Let’s Go To The Dry Cleaners!

Hi Friends!  Thanks so much for visiting today on my last post about our never ending job of laundry!  I do hope you’ve been encouraged or inspired to be diligent and motivated to take care of your clothing and home items for you and your family.  It’s something that has to be done, so we might as well learn to enjoy it and be organized about it, don’t you think?  My thinking is, if we are unorganized and don’t have a plan, we aren’t going to like doing it.  So, why not come up with your own system and make it pleasant by making your laundry area nice to look at, right?  A dear reader commented that she couldn’t decorate her laundry area because her washer and dryer were in a closet on her balcony of her apartment.  An idea might be to have a bright cheerful laundry basket or bags that you carry your laundry in or maybe hang a picture over the washer and dryer that make you smile when you open the closet door.  If there is a will, there is a way.  If you missed any of the previous posts on my Laundry Series, I will have links at the bottom of this post.  Now on to the subject of dry-cleaning.

Why go to a professional dry-cleaner and laundry?

  1.  Many people don’t have time to take care of their laundry needs.
  2. It’s a convenient luxury.
  3. It’s nice to pull up to a dry-cleaner, drop off your clothes and pick them up hours later and they are all done for the week.
  4. Your clothes will last longer.
  5. Most people don’t have professional grade dry cleaning machines or presses at home.

What is Dry Cleaning exactly?

Man made fabrics can be damaged with water and heat. That is why a garment may say “Dry Clean Only” on the care label.  *Always read your care label.   State of the art dry cleaning machines use technology and low alkaline detergent to clean and balance the ph with computer controls and low temperature.  They also use a steam press that presses the garment to perfection.

*Note:  Some environmentalists are peddling the thought that dry cleaning harms us and the environment.  The new dry cleaning fluids that are used today are environmentally safe.  Make sure your dry cleaners use state of the art machines.  They should have the pads changed regularly, fluids  cleaned regularly, new equipment and filters changed after every load.

How to get the best service at your Dry Cleaners and Laundry:

  1.  When you go to the dry cleaners ask about their price menu so you won’t be caught off guard when you pick your clothes up.

2.  Let them know of any stains that need removing and buttons to be replaced.

3. Save your ticket as a reminder to pick your clothes up.  Make note of the stores policy of  items   left for a long period of time. Remember my story about my clothes that I left for too long and they were gone when I went to pick them up?  Click here to read about it.

4.  Treat the employee that is taking your clothes with kindness.  Did I mention that I always use   the drive through.  I love drive throughs!  I make sure that I make eye contact and I’m not on my phone.  Making friends with your dry cleaner is always a good thing.  They are taking care of one of our prized possessions; our clothes.  Not to mention, you might be the only person that day that gives encouragement to them.

5.  When you have a problem with a garment, talk to the attendant or the manager in a calm and professional manner.  No one wants to be treated rudely.  There is a way to take care of matters in a kind way.

6.  If you aren’t sure if a garment should be laundered or dry cleaned, talk with the experts on the counter or the manager.  They want you to be happy and they are willing to consult with you on what should be done to your item.

7.  Always, say thank you to the person waiting on you.  They are hard workers and deserve to be talked to like they are important just like you are.  I was in the drive through a few years ago and the lady in front of me was on her phone and had her arm hanging out the window with a bag of clothes.  As soon as the attendant walked up to take the bag, this lady dropped the bag on the ground and drove off.  I was surprised at her behavior as I knew her personally and the lady that was waiting on her was my mom.  She was helping out the counter girls that day.  All that to say, we aren’t that important to treat workers with an ounce of disrespect and we never know when a person might just need a smile and a kind word.

And, finally: 

My final thoughts on dry cleaning.  Dry cleaning and laundry service is a luxury and we want to feel safe and comfortable with the business we use, so make sure it is clean, modern and the employees treat you with respect.  When you have an issue, handle it with professionalism just like the employees have been trained to do.  If you don’t feel like you have been satisfied, then ask for the manager.  That is what he/she is there for.  They are trained to help and have answers for you.

A couple of my favorite stories are of a lady who wasn’t happy and she  said to one of the employees, “I know a lot of people and I have influence at a local Christian school and I’m going to tell everyone not to use your business.”  My thought was, “and you are sending your kids to a Christian school for what reason????”  I could say a lot more on that one, but I’ll leave it right there.

Another one is a man who was a representative and was responsible for bringing in businesses to his community.  He wasn’t happy with the way his pocket was pressed on his shirt so he said “I’m going to make sure I put you out of business.”  I had the thought, “and you are responsible for encouraging businesses in our community?”

When you are in business you will always have unkind people.  When I shop and visit businesses in my community and out of town, I make it a point to treat them with kindness and always try to leave a mark of friendliness, even when I don’t get the same back.  Trust me, it just works better that way and you feel so much better when you lay your head on your pillow at night.

In our business, we have some amazing customers and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t hear so many nice things about our employees and our business.  We all know that no one is perfect and never will be, but, when everyone of us does our best, that is all that is expected and it will all come out in the wash!  Get it, come out in the wash!?  I know, jokes aren’t my specialty, but I thought I would try.

Here are the links to the Laundry Series posts:

It’s Laundry Day!  Where Is Your Laundry Room?

Laundry Day At Martha’s!

Tips and Inspiration for Laundry Day!

Dry-Cleaning!  It’s a Family Affair!

I’ve had a few questions on some of the topics we’ve talked about.  If you have any questions, send them in and I will do a post just on the questions about anything laundry and dry cleaning.  I may not know the answers, but, I know how to find them.

One last thing!  Don’t forget about the drawing for the coloring book by Debbie Hannah Skinner.  You will love it.  I’m giving it away this week.  Just leave a comment and I will put your name in the drawing.  Good luck!

 

 

4 Comments

  1. I’m really liking these laundry/dry cleaning blogs! They have been fun Beverly! Thank you for writing them. #Nowgetmynameinthedrawingplease

  2. I love your blog! I agree with you completely, on being organized!
    Please enter my name in the drawing.
    Hope that you have a wonderfully blessed day!

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