Consumer Traps & Tips # 68 - Dry Cleaning & Care Labels

For immediate release: March 15, 2010
Contact:Dennis Moore, 561-712-6600 • PBC Consumer Affairs Division

Trap

Sonia was distraught. The designer business suit she planned to wear to the shareholders meeting had shrunk after being dry-cleaned.  Although her dry cleaner said the suit was handled according to the care label, he was willing to compensate her for the damage, but at only a fraction of what the suit cost!
 
Tips
How could a suit be cleaned properly but still shrink? Clothing is covered by the Federal Trade Commissions’ (FTC) Care Label Rule. Consider the following tips:

• Clothing sold in the United States must have a permanent, legible care label attached in a conspicuous place stating accurate cleaning instructions.
• The FTC’s Care Label Rule allows businesses to use a registered identification number, or RN, instead of its name on the fabric label.  The FTC has an RN search page (https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/TextileRN/wrnquery$.startup) to obtain the manufacturer’s name and address.
• If the garment purchased doesn’t have a care label, contact the FTC at http://www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357 to file a complaint.  Provide the name and location of the retailer where the garment was purchased. 
• Ask the dry cleaner if they have a loss/damage policy before risking damage to your clothes. Look for it to be posted at the store or on the back of the receipt.
• The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) recommends contacting the cleaner promptly when there is a problem.  If the care label procedures were not followed, the damage claim can be resolved by the dry cleaner.  Dry cleaners will often use the “Fair Claims Guide” published by the DLI which considers the age and condition of a garment to help determine its value.

Call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 888-852-7362 toll free) or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer to check for consumer complaints against local dry cleaners.