Dry Cleaning FAQs

In short, dry cleaning utilizes solvents to remove to stains and odors.  Additionally, this process dissolves grease and oils that water cannot.

Besides being a safe process, natural fabrics  (wools, silks) benefit and prefer this treatment.  In water, they can often shrink, distort or worse.  Have you ever tried to clean a stain on silk? Yes, we have all pretty much experienced the dreaded water ring!

While some clothing requires dry cleaning, Hallak encourages all customers to ask questions.  Our team is here to assist you with your wardrobe’s care. Trust the experts. Feel free to contact a customer service representative today by emailing info@hallak.com. If you wish, you can request an item being picked up and evaluated.

Additionally, Hallak chooses eco-friendly solvents and processes.

Hallak’s garment dry cleaning journey:

• Thorough inspection
• Pre-treatment
• Professional cleaning
• Expert finishing
• Final inspection
• Packaging

Dry cleaning isn’t dry at all. Even so, it is called “dry cleaning” because of the solvents used – rather than water.

If you were ever to look through a dry cleaning machine, clothing would appear to look ‘wet’. This would be due to the solvents in-use.  Following EPA regulations, all machines clean and dry garment.  When in-use, you cannot open a machine mid-cycle (such as to drip-dry).  There is always heat and agitation during the cleaning process.  In addition, these miracle cleansers remove oil stains without shrinkage – and additional benefits.

Additionally, many dry cleaners consider wet cleaning a form of dry cleaning. This wet process uses water as a solvent.  The very special equipment controls the chemicals and agitation. With this in mind, many ‘dry-clean only’ items can be cleaned this way.  For example, oxidized wedding gowns respond well to a wet cleaning. (You may hear it be referred to as a ‘restoration’.)

According to the CDC, laundering and dry cleaning are proven to be effective in sanitizing fabric. Please feel free to contact us with any concerns you may have.

First, Hallak is one of the only cleaners offering several different methods of safe cleaning.

For instance, the most common is perchlorethylene (perc). Hydrocarbon, GreenEarth solvents and wet cleaning are also additional methods.

In general, Hallak customers’ have the option to request a specific method.  You may either set an over-all rule or provide instructions for a specific garment.   If a chosen method is not ideal for a garment, a team member  will contact you.

When it comes to protecting your garment investment, dry cleaning is a great option. This method of cleaning has been proven to extend an item’s life.

Hallak Cleaners works hard to ensure that our employees and customers feel confident.  Like you, we take our responsibility both to you and the environment very seriously.  In fact, we far exceed environmental industry standards.  Also, our team   continues to look superior, safe cleaning techniques.

GreenEarth Cleaning, L.L.C., has patented the process which uses this exciting solution. We, along with other cleaners, have formed a Network of Affiliated GreenEarth Cleaners to bring this GreenEarth Cleaning process to the drycleaning industry and to our customers.    In fact, Hallak was the first New York City dry cleaner to adopt GreenEarth cleaning.

For over 50 years, Hallak has been a couture dry cleaner. Over the decades, we have continued to research, train, and adopt the latest technology and solvents. If you have questions about your garment care, please feel free to ask your Hallak team member today.

When carefully controlled, the dry cleaning process should not shrink clothing.  Hallak has the latest in dry cleaning equipment. All technology here is computer controlled with specific programs for each different garment and fabric type.

Furthermore, our drycleaning technicians have been fully trained on various solvents, machinery, and techniques.  With  years of experience, our team has handled some of the most problematic and difficult fabrics and garments. Between testing and the team’s own expertise, you can feel confident leaving your clothes in our care.

Have you ever heard of this old saying, “Wear it twice, it will clean up nice.”  While it rhymes, more thought should go into your clothing’s care.  

For garments worn close to your skin (e.g. blouses, pants, shirts), you should follow the same logic used for machine-washable items.  (Typically, this would mean to clean after one wearing.) By the way, Hallak also now offers wash-and-fold.

Suits, sport coats and layering sweaters can have two or more wearings between cleanings. Of course, we strongly suggest inspecting all items prior to returning to your closet. If you see a stain, do not wear until the next wearing.

Dry cleaning removes food stains, dust, make-up, cologne, perspiration and more.  Additionally, 95% of bacteria will be removed with the proper cleaning and steam finishing.  Bacteria is what causes odor should a garment be worn too ‘long’.

Lastly, all clothing should be cleaned prior to any length of storage.  This will help prevent moth damage, stains to settle in and more.  Hallak’s box storage requires all items to be cleaned first. Learn more about your cold storage options as well.

For best results, certain garments require a wet cleaning.  (Dyes and/or sizing may be solvent suitable.) Of course, there may be additional safe methods in processing an item. The manufacturer is required to list at least one safe method.  With Hallak’s expertise, our dry cleaning technicians can properly test each garment to ensure your wardrobe is receiving the proper care – and safest method.

At Hallak Cleaners, we offer both wash-and-fold and couture dry cleaning. This way, your wardrobe is always safe in our hands.

We wish everyone asked this.  No, you should not store your clothing in these plastic coverings.  They are provided with the intended purpose in protecting garments until they reach their ‘home’.  Fabrics need to breathe.  It’s best to store clothing uncovered or in a fabric, breathable garment bag.

For longer clothing storage, please place garments in the same type of breathable garment bag mentioned above, a cedar closet, etc. However, we will strongly advise against storing in any sort of plastic storage bin.

Puckering and other similar fabric disturbances are caused by excessive shrinkage of the collar and cuffs’ interfacing. In a perfect world, the manufacturer would choose an interface that is compatible with the shirt’s fabric.

Lucky for you, we specialize in French hand laundering! 

French cleaning suggests that your garment be hand cleaned in a solvent. This term  may also imply a garment should only be spot-cleaned because no immersion method is acceptable.  

Please keep in my mind that garments, which only allow spot-cleaning, should be a possible red flag.  This kind of instruction does not meet the FTC Care Label Rule – and also doesn’t produce a clean garment.  

A quick bit of history for you!  A firm in Paris was credited with being the first in using an organic dry cleaning solvent.  This process became known as “French Cleaning”.  

Industry standards allow for a normal shrinkage of two percent. However, this is usually not enough to notice.  If you feel you have noticed a size change, then it is best to measure the collar and sleeve length.  If it ends up that your shirt did think (more than the 2%), the shrinkage would be caused by poorly stabilized materials.

While care labels can be irritating, they serve an important purpose.  They provide both customers and cleaners reasonable guidance regarding care and cleaning methods.  In fact, some cleaners will actually decline to clean garments without their care labels. Other cleaners will require a consent form prior to cleaning.

At Hallak, we do prefer garments with a care label. However, we are happy to evaluate any garment. Stop by, call (212) 832-0750 or email info@hallak.com today.

Dry cleaners and laundry detergents always talk about keeping your whites white and your brights bright…but what makes them dull or dingy? 

-Too much or too little detergent

-Use of too large of a washer load

-Inadequate rinsing

-Using the wrong water temperature

When is the last time you took a look at your detergent’s instructions? Allow them to instruct you on the correct amount, water temperature and more.  Cramming too many garments in your wash?  If your washer is too full, there will be more rubbing against clothing; this dulls fabric and colors.  

In addition to our couture dry cleaning, Hallak also offers wash-and-fold. Trust all your garment care to Hallak.

Legally, your care label should describe what can be done to care for the garment and any applicable trim.  

However, some care labels are attached where garment was manufactured. Then, trim and ornamentation can be attached afterwards. This will result in misinformation regarding care.

If you have questions about a garment’s care, we always encourage you to reach out to a professional and ask.

For certain items, the trim will be removed and then re-attached; this may become costly.  In addition, the Hallak team  requests a risk release form to be completed on items such as this.

When deciding on cleaning your feather pillows, ask yourself a few questions. How often are they used? Do you use a protective cover?  Can you see excessive perspiration or any discolorations on the pillow?  

In general, a feather pillow should be cleaned every six months. This will help keep them clean and dander-free. Some people who tend to perspire at night will clean their pillows every three months instead.

Hallak Cleaners offers care for your pillows, bed linens, comforters, and more.

When it comes to any sort of alteration or tailoring, we do suggest having a tailor/seamstress complete the measurements.  This will ensure that the most accurate measurements are used.  

Both Hallak locations have on-site tailors and seamstresses. While appointments are not necessary, they are strongly encouraged. Please call (212) 832-0750 prior to your visit.

There are some clients who feel comfortable bringing or sending in garments that have already been pinned for alterations.  If you feel inclined to do so, we will honor those measurements. However, it is strongly suggested that we take care of the measurements. Request a complimentary fitting today.

Unfortunately, we all have that favorite pair of jeans – with that slowly-growing tear.  It is better to catch the tear sooner rather than later. The best way to remedy this situation is by using a patch.  Your jeans will have a similar fabric inserted on the backside of the tear. Then, our talented team will sew it in neatly with matching stitches.  While it isn’t invisible, the hole will now be prevented from ‘growing’ any larger.

Pilling. Sadly, we are all to familiar with it.  When groups of short or broken fibers on a fabric’s surface become tangled together, a tiny ‘ball’ is created – pilling. Often, this results from rubbing (abrasion) during normal wear and use.

While you cannot eliminate pilling, you can minimize its occurrence.  Before laundering, turn your garment inside-out.  Then, use a slower agitation with a shorter wash cycle.  Finally, remove a garment from the dryer as soon as it is dry.

A little too late?  While your friends at Hallak will gladly help with any pilling, you can also attempt to remove it yourself at  home.  First, pull fabric taut over a curved surface. Then, carefully cut off the pill with  small scissors or shave fabric surface (using a safety razor).  Additionally, battery-operated pill removes are also available.

Once removed, please note that pills can return. In fact, they most likely will.  From time-to-time, you may find yourself removing pills to keep your garments looking fresh and new. Again, Hallak can help with your pilling problems. Schedule a pick-up today or stop by and visit.

If you liked science, then you may remember that enzymes are a type of protein found in living matter.  When used in laundry products, they can breakdown protein-type stains such as blood, dairy products, baby formula and vegetable proteins.  Enzymes also contain amylase (for starch), protease (for protein) and lipase (for fats).  If you have looked at your share of detergents, you may have noticed that many contain enzymes.

Have you ever seen a care label that states “Spot Clean Only”?  Spot cleaning means your garment will be hand-cleaned only in the areas where there are noticeable stains.  When you see this instruction, you should know that this garment is not able to withstand normal cleaning methods.  Some fashion includes various trims that are unserviceable whether laundered or dry cleaned. 

The experts at Hallak Cleaners have come across many couture and designer pieces that require spot-clean only care.   If you are unsure, please feel free to stop by with your item or call us at (212) 832-0750.