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August 23, 2011
Spotting Tips: Tannin Removal Ticket to Better Business

CONCORD, N.C. — It seems to me that cleaners are looking for a remedy to tannin stains, but few are willing to make the commitment to gain the working knowledge and experience to solve the problem.

Stain removal requires a basic knowledge of fibers, fabrics and dyes. In an industry that is dominated by business models that proclaim “I can do it cheaper than you,” we fail to realize that we are stating to the consumer that there is little or no difference in service and quality.

Look around and you will see a difference in the marketplace. The “me too” cleaners that never bothered to set themselves apart are quietly fading away.

With the perception of a flat economy, the consumer is becoming more demanding about the quality of products and services. Start setting yourself apart from the competitors left in your area. This is the way to “steal” 5-10% from each competitor by acquiring the knowledge and techniques to remove the stains those competitors won’t or can’t get out of the customers’ garments.

April 23, 2010
Excellence in Stain Removal, Part 2

The Clothing Care Council (CCC) offers every drycleaner an opportunity to distinguish himself or herself with the voluntary Award of Excellence (AOE) certification program. This month, I’ll cover the second half of AOE’s stain-removal test, which features egg, red wine and spaghetti-sauce stains on swatches of plain white silk.

EGG

April 22, 2009
How Can I Remove Easter-Egg Dyes Consistently?

Q: Easter is always the time I get lots of frilly, child-sized dresses with smudgy pastel stains on their sleeves and bodices, which I can only assume resulted from these girls dying eggs or eating dyed eggs in their Sunday best. I’ve had good luck and bad removing these stains, and every time I can’t remove the stains, the parents complain that they can’t pass these special dresses on to other kids. What’s the secret to getting rid of these stains completely, every time?

December 19, 2008
Make Stains Vanish without a Trace

Exceeding customer expectations is about taking the time to do things right. It’s about spending the time necessary to remove the last traces of a stain. It’s about knowing how to get out of trouble when the garment doesn’t respond as expected, and having the knowledge to go beyond what your competition can do. If your best isn’t good enough, the customer is going to look somewhere else.

November 14, 2008
Give Thanks for Holiday Stains

I’ve always said that if people could hit their mouths, I would go broke. And as we approach the season of family gatherings around the table, I’d like to address the stains we see year after year during the holidays.

These stains can (and should) be removed in the normal course of caring for a garment. Most are “combination” stains. Approached with the proper sequences and spotting protocols, these stains can be removed quickly and with a minimum of risk to the garment’s integrity.

June 25, 2008
How Should I Treat Items Musty from Storage?

Q: A customer has some garments that have been in storage for seven years and have a musty smell. I haven’t seen the garments yet, so I don't know if they can be wetcleaned. What would be the best way to handle them?

A: The musty odor may indicate that the garments contain mold or mildew. Inspect the garments for discoloration or damage caused by moisture or fungal growth from mold or mildew.

May 14, 2008
You Can Remove Tannin Stains

She went through her incoming bundle with a purpose. Then she found it: a beige silk blouse with a harsh red stain on the right cuff and sleeve.

The stain was dry and starting to darken on the edges. She said it was two days old, but it was probably closer to 10. She said it was a 1998 California burgundy. Red wine on silk — a challenge for any cleaner.

This is a classic tannin stain. Tannin stains come from plants; coffee, tea, mustard and wine are good examples. It takes an acidic spotter to break down a tannin stain.

March 12, 2008
Running in Reverse

I just happened to be at the counter when I saw the lady get out of her car. I saw that look on her face — but was pretty sure I hadn't taken her candy.

It turned out that her husband had given her the forest-green silk outfit for their anniversary. But when she showed it to me, the jacket was lime-green under the arms. She had worn it with only a scarf on one of those unseasonably warm November days.