What is Dry Cleaning

Customers always ask us, “What is Dry Cleaning?”

Many would be surprised to learn that drу сlеаnіng іѕ not actually a “dry” process. It’s a process in which dirt is removed with a liquid solvent other than water. The term “dry cleaning” was coined because water is not being used to clean the item.

GreenEarth Cleaning

Mоdеrn drу сlеаnіng has bееn аrоund fоr juѕt over 200 years. Model Clеаnеrѕ uses a numbеr of solvents to clean your clothes, but most recently, we have invested in GreenEarth Cleaning.

GreenEarth replaces the solvents used in conventional dry cleaning with pure liquid silicone, a clear and gentle solution that is environmentally non-toxic and non-polluting. It cleans clothes exceptionally well, without harsh chemicals so colors stay bright and fibers don’t wear. Another bonus? GreenEarth is odor free, so you won’t have to worry about that traditional “dry cleaning” smell when you pick up your clothes.

The First Inspection Process

When garments and/or household items are brought in to our stores, our customer service representatives meticulously inspect each piece. We look for stains, tears, missing/broken buttons, and more. When we see a problem, like a stain, we pin a tag to the garment to bring attention to the issue. If a customer has a special request, it is denoted the same way. If an item is badly stained, it can be pre-treated prior to dry cleaning. Click here to see our stain removal process first hand.

The Dry Cleaning Process

Our dry cleaning machines are similar to your washer and dryer at home, however, thеу аrе much lаrgеr, holding uр to 100 pounds! To reduce waste, these machines have filters thаt clean and recycle the liquid ѕоlvеnt many tіmеѕ. So, how actually cleaned?

Thе сlоthеѕ are рlасеd іn a perforated drum. Throughout the сlеаnіng cycle, the drum rоtаtеѕ while thе solvent wаѕhеѕ іn thrоugh the drum аnd аrоund the clothes. During this time, dirt is lifted and stains are removed. The fіnаl сусlеѕ spins thе garments tо expel аny rеmаіnіng solvent аnd thеn tumble drіеѕ thеm with wаrm аіr.

The Pressing Process

Immediately following cleaning, the clothes are pressed. Depending on the garment, it is either hand pressed, re-shaped with a body form, or steamed. For example, a delicate silk blouse would be steamed, whereas a standard pair of cotton pants would be hand pressed.

The Final Inspection Process

After garments are pressed, they are sent to Final Inspection. Here, the clothes are given a once-over. Similar to the First Inspection, we check for any remaining stains, pressing quality, etc. If a stain was not fully removed during cleaning, we will directly treat the stain again with a stronger solvent in hopes to fully remove it.

Though we try our best, it’s important to note that some stains just can’t be removed. Watermarks, caramelization stains from sugar-based substances, bleach spots, and old, set-in stains are very difficult and sometimes impossible, to remove. Therefore, when you do have a stain on an item, it’s important that you bring it in as soon as possible. If a stain is fresh, there is a much better chance we can remove it.

Want To Learn More?

Model Cleaners has been ranked among Wеѕtеrn PA and Morgantown, WV’s most trusted dry cleaners. Try us out today to discover why. Stop into any of our convenient locations or join our FREE pickup & delivery service. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

National Pizza Day

National Pizza Day is here!

National Pizza Day is here and if you’re like everyone else, you’re either making your favorite pie or ordering it from your local pizza joint. Whatever the case may be, pizza sauce can stain your clothes! Pizza stains can sink into your clothes quickly and the longer it sits, the more increasingly difficult it becomes to remove the pizza sauce. So for National Pizza Day, we decided to help you out with the mess in a few easy steps.

Steps To Remove Pizza Sauce Stains

Once the spill has happened, try to remove as much as the pizza sauce as possible. You can do this by using a spoon. Something that won’t damage your clothing and isn’t too sharp. Do not wipe the sauce off as this will just push the stain deeper into the fabric. Do not skip this step, as it is the most important step in getting that pizza sauce stain out.

Now is the time to gather up a mild soap or liquid detergent you may have sitting around. Rub the soap where the pizza sauce once was using a circular motion. Massage the soap into the stained area for a couple of minutes until you can see the soap start to turn white and foamy. If the garment is white now is the time to dab the area with bleach. We do not recommend using bleach if the garment is not white or bleach safe.

Make sure to test the detergent or bleach on a small hidden area of your garment. Wash your garment as you normally would and make sure to check the garment for the pizza stain once it is out of the washing machine. If the pizza sauce stain is still visible you may repeat the steps listed above again. You can even let it soak for up to 30 minutes before washing it again. Do not put your garment in the dryer before the stain has been completely removed, as the heat from the dryer can permanently set the stain.

National Pizza Day Model Cleaners

To find more Model Cleaners tips from our blog you can find it here.

Jersey Stain Removal

With The Pittsburgh Penguins going into their 2018 season, everyone will be sporting their favorite jersey this year! Model Cleaners thought it would be a great idea to let you in on some jersey upkeep and maintenance. This Jersey Stain Removal guide may be useful for any avid sports fan. We have had a positive experience in the past with these tips, and hope you do as well. Model Cleaners suggest you test each method on a small area of the jersey just to make sure it won’t have a negative effect on the jersey. If anyone else has any other advice, we would love to hear your feedback!

Laundering:

Turn your jersey inside out to prevent any damage to the crest, patches, nameplate, or numbers. Use the most delicate cycle and the coldest setting on your washing machine. We suggest adding about 2 TBSP of OxiClean for each jersey you’re washing, but don’t add any other detergent.

As a general rule with jersey stain removal, most people hang their jerseys to dry. This not only prevents any heat pressed logo issues, but it also ensures that if there is a stain that you missed when you decided to wash it, it won’t set into the fabric as much. In our experience, once a jersey is dried with heat, it becomes a lot harder to get the stain out.

Stains:

Method 1 – Using Household Products for Jersey Stain Removal

This method can be used on both White and colored jerseys.50% Baking Soda25% Hydrogen Peroxide25% Dawn Dish Soap

Mix these together in a small container until combined. Using a toothbrush, scrub the stained area with the mixture. Don’t be afraid of using too much of the mixture, it will wash out easily. Depending on the severity of the stain, we will scrub anywhere from 1-5 minutes. Once all areas of the stains are scrubbed, we hang the jersey up for 1-2 hours, or until the mixture has dried onto the jersey. Rinse the jerseys either in a sink or using a clean bucket until there are no more suds. From here you can hang the jersey up and allow it to dry or you can launder it. We typically launder it even if the stains are no longer there because extra soap may still be in the jersey and stains can be harder to see when wet.

Method 2 – Using OxiClean for Jersey Stain Removal

This method can be used on both white and colored jerseys.Following the directions on the container of Oxiclean, soak the stained jersey for up to 6 hours. Once soaked, you can wash the jersey as mentioned above.Alternatively, you can mix the OxiClean with water to form a paste similar to toothpaste. You can lightly scrub this paste on the stain with a toothbrush and allow for the paste to dry onto the jersey. Once dry, wash the jersey as mentioned above, but without the added OxiClean.

Method 3 – Using Dry Cleaning for Jersey Stain Removal

Let the professionals handle it. Our garment specialists have over 50 years of experience and will decide the best method to handle your jersey. We clean thousands of jerseys each year and have professional grade Green Earth chemicals, as well as dedicated machines for stain removal.

Method 4 – Using Bleach for Jersey Stain Removal

This method is ONLY for white parts of jerseys.Model Cleaners only recommends this method if you have tried other methods before and have had no success. We don’t recommend this method for thin white strips on a colored jersey. Combine bleach and baking soda into a thick paste, similar to toothpaste. Place something in between the front of the jersey and the back as well as the surface you’re working on to prevent any damage to the other side of the jersey or the surface. Very carefully place a thin layer of this paste onto the stain and allow it to completely dry. Once dried, scrape off any excess dried bleach and launder as mentioned above.

Removing Smoke Smell

Soak the jersey in vinegar overnight and put it through the wash. Might need a couple vinegar soaks to completely get rid of the smell, but it works.

Removing Grease Stains

Soak the stain in cold water. Take some standard original blue Dawn dish detergent and put some on the stain. Work the detergent into the stain either by rubbing or using an old toothbrush. You should see the stain disappear before your eyes if A. It’s grease and B. It hasn’t been set in for too long.

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Model Cleaners Tips For Busy People

Are you tired of stepping on your children’s toys?

With our Model Cleaners Tips, we hope to make your hectic life just a little easier. With that said, we know kids tend to have a lot of toys. Most of those toys live everywhere but the toy box. You can utilize the giant zippered bags to keep toys organized. The bag allows kids to transport their trucks, dolls, and stuffed animals wherever they want to play. The portable toy bag is also a great way to travel with toys. Kids can easily see what’s in the bag and perhaps resist the urge to dig everything out of the bag and spread it all over the back of your minivan.

What to do with my winter garments?

Coming in at number two for our Model Cleaners Tips, hacking our comforter bags. The Model Cleaners comforter bag can help store your winter garments. Winter items like your snowsuits, boots, gloves, hats, and scarves fit perfectly in the plastic zippered bag. Thus making your garments easily located for next winter. You can allow your children to decorate their own bags for a fun family activity. This way it allows them to easily distinguish their own bag when it comes time to retrieve them from the attic. The plastic comforter bags will also keep dust and moths from invading your winter gear.

Who has room for all these sheets!?

If you’re like everyone else and have spare bedsheets for guests and lack closet space, try using one of our comforter bags. By using a Model Cleaners comforter bag as a storage center for extra sheets and pillowcases you can fit a lot of sheet sets in one bag, and you’ll protect the sheets from dirt until you need to use them again. As an added bonus, if you toss in a dryer sheet before sealing up your bag, your fresh clean linens will smell as fresh as the day you put them away.

Model Cleaners

To see this Model Cleaners tip in action, head on over to our YouTube page.