Stuck with dress i cant get dry cleaned

wee_me_4

Hi!!

I recently took a dress to my local specialist dry cleaners who said they have been instructed to refuse to clean that specific type of dress.

I am now stuck with a dress that i cannot get cleaned as per the cleaning instructions and wondered what my rights? I purchased the dress about 1 year ago.

amandada

Can you go back to the cleaner and ask why they've had the instruction? It sounds to me like there's possibly been a past problem in cleaning that dress which is more to do with the fabric not performing as it should when cleaned as per instructions.
Once you have this info, go back to where you bought the dress and outline the problem to them, and take it from there

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Have you tried other dry cleaners? why couldnt they clean it.

wee_me_4

Cleaners stated that no other dry cleaners would take it either due to problems with the outer fabric which is silk and that when pressing it it does not come out properly.

She told me that it was "cheap silk" and this was the reason. However it is a Karen Millen dress and not what i would expect from such a brand.

Have emailed the store but they have not got back to me. Bit annoyed as it was a v expensive dress that i invested in for seversal special occasions and have ony had the chance to wear it once.

whiteroom184

wee_me wrote: »

Hi!!

I recently took a dress to my local specialist dry cleaners who said they have been instructed to refuse to clean that specific type of dress.

I am now stuck with a dress that i cannot get cleaned as per the cleaning instructions and wondered what my rights? I purchased the dress about 1 year ago.

i was a dry leaner (dry cleaner not dry leaner lol) for several years, could you please advise the material as described on the care label also the cleaning symbols? an f or p etc, then i can advise you best. if the dress is not suitable for cleaning in the described fashion the textile services association (TSA) will be able to confirm this to you, but obviously trading standards would be highly interested too.

wee_me_4

care instructions read as follows

shell 100% silk
lining 100% polyester
specialist dry clean only
place in delicate bag prior to dry cleaning
do not heavily press as it may disstort pleats

whiteroom184

wee_me wrote: »

care instructions read as follows

shell 100% silk
lining 100% polyester
specialist dry clean only
place in delicate bag prior to dry cleaning
do not heavily press as it may disstort pleats

thanks for that

it sounds to me as if this item has either detailed pleatwork, which would not stand upto the mechanical cleaning machine or has various colours in the silk, which notoriously can run, or both. if the item is multi coloured being placed inside a bag during the cleaning process will accelorate colour run.
tbh the dry cleaner probably saw the detail in the item and knew the above and that pressing it would be a nightmare.

did you take it to Johnsons dry cleaners? they have their own central processing unit (CPU), who the store send it to, to be cleaned now it can take 2-3 weeks to be cleaned and does tend to cost a bit more than normal cleaning, but they will do 1 of 2 things, clean your dress or not clean your dress, if they do the later they normally send you a letter detailing why they have not cleaned it (which you may be able to use to get your money back) and there is no charge.

in respect of the care label, it is correct that those components are to be dry cleaned but it does not state which dry cleaning agent to use (there are several) as such the onus would then be on the dry cleaner if things go wrong as they are the specialist. Additionally the care label does not account for the contruction of the garment only its individual materials.

hope this helps?

wee_me_4

The dress has horizontal pleats running all the way down it and changes in colour form light grey to black.

Took it to Morrisons store and they said that no-one else would clean it either. Will search for local Johnstones cleaners and try there especially if they can give me a letter to back up my request for a full refunbd from the retailer.

whiteroom184

wee_me wrote: »

The dress has horizontal pleats running all the way down it and changes in colour form light grey to black.

Took it to Morrisons store and they said that no-one else would clean it either. Will search for local Johnstones cleaners and try there especially if they can give me a letter to back up my request for a full refunbd from the retailer.

tbh Morrisons is not what i would call a specialist dry cleaner lol. all they do is receive items then send them away for processing, they rarely have knowledge in textile or chemical usage. :rotfl:

i really hope you get a good outcome either way, i have seen so many designer items made which would not stand upto cleaning methods, its very unfair on the consumer.

http://www.johnsonsdrycleaning.co.uk/nearestBranch/nearestBranch.htm


here is johnsons link

wee_me_4

Just googled local branch which is 20 miles away but might give them a call beforehand to see if they can clean it.

Asked woman at Morrisons if I should take it to specialist which obviously got her back up as she retorted that they were. She was so narky I'm thinking about putting in a complaint.

Thanks soo much for help xx

whitewing

I would give Consumer Direct (tel arm of Trading Standards) a call before you do anything else. If you have to take it so far to even try cleaning, then that seems a bit unfair.

(If you have Tesco clubcard points I think you can use them for Johnsons - check the website)