Shirt laundry in NYC

While I'm willing to condemn some of my (inexpensive) shirts to the standard commercial laundry, there are others that I'd like to treat with greater care. To that end, there seem to be a few choices:
(1) Wash them myself - probably the best long-term strategy, but not currently practical
(2) Use a shirt laundry affiliated with a shirtmaker - not currently practical
(3) Find a neighborhood laundry that will do things the "right" way - nirvana if I find it, but won't hold my breath
(4) Send them to a well-publicized service that will give them TLC at a higher price than the standard commercial laundry. In this category, I'd include Hallak/Meurice at the ultra-high end, and Allo Laverie, Green Apple, Laides Who Launder, Slate at a high (but not nosebleed) price point.

Would be very interested to hear from anybody who's got experience sending shirts to any of the names in point (4), or others that I missed that do great work. In searching this board, there are references to some, but not all, of the above.

Thank you.

I occasionally use Meurice, like when a co-worker ran into me with a cup of coffee. That was the last shirt I took there, and they charged $7.67 for wash & box. I can't justify the price for every day cleaning, but it's nice for end of season. I think they do a very good job. FWIW, my shirtmaker recommends them as well.

Chris French are supposed to good: http://chriscleaners.com/

Try this place. I always get great results: http://www.yelp.com/biz/irving-cleaners-new-york

Originally Posted by oshinex

Click to expand...

Try this place. I always get great results:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/irving-cleaners-new-york

I send all of my shirts out of state to Madame Paulette in NYC. I used to have a local retiree launder my shirts until she moved to Florida.

Wait, you actually send your shirts to another state to get cleaned?

just sent 2 shirts and one cashmere sweater to madame paulette...

got my bill...

GOOD LORD!

$87.60?!

24 for each shirt (not dry cleaned)

and 39.60 for the sweater (though it had a small stain on it)

they look fantastic but i've never paid that much for dry cleaning. yikes!

You're kidding me.

I use Green Apple. Consistently good. They mangled two shirts a few weeks back, called me promptly and refunded the cost with a minimum amount of hassle. Considering I get 20 shirts cleaned a month 2 mistakes a year is ok with me.

Originally Posted by oshinex

Click to expand...

You're kidding me.

no i'm not kidding

i'm never using madame paulette ever again. i'm stunned at how expensive they are.

i mean my shirt looks good as new but gosh its just not worth it. i would rather put that money towards another shirt!

Originally Posted by gbrown_nyc

Click to expand...

I use Green Apple. Consistently good. They mangled two shirts a few weeks back, called me promptly and refunded the cost with a minimum amount of hassle. Considering I get 20 shirts cleaned a month 2 mistakes a year is ok with me.

also how much do you pay for green apple?

Originally Posted by chestercopperpot

Click to expand...

just sent 2 shirts and one cashmere sweater to madame paulette...

got my bill...

GOOD LORD!

$87.60?!

24 for each shirt (not dry cleaned)

and 39.60 for the sweater (though it had a small stain on it)

they look fantastic but i've never paid that much for dry cleaning. yikes!


Just a bit of a caveat in using "top-end" cleaners, such as Madame Paulette, Hallak, etc.

They are expensive. Don't assume that they charge a buck or two more than the neighborhood going rate. Establish the price up-front. They probably have different prices for different services, such as hand-pressing versus machine pressing on shirts. Also hand-washing versus machine washing.

I recall reading in The Times that Madame Paulette will do anything necessary to properly clean a garment, such as taking-off the buttons, and then re-sewing them. They will dismantle a garment, if necessary, in order to protect buttons, leather trims, etc.

A salesman told me that one of his store's best and most elaborate gowns got soiled. Madame Paulette was called for a price, and it quoted about $500! Hallak was asked, and it was about $100. Hallak got the job, did a fine job, and got the store's work.

I've found that the best cleaners don't have fixed prices. They evaluate each garment and price the cleaning accordingly. There's the element of handing over a blank check when you drop off your cleaning at a top cleaner.

yeah i just cant swing that anymore. most of my shirts are just tb oxfords and black fleece oxfords. not worth it. i can understand people who use that when they have mtm charvet but not for me.

Has this scene changed much over the last couple of years?

I'm in South Brooklyn, my shirts are not expensive, and all I want is someone to wash them on cold, dry them and then press them. Perfection is not necessary, but I really don't want dry cleaning, if possible.

Thoughts?