It’s the season for party attire, sequins, beading fragile trims and hard to clean fabrics. If you come across a care label that says “Spot Clean Only”, this means that the item cannot safely be submersed in any type of solvent or water. Why? The color on the sequins may come off, the beads could dissolve or fall off if just glued on. We see this label on fancy dresses, bridal dresses and some dressy blouses. Basically this tag means there is no real safe way to clean the item. Trust these types of garments only to a dry cleaner that you trust to help you make the best decision.
So what can you do? First, if you see this care label, ask a salesperson at the store you purchase from what her/his suggestion is for cleaning the garment and can the garment be returned if there is no way to clean it satisfactorily.
Spot cleaning is when a technician removes a spot or stain on a spotting board using a combination of steam, special cleaning agents and vacuum and or air drying. This means that the chemical residue is not completely flushed out. Moreover, many of the spots on these garments are oil-based stains, ie. face creams, lotions, hair creams, and when the garment has been treated and then pressed, the fabric will yellow from oxidation.
The bottom line is that you can’t expect a drycleaner to work miracles on this type of garment. You will be asked to sign a waiver or disclaimer or responsibility for the cleaner to work on the item. If the garment is so bad that you wouldn’t wear it otherwise, it might be worth the risk. Only you can make that decision.
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