FAQs

Q: What is dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a method of cleaning fabric that uses little or no water, hence the name “dry” cleaning. Instead of water, the solvents used works with the soap and sizing to clean and restore your clothes. At Lions Gate Fabricare Cleaners, our state-of-the-art equipment is maintained to the highest standards. This ensures that garments are cleaned and dried in a safe and hygienic environment. The machines are computer controlled so that each load is treated according to the types of garments it contains.

Q. Does frequent dry cleaning shorten the life of a garment?

On the contrary, frequent cleaning prolongs the life of a garment. Not only do stains set with age, making the garment unwearable, but ground-in dirt and soil act as an abrasive, like sandpaper, causing rapid wear of fibers. Also, insects are attracted to soiled clothing and may cause further damage.

Q: How can I remove stains caused by crayons left in pockets?

Crayon stains appear as built up, shiny and stiff stains in a variety of colours. Normally, drying–not washing–will cause these kinds of stains. Your first discovery of the stains will occur when you open the dryer door to find otherwise clean clothes covered with a myriad of coloured stains. The stains appear after drying because the heat of the dryer melts the crayon material as the clothes tumble.

The easiest way to solve this problem is to take the garments to your drycleaner, who usually can remove them by running the garments through a drycleaning machine. If any of the stains remain after cleaning, they can generally be removed by your drycleaner through additional stain removal procedures.

Q. I just took a blue silk blouse out of the cleaning machine and where the perspiration has discolored the underarms, holes have appeared. This has happened before and the customers always think it is my fault. Can you explain this type of damage?

Yes, chemical testing over the years of many, similar situations almost always reveals the presence of chloride salts in the damaged areas. Textile research has shown that chloride salts of any type will weaken silk yarns over a period of time. Chloride salts are present in many foods, beverages, medicines, table salt, and salt water, as well as perspiration and some deodorants. The location of your damaged area indicates that perspiration and/or deodorant have deteriorated the silk yarns to the point that the agitation of cleaning caused the weakened yarns to tear. Unfortunately, there is no practical way to predict or prevent this type of damage from occurring during acceptable cleaning.

Q: How should I clean my rayon garments?

First we must remember that rayon is a manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose derived from wood pulp or cotton linters. It is absorbent and comfortable to wear. There are different forms of the fiber,
known as rayon, viscose, cuprammonium, high-wet modulus and lyocel, sold as Tencel™.
With the exception of lyocel, rayon is very sensitive to water. Many dyes applied to rayon are not colourfast and will bleed or migrate upon contact with moisture. In addition, manufacturers often add sizing to rayon in order to achieve a desired shape or drape. Some sizing water-soluble, and washing will distort the shape of the garment.Dry cleaning is recommended for most rayon garments. Although substantially similar in chemical composition to rayon, lyocel can be either drycleaneddry cleaned or washed. However, when caring for garments made of lyocel it is important to follow the care instructions carefully. If a garment made of lyocel is washed when it should have been dry cleaned, it may result in excessive shrinkage and a wrinkled appearance.

Q. WHAT TEMPERATURES DO HOT, WARM AND COLD INDICATE?

The FTC amended the Care Label Rule on July 26, 2000 to update the current water temperature definitions. Under the rule,

Cold = up to 86°F (30°C)
Warm = 87°F to 111°F (31°C to 44°C)
Hot = 112°F to 145°F (45°C to 63°C)

Q. DOES “WASHABLE” MEAN IT ALSO CAN BE DRYCLEANED?

If a garment’s care label says “washable,” it may – or may not – be safely dry cleaned; there is no way to tell from the label. A manufacturer or importer is only required to list one method of safe care, no matter how many other methods also could be used safely.

Q. WHAT IF YOU FOLLOW THE LABEL AND A PROBLEM DEVELOPS?

If you or the cleaner follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the garment is damaged, you should return the garment to the store and explain what happened. If the store will not resolve the problem, ask for the manufacturer’s name and address and write to the company.

How do you charge for your services?

Our charges are based on our services and their costs. They also includes the costs of our service personnel. Our costs include:

– Equipment maintenance
– Staff costs including hiring and training skilled staff
– Quality care with quality cleaning products
– Using the latest techniques and equipment for the finest dry cleaning results
– We also repair minor damages on garments and fabrics including missing buttons, hems, seams etc.

Q: Do we have to pay even if the stain doesn’t come out?

Our spot pre-treating and cleaning process involves careful care and attention given by our staff who spend considerable time and effort on the stain removal process. We make sure that your garment is not damaged in the process of attempting to remove stains.Your garment receives special care and our best effort, therefore, although some tough stains might not come out,we must charge for. our efforts and service.