Village East Cleaners - gown care

No, but the person(s) who price the gown cleaning & preservation, are here at various hours so calling first is helpful. The seamstress has different hours than the cleaners so calling ahead is always a good idea although appointments are not necessary.

We offer an International Guarantee.
Only a MuseumCare? preservation is true protection for your gown. Look for our name and look for our logo.
Our written international guarantee is backed by members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists represented in more than 500 cities around the world.

Yes we have expert alteration seamstresses & tailors at both our locations, 6 days a week.

We restore, & or preserve all wedding party garments, as well as christening gowns, costumes, uniforms, and most keepsakes you may desire to save.

What is dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a method of removing stains and dirt from garments and fabric by using little or no water. Actually, dry cleaning is not “dry” as solvents or liquids are used to perform the cleaning, but with little water thus the term “dry”.

Dry cleaning machines are similar to washing machines in that a large tumbling basket is used to facilitate the cleaning process. Garments are placed in this basket that is partially filled with solvent and tumbled in a manner in which they drop through the solvent. This agitation and flushing action of the solvent are responsible for the majority of the cleaning.

Certain elements must be present in a dry cleaning system. These include a rotating wash cylinder, a tank for storing solvent, a pump to circulate the solvent, filters, a distillation system, a dryer and of course, the solvent itself. Other components which may or may not be found includes refrigerated condenser for capturing solvent vapors, vapor absorbers, moisture injection system, computer or card controllers, and others.

The solvents most widely used are percloroethylene (PERC) and hydrocarbon. The cleaning solution is comprised of approximately 98% pure solvent, 1% water, 1% sizing and detergents. If impurities comprise any more than an additional 1% of the cleaning solution, the cleaning quality can be detrimentally affected by odor and dinginess.

Some of the more difficult stains are removed with the use of chemical agents, water, steam, air, and a vacuum. This is completed on what is called a “spotting board”. This technique is performed both before and after cleaning and the stains are removed individually.

What is spot Cleaning?

Spot cleaning is basically what the title implies. A garment is hand cleaned only in the areas where spots are noticeable. Spot cleaning is performed if portions of a garment are not capable of withstanding an overall cleaning method or if the garment is basically clean and just a small area has a stain.

Spot cleaning is accomplished using a stain removal board, removal agents as necessary, steam and vacuum.

We, Village East Cleaners, also perform a process called “Freshening Up”. In freshening up a special attention is given to the under arms, wiping down the lining with a solvent, spot cleaning and hand pressing.

We have seven different and specialized finishing stations. You can’t get the finest results on an evening gown by a finisher if he/she is expected to produce khaki pants on the same station. The gown requires a softer press while the khaki pants are best produced with a harder press pad to generate the crisp finish.

Due to the variance in materials and construction, we do not have a single set price for an item category. Example: a blouse can have a large range of prices from a simple cotton tee to a silk designer top with rhinestone buttons and a temporary pleated finish requiring re-pleating with each cleaning. We are always happy to take the time at drop off to provide an exact price for articles being left for service. Please be patient as the pricing step is slightly involved and requires reading every care label and can take a few minutes.





Our Best Advice on Stains

1. Blot the Spot! The first thing to do if you have spilled something on your clothing is to remove as much as possible of the spilled substance by blotting with absorbent towels. Paper towels are best, terry cloth towels are also effective, and linen napkins are better than nothing – but they are really not very absorbent. Most importantly, never rub. Rubbing a fabric can quickly cause damage to the color or texture of the rubbed area. Blot by pressing a towel onto the spill area. Holding another towel underneath while pressing on top is the most effective technique. Wash or dry clean (according to the care label) the garment as soon as possible to prevent the stain from becoming set.

2. Don’t allow stains to set in! The sooner a stained garment is cleaned, the more likely the stains can be removed. Time and exposure to air, warmth, and light can physically change a stain and make it difficult or impossible to remove. Spills from colorless beverages containing sugar may disappear when dry, but re-appear when the garment is exposed to heat from sunlight or ironing. This is especially true with wedding gowns.

3. Not all stains are created equal! The ease or difficulty with which a stain can be removed is not always obvious. Many oily stains such as butter, salad oil, etc. – which seem disastrous – are actually not difficult to remove in most cases. Other seemingly innocuous items such as fruit juices, coffee, or flower pollen can be a real challenge to even the most experienced cleaners. As always, your best defense against any stain is to have the garment cleaned as soon as possible.


Candle Wax:

Lift wax with a dull knife. For remaining wax, place the cloth between paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels as wax is absorbed.


Caring for Velvet:

Velvet is soft, rich looking fabric, especially popular for holiday garments, such as dresses, blouses, and slacks. The best quality velvet has a deep pile and is made from cotton or a cotton/rayon blend. Acrylic is also used to make velvet, but it is less durable and the pile is easily damaged when moist.

All velvet is considered a special occasion fabric and has limited durability. Areas that show wear are the seat and the crease areas at the hips, knees, and elbows that may show pile distortion after limited use. Dry cleaning is the most gentle method of cleaning, and we have specialized equipment to help restore or mask wear.

Coat Care Basics

Never leave your coat in a car or car trunk on a hot day especially wool as it may shrink.

If your fur coat gets wet, shake it off and let it dry naturally.

Harsh winter elements, such as dirt, oily stains and salt must be gently removed from your coat. Our cleaning processes will help preserve your coats, assuring you years of enjoyment.