Dry Cleaning Bags: Can They Really Harm My Clothes?
Q:
“I’m a busy professional with a wardrobe which requires regular dry cleaning. One of my favorite things about dry cleaning is being able to slip my newly cleaned garments, fresh in the bag, into the closet. I love the organized look the bags give my wardrobe, plus, they keep my clothes (which are a major investment) fresh, crisp and free from dust until I’m ready to wear them again – which is especially helpful if I won’t be wearing them for a while. I’ve recently heard that dry cleaners recommend discarding the bags after getting my garments home. Is this true?“
A:
Alas, it is true. Plastic bags from the dry cleaner are placed on the clothes at cleaner’s facilities for protection ONLY until they are safely transported to the customer’s home. You may keep the paper covers (from your dry cleaner) on the garments if you want to keep dust off the garment while being stored without fear of damage, but the plastic bags need to go.
There is good reason for this recommendation. At Jimmy’s Cleaners we care about protecting the quality and lifespan of your special garments. Plastic dry cleaning bags collect humidity from the sun, a room or your closet. That humidity can encourage the growth of mold, and in certain fine fabrics (or colored fabrics) the plastic in the bag can leach colors off the garment. As we are approach the most humid months of the year, our closets are especially vulnerable.
Leaving freshly dry cleaned laundry in the plastic dry cleaner bag can also cause them to yellow. BHT (butylated hydroxyl tolune), an anti-oxidant in the plastic bag, is the cause of that yellowing. When BHT comes in contact with moisture and impurities in the air it forms a yellow pigment that transfers to your fabric.
Your garments need to breathe to remain in good shape. Clothes should be taken out of the bag and placed in the closet, or into cotton garment covers or zippered bags if you need protection for them. While many stores offer clear bags manufactured for garment storage, these become brittle over time, which can lead to damage and staining. Additionally, as discussed earlier they do not allow your garments to breathe, which is optimal in safeguarding the health of your wardrobe.
Special occasion garments, like wedding & christening gowns, and pieces of historical significance, require more specialized care. These items must be treated with museum-quality care. After items have been cleaned, Jimmy’s Cleaners can dress your garment with acid free paper in the sleeves and acid-free preservation boxes for storage.
Jimmy’s Cleaners and Alterations has 5 convenient locations for you, in Nashville, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Franklin and Thompson’s Station. We offer FREE delivery and pickup. To about special savings and offers, click here: in Nashville, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Franklin and Thompson’s Station. Want to learn how save 20% off your dry cleaning with Jimmy’s Cleaners? Click here: http://www.middletennesseecleaners.com/
(615) 599-3605