Most people's first instinct is to rub a stain with a wet cloth or napkin. Water actually weakens fabric and causes fibers to break, resulting in color loss or water rings. Water and other substances (i.e. stain sticks and club soda) can also set certain stains. This makes stains harder, if not impossible, to remove completely.

It is best to blot stains with a dry, clean cloth or napkin and take the item into Starcrest. Our stores are trained in advanced cleaning techniques and have the appropriate tools available to minimize problems like color loss and maximize stain removal.

Yes, it is true that stains that were not visible to the eye before can appear after cleaning. These types of stains are known as invisible stains. Sugar-based foods (fruits, sodas, etc.) and oil-based products (cosmetics, hair spray, etc.) are some of the items that can dry clear and spot during or after cleaning. Heat from the dry cycle or presses can cause sugar-based stains to caramelize and oil-based stains to oxidize, resulting in visibility. Always inform the front counter of any known areas with invisible stains so that the dry cleaner can treat the area prior to cleaning. Caramelized and oxidized stains are much harder, sometimes impossible, to remove.

Designers are paid to create beautiful, unique garments that appeal to the consumer market. Unfortunately, many of these lovely clothes are made with material and/or trim that cannot withstand any complete cleaning method. Therefore, designers attach a "Spot clean only" care label. These items are hand treated where needed, steamed or aired for freshness, and then pressed. Starcrest always keeps its customers' best interest at hand when treating their clothes. We would rather be cautious on delicate items, inform customers of the pros and cons to advanced treatment, and then let the customer decide.

Dry Cleaning is a cleaning method that removes oils, greases, and paint-type substances with solvent. The term "dry" comes from the absence or minute injection of water. Dry cleaning machines resemble a large front load washer. The clothes are placed in a drum that is then filled with a solvent solution and gently agitated. As the garments are tumbled, the solvent captures the impurities from the clothes and drains from the drum into the still. The clothes are then run through a dry cycle within the same machine. This allows the machine to recycle the solvent and keep any pollutants within the machine.

Every Starcrest store has a state-of-the-art cleaning machine that allows distillation after every cleaning cycle. This ensures clean, fresh solvent for every load. Impure solvent can leave clothes smelling unpleasant and cause whites to take on a yellow tint.

Plastic bags help protect cleaned clothes while transferring them home from the cleaners. However, Starcrest encourages customers to remove the plastic before placing the item in the closet. Plastic keeps air movement from the clothes and can help host mildew over a period of time.

Silk and rayon are much more delicate than fabrics like cotton or polyester. They are very susceptible to shrinkage and color loss. They often need to be pre-treated, bagged, and/or run separately on a less aggressive cleaning cycle. Starcrest is very used to handling delicate garments and will take the extra precautions when spotting and cleaning.

Interfacing is a material attached to areas inside a garment to provide support or sizing. The problem with interfacing is that many manufacturers attach it with glue to garments with a "dry clean only" care label. Unfortunately, dry cleaning solvent can weaken and/or remove the glue during cleaning. If the glue is completely removed, the interface with detach from the garment. If the glue is weakened, the heat from the press will cause the interface to bubble. Our trained pressing staff can usually correct the problem, but this will not prevent the interface from doing the same thing every time it is cleaned.

Many manufacturers do not understand the chemistry behind dry cleaning, as well as the agents involved during stain removal, and often put invalid or contradictory care labels on their merchandise. However, every manufacturer is required by law to have a permanent, legible care label that lists cleaning procedures in which the entire garment is able to withstand (International Fabricare Institute.) If something were to happen to an item after following the care label, you should return the garment to the store and explain what happened. If the store will not stand behind their merchandise, ask for the manufacturer's name and address. Provide the manufacturer with a RN number as well as a detailed description of what happened.

I.F.I. (International Fabricare Institute) recommends sending a copy of your letter to the Federal Trade Commission, c/o Corresponding Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580.

That old saying, "You get what you pay for!" rings true in the cleaning industry. Many cleaners cut critical steps during their production process and limit their customer service in order to appeal to the market with a lower cleaning price or discount coupons. Starcrest prides itself on offering their customers professional, full-service cleaning and outstanding customer service for a reasonable price.

Most customers are oblivious to the detail and lengthy procedure that must happen before their clothes are handed back to them. All of Starcrest's cleaning agents are top quality and the equipment is up-to-speed with the newest technology. Starcrest employees are highly trained and have a network of knowledgeable professionals within our many locations that provide an abundance of expertise in order to assure the finest quality.

All Starcrest stores run full cleaning cycles and distill their solvent after every load to guarantee clean filters and minimal odor. Our stores have multiple pressing stations to choose from in order to best accommodate any of your clothes, as well as a computer software package that allows us to create personalized accounts for every customer.

Starcrest customers also benefit from our friendly sales staff, extended hours (open 7 days a week), convenient drive-thru, and the ability to use cash, check, credit card, or a house charge account.