Dry Cleaners in San Francisco Area serving Bernal Heights, Cow Hollow, Diamond Heights, Duboce Triangle, Eureka Valley, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Inner Sunset, Japantown, Laurel Heights, Marina District, Mission District, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, North Beach, Outer Sunset, Pacific Heights, Presidio, Rincon Hill, Russian Hill, San Francisco, Sea Cliff, Sunset District, Telegraph Hill, The Marina, The Presidio, Treasure Island, Twin Peaks and Western Addition

How to Find the Best San Francisco Area Dry Cleaners

Clothes are expensive, so finding the best dry cleaner in San Francisco CA is important. High quality San Francisco Area dry cleaners can clean nearly any type of fabric without harming your clothes. Many dry cleaning businesses can clean drapes, tablecloths and area rugs, and some offer delivery, ironing and laundry service. If you are in the San Francisco Area, the following Prime Buyer's Report articles will give you everything you need to find the best San Francisco CA dry cleaner for you. more »

How to Find the Best San Francisco Area Dry Cleaners 

If you've ever risked defying the "dry clean only" care instructions on a favorite garment, you've probably learned your lesson. As much as we believe in it, our washing machine can't do everything. Dry cleaners have specialized chemical and cleaning methods to do what we cannot. Unless you want your wool sweater to come up to your elbows and expose your midriff, look for the following services from a local dry cleaner.

San Francisco Area Cleaners Perform Numerous Services
When you bring your fine washables to a dry cleaner in the San Francisco Area, you can often expect more than your basic wash and fold service. Many San Francisco Area cleaners offer free pick up and return services, expert stain removal, spot cleaning, and reweaving. They can also use French cleaning techniques, tailor, and press any number of fabric garments. Dry cleaners have special preservation techniques for sentimental artifacts, such as wedding gowns and handmade pillows. For more heavy duty tasks, certain dry cleaners can perform insurance restoration work, such as smoke damage repair, fire damage repair, Stoddard treatment, perc treatment, and deodorization. If you're concerned about the chemicals used by dry cleaners, some offer environmentally-safe or organic cleaning methods.

San Francisco Area Cleaners Care for Many Materials
Dry cleaners have the means to clean a number of fragile fabrics. They have special treatments for leather, suede, linen, down, acetate, wool, acrylic, sequined garments, fur, silk, and rayon. Certain types of textiles need professional attention as well, and cleaners are equipped to care for most of them. These include shirts, blouses, wedding gowns, formal wear, certain household items, area rugs, drapery, sleeping bags, suits, and other formals.

Choose From a Number of Quality Dry Cleaners in the San Francisco Area
You have a wide selection of cleaners available to you in the San Francisco Area. This means you have the luxury of being selective, and when it comes to your prized garments and household fabrics, you don't want them in the hands of just anyone. The Prime Buyer's Report has evaluated the cleaners in the San Francisco Area to identify those that provide the extra attention and care you're looking for. We've determined the top 10 cleaners in the San Francisco Area to be Laundry Locker, Laundry Locker, European Cleaners, Metro Cleaners, Walnut Cleaners, New System Chinese Laundry, Gough Street Cleaners, Veteran's Deluxe Cleaners, Little Hollywood Launderette, One Hour Martinizing. Other respected cleaners in the San Francisco Area include Veteran's Deluxe Cleaners, La Post Cleaners.

Investigate Specific Dry Cleaners Before You Use Their Services
Learn about your garment and the appropriate cleaning procedures. This way, you'll be able to identify a capable dry cleaner by the services they offer and the treatments they use without running the risk of ruining your belongings. And before you bring your laundry in, research a few important details about the business. Obviously, make sure the launderer can take care of your particular garment. But you should also check different permitting, as dry cleaners must be licensed to apply many of the common chemicals used in the industry. You can find this information on certain association Web sites and related internet forums. For a list of these resources, see The Prime Buyer's Report article, "Key Resources for Cleaners in the San Francisco Area."

 

 

How to Choose a Dry Cleaner in San Francisco CA 

Step 1: Ask Questions & Take Notes
Make a few calls to different cleaners in the area and ask about their services as they relate to your garment. You may also want to inquire about additional considerations they make for their customers. And while you're on the phone, pay attention to the quality of help you receive. If there seems to be a problem with miscommunication, there's a chance you won't get what you ask for. The list below can help you clear up these issues before you put your precious fabrics in the wrong hands.

How long have you been in business?
Have you worked with my type of fabric before?
Can you remove my particular stains or spotting? (If applicable)
Can you remove odors?
Can you remove aged stains?
Can you perform fabric repairs?
How long should it take to clean my garment?
Do you pick up and/or return completed dry cleaning?
Do you hand wash items?
What chemicals do you use?
Do you hold the necessary certifications to do so?
Do you perform the cleaning on site?
How do you determine pricing?
Are you certified to perform restorative work?

Step 2: Background Research
After you've interviewed and selected a strong candidate, make sure they have the proper certifications. Verify business licensure as well as industry certifications. Although they are not required, certifications such as CED (Certified Environmental Dry Cleaner), CPD (Certified Professional Drycleaner, and CPW (Certified Professional Wetcleaner), are indications of greater ability. If you happen upon any of these experts, you will likely get better results.

Step 3: Making the Final Decision
Now that you can feel more comfortable leaving your belongings with a certain cleaning business, drop them off (or arrange for them to be picked up). Keep your receipts and carefully examine the finished product for remaining or additional stains or tears.

 

 

Key Resources in San Francisco for Dry Cleaners 

Associations & Licensing
BBB Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org)
CCA California Cleaners Association (www.calcleaners.com)
CIRI Cleaning Industry Research Institute (www.ciri-research.org)
CRDN Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network (www.restorationdrycleaning.com)
DCA California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov)
Diamond Certified (www.diamondcertified.org)
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov)
IFI International Fabricare Institute (www.ifi.org)
NCA National Cleaners Association (www.nca-i.com)
TCATA Textile Care Allied Trades Association (www.tcata.org)
UTSA Uniform and Textile Service Association (www.utsa.com)
WTSA Western Textile Services Association (www.wtsa.org)

Media & Web Publications
American Coin-op
American Laundry News
American Drycleaner
Laundry Today

www.cleanersonline.com
www.epa.gov/opptintr/dfe/pubs/garment/gcrg/resource.htm
www.laundryandcleaningnews.com
www.natclo.com
www.utexas.edu/centers/nfic/

Do you own any clothes that say dry clean only? The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 dry cleaners in the San Francisco Area within the following zip codes:

94101, 94102, 94103, 94104, 94105, 94107, 94108, 94109, 94110, 94111, 94112, 94114, 94115, 94116, 94117, 94118, 94119, 94120, 94121, 94122, 94123, 94124, 94125, 94126, 94127, 94129, 94130, 94131, 94132, 94133, 94134, 94140, 94141, 94142, 94146, 94147, 94157, 94158, 94159, 94164, 94165, 94166, 94167, 94168, 94169, 94170, 94172 and 94188

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 cleaners in the San Francisco Area within the following cities:

Bernal Heights, Cow Hollow, Diamond Heights, Duboce Triangle, Eureka Valley, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Inner Sunset, Japantown, Laurel Heights, Marina District, Mission District, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, North Beach, Outer Sunset, Pacific Heights, Presidio, Rincon Hill, Russian Hill, San Francisco, Sea Cliff, Sunset District, Telegraph Hill, The Marina, The Presidio, Treasure Island, Twin Peaks and Western Addition

 

 

5 Great Dry Cleaner Tips 

Seek Out the Best.
Many drycleaners in the San Francisco Area have taken the extra steps and been certified by the International Fabricare Institute. Additional training has earned them one of several certifications (CED, CFW, or CPD) that guarantee advanced expertise and a wider range of efficient cleaning techniques. If you have a particularly difficult fabric issue, these professionals have a better chance of successfully remediating it.

Call Around for Pricing Information.
When you make calls to your local cleaners, get a price estimate. This will be something you can factor into your eventual decision about where to go.

Choose Certified Companies.
Several local drycleaners are Diamond Certified or members of the Better Business Bureau. These endorsements are only attained through proven quality workmanship and superior customer service. If you choose to use their services, you will come away with excellent results.

Check the Finished Work.
When your laundered clothes are returned to you, inspect them for additional stains or other damage. Also make sure that the requested task(s) was performed adequately and completely.

Know Your Rights.
When you patronize a dry cleaning business, you are automatically protected by certain state mandated laws. To learn about the rights you've been granted, visit the consumer affairs Web site for the State of California.