Finding a Drycleaning Outfit You Can Trust
Last updated November 2023
Our ratings tables show our evaluation of drycleaning shops for the seven metro areas served by Checkbook.The ratings on companies’ service quality come from our surveys of area consumers. We primarily surveyed Consumers’ Checkbook subscribers, but also invited other randomly selected consumers to provide ratings.
When trying out drycleaners, perform these quality checks:
- When you drop off garments, do clerks thoroughly inquire about stains and note the information you provide?
- Do staffers provide coherent answers to your questions about whether a difficult stain will come out?
- Are your clothes ready when promised?
- Do the garments look and smell clean?
- Were the clothes pressed properly? One of the most common complaints we get is that shops sloppily press garments, leaving “double creases” and crushing or losing buttons.
- Does the drycleaner have an efficient system for finding your garments when you pick them up?
Before taking your clothes to be cleaned, check them for stains and empty all the pockets.
If there are stains, show them to the clerk and say what caused them, how long they’ve been there, and what, if anything, you have used to treat them. The more the pro knows, the better the chances of successful cleaning. Also indicate any hidden spots—particularly sugary spills (soft drinks, white wine, fruit juice). Pin a tag or have a staffer put tape on each stain.