Clothes with "dry clean only" tags are there for a reason, yet, many of us don’t pay much attention to them. Or, if we do notice them, we often convince ourselves that a gentle wash at home will be just as good. Maybe you get lucky, but more often than not, you end up with a shrunken sweater, a misshaped blazer, or a delicate dress that’s faded and stretched.
The reality is, some fabrics and styles are only suited for dry cleaning because this method uses environmentally friendly solvents that gently clean and remove stains without the harsh effects of water and agitation. If you’re unsure which wardrobe pieces need this level of care, keep reading as we list the five must-dry-clean items you shouldn’t risk throwing into your home washer.
Silk is the ultimate luxury fabric – it’s smooth, delicate, and has a natural sheen that can elevate any outfit. However, it’s also one of the most delicate fabrics you can own. This natural fiber requires special handling to keep intact its sheen, softness, and overall appearance. That’s why silk garments are at the top of the list for dry cleaning—they need gentle care that won’t compromise their beauty.
Dry cleaning uses solvents that are much kinder to silk than water and detergent, preserving its texture and preventing damage to the delicate fibers. Whether it's a silk blouse, dress, or scarf, trusting a professional cleaner ensures your piece maintains its shape, color, and smooth finish.
Suits are investment pieces meant to fit and flatter. The structure of a suit – the lining, shoulder pads, and stitching – can all be compromised by traditional washing. Dry cleaning is essential for suits because these garments are often made of wool, linen, or delicate blends that don’t respond well to water or heat. Dry cleaning also preserves the fabric, shape, and crispness of your suit, so it always looks tailored and polished. Plus, proper pressing at the cleaners ensures wrinkle free results.
When it comes to leather and suede, we’re talking about materials that require some serious expertise. These fabrics are not just pieces of clothing—they're a statement. Regular washing strips these materials of their natural oils, leading to dryness and cracking. A professional dry cleaning service uses special treatments to clean and condition the leather or suede without causing damage. It’s all about maintaining the supple feel and rich look that makes these pieces so iconic.
We all have that special piece – maybe a dress with delicate sequins or a top with intricate beadwork. These embellishments are beautiful, but they’re also a nightmare to clean at home. The agitation of a washing machine can easily pull off beads, tangle threads, or loosen glued-on decorations. Dry cleaning ensures these decorative elements stay securely in place while preserving the fabric underneath.
Wool coats are winter staples – keeping you cozy, stylish, and protected from the cold. But wool is a finicky fabric that doesn’t react well with water. Washing it at home can cause shrinkage, distortion of shape, or make it feel scratchy and rough. Dry cleaning, on the other hand, maintains the softness and structure of the wool, ensuring your coat keeps you warm and looking sharp throughout the colder months. Dry cleaning is designed to make sure your investment piece stays timeless, season after season.
Don't overburden yourself with laundry when there's a better way. Apple Cleaners offers exceptional dry cleaning service in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. We offer an exclusive, twice-a-week pickup and delivery service throughout Illinois and Missouri. You’ll get the same personalized service as in store – without the hassle – because we handle your order from start to finish.
Take advantage of this FREE service by calling our customer service at 636-327-8100. Sign up today and let Apple Cleaners make laundry and dry cleaning the easiest part of your week!
You know what can happen if you mix washing a dark colored garment, especially bright reds and oranges, with your white clothes. Of course, it's not entirely your fault – it's bound to happen because commercial clothing manufacturers often use dyes that are prone to bleeding. Nonetheless, you could have prevented it, too!
So if upon taking out a laundry load from the washing machine you discover your favorite white shirt now sports pinkish blotches or your linens have adopted an unwelcome tinge, it's beyond frustrating.
But there are ways to restore items that picked up fugitive colors in the wash cycle – ways we will cover in this article.
There are three best words to describe color bleeding from experience: it's inconvenient, frustrating, and avoidable. Color bleed occurs when the dyes in some fabrics dissolve and leach out during the washing process, latching onto other garments. This typically happens under certain conditions that can often be controlled or prevented. The three common causes of color bleed in clothes are:
You’ve just opened the washing machine and noticed that dreaded color bleed. Don’t panic just yet! There are immediate steps you can take to salvage your clothes. Acting quickly is key to preventing the dye from setting permanently.
Step 1: Keep Clothes Wet – The first rule is to keep the affected clothes wet. Do not dry them, as heat will set the dye, making it nearly impossible to remove. If the clothes have already gone through the dryer, the color bleed may be more challenging to address, but it's still worth trying to fix.
Step 2: Rinse with Cold Water – Immediately rinse the stained clothes with cold water. The cold water helps to stop the dye from setting further and can flush out some of the loose dye. Hold the garments under running water until the water runs clear.
Step 3: Soak in Vinegar Solution – Prepare a solution of cold water and white vinegar (about one cup of vinegar per gallon of water). Soak the affected clothes for 30 minutes. Vinegar helps to set the dye and prevent further bleeding.
Step 4: Use Color-safe Bleach – For whites and colorfast clothes, you can use a color-safe bleach to treat the stains. Add the bleach to the washing machine and run a cycle with cold water. Be sure to check the garment labels to ensure they are bleach safe.
Step 5: Try a Color Remover Product – If the above steps don’t work, you might need to use a commercial color remover. Products like Carbona Color Run Remover or Rit Color Remover are specifically designed to tackle color bleed. Follow the instructions on the packaging carefully for the best results.
Step 6: Rewash with Care – After treating the stains, rewash the clothes separately in cold water. Add a dye-trapping sheet to the wash to capture any remaining loose dyes. This extra step helps ensure no residual dye will transfer to other clothes.
Color bleeding on clothes can quickly turn from a minor inconvenience into a disaster, leaving your favorite garments unwearable. Don't let this happen to you! At CORE Cleaners, we specialize in preventing color bleed and ensuring your clothes look their best, wash after wash.
We've been in the garment care industry since 1950, proudly serving thousands of customers in Missouri and Illinois. Aside from professional dry cleaning and laundry, we also offer specialized services like leather and suede cleaning, wedding dress preservation, household linen cleaning, and more!
Have questions or need to schedule a service? Contact us today at (888) 503-7323! Send us an email at applecleaners.com or visit our website to learn more about our individual services.
Yes, professional dry cleaning can often help with color bleed, especially for delicate or valuable items, like a suit or a silk blouse. Dry cleaners use environmentally friendly solvents and specialized equipment designed to remove dye transfer without damaging the fabric. Look for services that have experience dealing with color bleed and discuss the specific issue with them to ensure they use the best approach for your garment.
Bright and dark colors are the most likely to bleed in the wash. Reds, oranges, and blues are notorious for their tendency to transfer dye. New clothes, particularly those with deep or vibrant colors, are at a higher risk because the excess dye hasn’t fully set into the fabric. Always wash these items separately for the first few washes, or with similar colors, to prevent dye from spreading to lighter clothes.
If color bleed happens on a special garment like a wedding dress, it's best to seek professional help immediately. Explain the situation in detail, including what caused the color bleed and any steps you've already taken. Avoid using home remedies on such precious items, as they can sometimes cause further damage. Professional cleaners have the expertise and tools to treat the dress effectively and safely, helping to restore it to its original state.
With dry cleaning, your clothes are cleaned in a much larger machine than your home washer, and instead of detergent, a special solvent is used. This method is incredibly effective for delicate fabrics and intricate designs regular washing just can’t handle. But how effective is this cleaning method really? And more importantly, which items should you bring for dry cleaning, and which are better suited for regular laundry? In this article, we’ll break down the types of items that are recommended for dry cleaning and those that should be laundered, all tailored to the expert services we offer here at CORE Cleaners. Whether you’re unsure about that delicate blouse or your everyday essential jeans, we can help you sort out the confusion.
Assurance – this is something every customer looks for before they decide to entrust their clothing care needs to a professional service. For instance, you want assurance your vintage leather jacket will come back in one piece, assurance your wedding dress will look spotlessly white after it was almost unrecognizable, or assurance your suede coat will retain its luxurious texture and color after cleaning. At CORE Cleaners, your local dry cleaners based right here in Missouri & Illinois, we understand the intricate needs of various fabrics and the evolving demands of each season. And if you’re ever curious about whether we have what it takes to be your trusted dry cleaning partner, simply stop by and see for yourself. But if you can’t visit our store yet, here’s what we can tell you!
At CORE Cleaners, our commitment to excellence shines through in our unparalleled expertise in handling all types of fabrics using environmentally friendly solvents. We can effectively clean and maintain garments made from different materials, including:
Our commitment to excellence goes hand in hand with our use of state-of-the-art cleaning technology. This allows us to streamline our operations and provide faster turnaround times without compromising on quality. From removing stubborn stains to revitalizing fabrics, our equipment is optimized to deliver exceptional results with every use.
CORE Cleaners has a reputation for being incredibly thorough and meticulous about everything we do. From pre-treatment to cleaning to finishing touches, we execute each step in our cleaning services with precision and care. Most importantly, we take pride in our ability to tailor our cleaning process to suit your clothing items’ specific needs.
While CORE Cleaners handles a wide range of clothing items, it’s still important that you’re aware of what we can specifically clean for you. Understanding this can help you maintain your wardrobe’s longevity and appearance.
Please Note: If you’re unsure about the material or fabric type of your clothes, or if you have an item not listed here, please call our customer service team for further assistance. You can send a message to our email address at customersupport@applecleaners.com.
While our dry cleaning services handle a wide range of fabrics and specialty items, our laundry service is perfect for many everyday garments and household items. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the clothing items best suited for our laundry service:
At CORE Cleaners, we’re not just experts in dry cleaning and laundry; we’re your all-in-one service for maintaining your wardrobe and home textiles. From everyday outfits to special occasion garments, and even bulky household linens, we can certainly help! Need something more? We have you covered with our specialized alteration services to ensure your clothes fit perfectly, and our convenient pickup and delivery options mean you don’t even have to step out the door. Call us today!
Located in the friendly neighborhood of Missouri, CORE Cleaners isn’t merely your neighborhood dry cleaner whom you simply drop off clothes with. We’re your garment care partner, providing you with complete solutions to all your clothing care needs, may that be a routine dry cleaning service or more specialized services like wedding dress preservation, household item restoration, or clothing repairs.
Being in the industry since 1950, all clients we have served can attest to the meticulousness we put into every item that comes through our doors. Quality and care are at the heart of our approach, making us the top choice for individuals and families looking for a full-service dry cleaner in Missouri who truly values their clothing.
This comprehensive article is a must-read for anyone in need of convenient, affordable, and high-quality cleaning services in Missouri and the surrounding areas.
In Missouri, the dry cleaning market is crowded with options, all seemingly promising top-notch care for your garments. But CORE Cleaners offer more than that. Get to know what really sets us apart from the competition:
Choosing CORE Cleaners for your clothing care in Missouri means opting for a partner who understands the intricate needs of various fabrics and the changing demands of each season.
At CORE Cleaners, we take utmost pride in our deep understanding of the wide spectrum of textiles. which has allowed us to masterfully tackle the unique challenges presented by each material. Gowns and delicate wedding dresses, rugged leather jackets, luxurious suede items, and even everyday wear like shirts and blouses are all treated with the same level of care and expertise.
We leverage the use of cutting-edge cleaning technology to consistently provide superior cleaning outcomes for all types of garments, including specialty items like suede jackets and environmentally sensitive textiles. This innovative approach not only allows for the precise cleaning of a range of materials but also ensures the preservation and enhancement of the fabric’s original quality and feel.
The shifting seasons of Missouri bring their own set of challenges for clothing care. With this in mind, we customize cleaning methods to ensure that summer’s lightweight linens and winter’s heavy woolens both receive the care they demand. Our thoughtful attention to detail ensures that every garment, no matter its material or the time of year, is cleaned to perfection.
We give special attention to delicate fabrics that require more than just a standard cleaning process. Our professional dry cleaners can tackle even the most challenging stains and refresh every garment, ensuring that pieces like silk blouses and intricate lace gowns maintain their elegance and structure.
Our expertise also shines through when it comes to professional care for wedding dresses. Our wedding dress specialists subject every bridal gown to a meticulous inspection to check for stains, loose threads, or any areas requiring special attention. Whether it features delicate lace or intricate beadwork, we customize our gown preservation approach to safeguard every distinct aspect of your gown.
If your clothing is damaged or in need of repair, CORE Cleaners has got you covered. Our tailors and seamstresses can handle a wide range of alteration requests, including hemming services, shortening or lengthening of sleeves, resizing, button and zipper replacement, and many more!
For those who deeply treasure their suede jackets and leather pants, CORE Cleaners can also handle the cleaning and restoration of these materials. Our cleaning service not only removes dirt and stains but also rejuvenates worn or damaged leather and fur items. You’ll be amazed at the transformation as your items regain their sophisticated look and durable quality.
At CORE Cleaners, we make clothing maintenance one less thing to worry about with our streamlined pick-up and delivery service across Missouri.
Here’s how this service works:
Simply visit our website or call our customer service team, select your preferred schedule, and we’ll handle the rest. Once your pick-up time is confirmed, our friendly staff will be at your doorstep at the designated time, ready to carefully transport your garments for cleaning.
We guarantee you the secure handling and transportation of your garments during both pickup and delivery processes throughout Missouri. Our delivery vehicles are equipped with specialized storage facilities designed to maintain the pristine condition of your garments.
CORE Cleaners will return your clothes not just impeccably clean, but also without delay. Our structured delivery schedules are designed to fit seamlessly into the lives of our clients all across Missouri. We do this to show respect for your time and to show you as well that we honor every word we say.
Getting top-notch garment care services doesn’t have to hassle you! If you’re in Missouri and are looking for a full-service dry cleaner who can handle your cleaning requests without delay, give CORE Cleaners a call today.
CORE Cleaners, Inc. was founded in 1950 in the St Louis Metropolitan Area. Our mission is to provide the ultimate satisfaction to every customer we’ve had the pleasure of serving. We pick up and deliver throughout the towns and cities of Black Jack, Florissant, O’Fallon, Wentzville, and the surrounding areas.
Call us at (800) 915-2794 to schedule your first pickup and delivery. You can also visit our local cleaning facility to learn more about our process and how we can cater to your specific needs.
One of the main reasons why dry cleaning is important is its ability to effectively clean and remove stains from fabrics that are difficult to wash at home. Certain materials such as silk, wool, and delicate embellishments require professional cleaning to maintain their appearance and feel. Dry cleaning helps to retain the shape, color, and texture of these fabrics, ensuring that your clothing looks fresh and new for a longer time. Additionally, dry cleaning helps to prevent shrinkage, fading, and wear and tear that can occur with frequent washing.
Typically, most dry cleaners will hold onto your items for around 30 days before they are considered abandoned. This gives you a reasonable window to swing by and collect your freshly cleaned garments. However, it’s always best to check with your specific dry cleaner as their policies may vary. Some establishments may have a shorter or longer holding period before they dispose of unclaimed items.
Contrary to the name, dry cleaning does involve the use of liquids, but not water like in traditional laundry. Instead, a solvent is used to clean the garments without immersing them in water. This solvent effectively removes stains and odors without causing damage to delicate fabrics or colors, making it a popular choice for clothing items that cannot be washed at home.
