Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning is the actual cleaning process by which articles are cleaned using solvents.
Most clothing products require proper care instruction labeling. When a garment or other textile article is damaged in use or in the care process, the first step is to determine responsibility.
In general, the manufacturer is responsible to offer a product that will perform satisfactorily for its normal life expectancy. Types of damage such as severe general colour loss in the care process, relaxation shrinkage that makes an item unusable, colour change because of the decomposition of florescent brighteners, and failure to attached trims to withstand the cleaning process are examples of manufacturer responsibility.
The consumer is responsible for damage that occurs during use and home care. This includes failure to follow care instructions, permanent staining, fiber weakening from insect damage, chemical damage from the use of bleach, perspiration damage, or shrinkage of garments due to improper washing procedures.
The drycleaner or launderer is responsible for damage caused by redeposition of soil in the care process, damage due to accidental or negligent spot removal procedures, holes and tears caused by mechanical means (if these are discovered after cleaning and were not specifically noted before cleaning), damage resulting from articles left in pockets of the garment or others cleaned with it, and failure to follow care instructions.
When liability falls on the drycleaner, a cash adjustment is paid for the damaged article. The International Fabricare Institute (I.F.I.) has a step by step method for calculating adjustment value which utilizes the average life expectancy of the textile and the actual age of the article.
It may be difficult to determine responsibility for some types of damage. In such cases, a garment can be examined by the I.F.I. using laboratory methods to analyze the nature of the damage.
For information on the validity of dry cleaning complaints contact the Competition Bureau at 1-800-348-5358.
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