Comments on: Ask Mike: Blouse persecution

By: shy

shy — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:44:31 +0000

I know I am like 3 blog behind but I have to say it. Does no one watch corner gas? There was any episode about this.

By: Lillsoma

Lillsoma — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:59:10 +0000

.
I personally have NEVER taken a single garment to the dry cleaners. If a piece of clothing states “Dry Clean Only” I simply wash it, alone, at times in a zipper pillow case, on delicate, low agitate, cycle. I have never used the dry clean products, either. I will tumble it in the dryer for a minute or so, then remove and allow to air dry, either by laying it out or simply hang it on a dryer. Most important, I haven’t ruined one piece of clothing yet.No matter what the fabric.
There was also a story on either Inside Edition or 20/20 some time back that gave us an inside scoop on how our fine fabrics are cared for at the dry cleaners, and guess what…? They throw yours along with others in a giant machine and wash it no differently then we would at home. This particular cleaners charged the same price for all, and had nothing but satisfied customers.They had never lost a article of clothing or customer with this practice of laundering. I happen to be one of the rare people that love to do laundry, and I am not exactly recommending my way of cleaning unless you are going to give it the proper attention I do.

By: Unafraid

Unafraid — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:04:52 +0000

Serena: I’m not sure what you mean by expecting people that can afford to buy clothes dry clean only. Dry clean only clothes are not that much more expensive. Many clothes of mine which are dry clean only were inexpensive (thrift), I just happen to like the material and cut of the garment. I am certain that I am not wealthy or well off, why is there a stereotype about people who can afford to buy dry clean only clothing? Some people also need certain materials and looks for work. It is also possible to purchase dryel bags which allow from home dry cleaning.

By: Edik

Edik — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:03:40 +0000

Yes, I think there is a nationwide conspiracy. All the dry cleaners out there are working together to discriminate against women. Obviously, that’s it. (yes, those sentences were dripping with sarcasm)

Come on…really? If a blouse requires more work to clean than a standard man’s shirt does, then certainly the blouse should cost more to clean.

Maybe there isn’t a clear enough definition on what, precisely, distinguishes a blouse from a shirt. My guess is that dry cleaners distinguish between the two as womens’ and mens’ clothing for convenience.

It’s not a gender issue — if a woman wears a man’s shirt, or wants her blouse “laundered” rather than “dry cleaned,” then she should be sure to specify that to the cleaner. If it is impossible to clean in this way (won’t fit on the press, or whatever), then the cleaner will tell you that. Otherwise, you should pay for whatever service you ask for. And if you don’t ask specifically, you should pay for whatever service is performed, and remember to be clear in the future.

By: Johny

Johny — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:26:24 +0000

I nearly died laughing reading this out.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:07:33 +0000

I think it because its easier to manipulate women in buying decisions. Not trying to be sexist, but the subject is quite sexist. Most car salesmen try to speed up the buying process with women to get the sale done. Women are more prone to feelings than men and go by feelings. If the price on blouses are higher, then women are more likely to spen the extra $4.00 than complain about it.
Guys, trying to argue with a woman is useless

Women, dont instigate a fight.

By: Halfwords McGill

Halfwords McGill — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:34:51 +0000

Why bother arguing about this. You know what will happen if people make a big deal about it. Dry cleaners will raise the price of men’s shirts to match the price of women’s shirts. And everybody will lose. Except the dry cleaner.

By: J.

J. — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:45:06 +0000

Blah blah blah. Women pay more for everything except – and rightly so, since men cause and get into exponentially more accidents – car insurance. We pay more for health care – because, unfortunately, we happened by chance to be born with a uterus. And we don’t even get PAID equal wages yet. Hello. But it’s definitely not gender discrimination. No sir.

Blouses have “frills”? Yeah, right, I’m sure they spend an hour carefully cleaning each “frill” and sequin by hand and it’s SO MUCH MORE work. What a load. Many women’s shirts and suits are just like men’s. And I’m sure it would just kill somebody to manufacture a smaller press so each dry cleaner could buy one or two for their woman customers.

Just another reason I use home dry-cleaning kits.

By: Annie

Annie — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:06:35 +0000

Womens clothes sometimes take a lot of care but I rarely believe in a dry cleaner there a waste of money and car travel time and expenses if you can just do it yourself cheaper unless its something I wouldn’t want to wash myself like a fancy dress like if I would like to clean my prom dress and wear it to a wedding, or if I bought the fancy dress second hand and I like to clean second hand clothes before wearing them or theres leather, I can only do so much for leather upkeep. I usually hand wash or wash such special items on a very short gentle cycle and if its a synthetic fiber I may feel its nessecary to hang dry the item or with bras I put one cup inside out and have it in the other take a pillow case standard white for light colors and a darker case for darker colors and tie it and then I put that in another bag, and wash them on gentle cycle with a few other similar items like maybe a few like colored shirts, and then if I want them to dry faster I put them in the dryer like that on regular or medium heat for one cycle (you may want a half cycle our dryer takes a long time to dry) and take the still damp bra out of the case and hang it to dry the rest of the way. There’s dryell for most dry clean only stuff too.

I also tend to think about the dry clean factor when I buy my clothes too I don’t like hard to care for clothes for example I usually wear sports bras because its just so annoying to care for a regular one, but I like having them for certain occassions because a sports bra wont work under everything. I don’t avoid all dry clean clothes, I mean I wear some for special occasions, but cotton clothing is like my best friend, its easy to care for cotton so I wear it almost every day.

By: lyn kash

lyn kash — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:51:12 +0000

so,what about t-shirts?my t shirts are charged 2 dollars to dry clean them,my husband pays a dollar for his.why?they are both identical cotton t shirts(we dry clean our favorites so they dont wear out as fast or shrink).there are no “buttons or frills” on mine.i am still overcharged-unless he drops off the shirts.then,he’s charged a dollar for mine and his.as for size differences-we wear the same size t.