Our Process

EACH GARMENT GOES THROUGH A SEVEN STEP PROCESS

Don't try this at home, kids . . . it's NOT washing!

Step 1. PRE-INSPECTION

We give your garment a good once-over to check for soil and stains, damage, and stuff in the pockets. We close zippers, button pockets, remove lint and animal hair, and fix any minor damage we find. Next we sort according to colour, fabric and texture.

Step 2. PRE-SPOTTING

This job entails a great deal of sleuth work. We inspect each garment for stains and soil, then test suspicious dyes to make sure they won’t run. We pre-treat stains with banana oil, check care label instructions, inspect for pre-existing problems (tears, moth holes, colour loss, etc), and decide which of the 99 programs on our cleaning machine would best suit your garment.

Step 3. CLEANING

Our state-of-the-art European equipment immerses your clothing in a digitally controlled environment, adjusting cleaning agents, temperature, saturation, type and amount of mechanical agitation, and extraction spin speed according to the specific fabric. This is very space-age stuff! Miele spent twelve years in research and development of this system. While there are currently 1500 systems in operation worldwide, there is only ONE on Vancouver Island.
In the first phase of cleaning, a small, controlled amount of banana-oil pre-spotter is added to the machine to help remove general soil. Next, a citrus and soy agent with dye blockers and fabric protectors is added, and finally, the garments are finished with silk protein. Miele’s cleaning action uses an extremely gentle drum rhythm, patented fiber protection and low water levels to coax dirt and stains gently from your most delicate garments. By giving clothes a smoother ride, and by utilizing ecologically responsible detergents, the system is gentle, not just to your clothes, but to the environment.

Step 4. FORMING

Originally designed for the textile manufacturing industry, our forming equipment shapes your garment the same way it was shaped at the factory.
During wet forming, heavy woolen coats and jackets are brushed to de-pill and restore the original soft feel, and dark clothes are brushed to remove lint.

Step 5. DRYING

We use a digital moisture-sensing low-heat dryer for sturdier garments. We dry clothing to the ambient moisture level best for the particular fabric.

Almost all garments, whether wet-formed or partially dried, go to the drying room where they hang until dried completely.

Step 6. PRESSING

The large flat board we use for hand-pressing has a very powerful built-in vacuum that holds the garment in place for precision work. The same board has an “up air” function that blows air upwards, so delicate garments float on a cushion of air during pressing. This avoids any hard press marks along seam lines. This equipment is fantastic for wedding gowns and other articles that require gentle handling.

Step 7. INSPECTION AND TOUCH-UP

Last, your garment gets put back on the tensioning equipment for a final forming, where it is touched up and de-linted once again.
During each stage of its journey, your clothes are inspected for stains: if any are detected, it goes back for treating and repeat cleaning. If your garment passes inspection, it is bagged with the rest of your order.

DISCLAIMER:

Stain policy

We always do our best to remove all stains. If your garment is returned with a “sorry” tag, the stain has been treated and your garment cleaned at least twice, and often many more times. Some stains just won’t budge, but most will at least lighten up considerably.

A Note About Care Labels

We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for a garment that incurs damage during the cleaning process if the care label has been removed. We do promise use our best skills and knowledge to ensure the safety of your clothing.
Similarly, some problems are beyond our control. We cannot accept responsibility for buttons, buckles, zippers, ornaments or shrinkage. Manufacturers are increasingly using third world suppliers and substandard materials. Poor quality dyes may run, dissolve or change colour in the cleaning process. We won’t accept the blame for manufacturers’ shortcuts!