price.

3. Level 3 assessment (takes more time but results in a more educated consumer of garment care services)

Ask your cleaner for a copy of their written quality standards. If they don't have written quality standards that consumers can use to hold them accountable for the quality they say they deliver, the chances are strong they don't have any standards.

For example:

http://ravefabricare.com/about/detailed-quality-standards/

Use a more extensive checklist to grade your cleaner relative to the quality standards in place at a true quality cleaner.

For example:

http://ravefabricare.com/quick-links/grade-your-cleaner/

Hope this helps.

 

[jaxenro]

I would add get a beater jacket to take in to a new cleaners for the first time better they mess up a $5 goodwill than your favorite jacket. Find something hard to clean and spill some dinner on it. Nothing drastic just something you can check when you get it back

I did that with tailors until I found one I liked

 

[Betelgeuse]

Assessing technical skills is always difficult from a consumer's point of view.

Lets start with this broad statement: The overwhelming majority of the 26,000 (approx) cleaners in the USA are "bang and hang" cleaners.

Low prices (think $10 to $20 for a ladies or mans 2 pc suit) and fast turnaround (think 1,2 or 3 day turnaround) are two obvious signs that the cleaner is probably a bang and hang cleaner. Low prices and fast turnaround speaks volumes: despite their protestations to the contrary, the cleaner doesn't really care about true quality work. That's not the product they're selling. After all, why bother to employ (and pay) technically skilled craftspeople if the business model is low prices and fast turnaround. Machine operators are much cheaper!

So what can you, as a consumer of dry cleaning services do, to make a good assessment:

1. Level 1 assessment (quick)

Take a look at google and yelp reviews. And take with a grain of salt. That's because many of the reviews address factors that are unrelated to the quality of the work -- speed, low prices, convenience, friendliness, etc

2. Level 2 assessment (takes a few minutes)

Contact the manager of the most expensive department stores, boutiques, custom clothiers in your area. Ask the manager where the store sends their soiled/stained/unserviceable garments for cleaning so that those garments can be placed back on the racks for sale at full price.

3. Level 3 assessment (takes more time but results in a more educated consumer of garment care services)

Ask your cleaner for a copy of their written quality standards. If they don't have written quality standards that consumers can use to hold them accountable for the quality they say they deliver, the chances are they don't have any standards.

For example:

http://ravefabricare.com/about/detailed-quality-standards/

Use a more extensive checklist to grade your cleaner relative to the quality standards in place at a true quality cleaner.

For example:

http://ravefabricare.com/quick-links/grade-your-cleaner/

Hope this helps.

Ah! Is good to know this. I will definitely check number two and number three. It’s worth the time. I don’t want any other garment ruined.