The garment: A yellow silk dress with a black pleated sash around the waist. The care label states: "dry clean-do not iron directly on beads or sequins" with no International code symbols.

The problem: During drycleaning in perchlorethylene (perc), the black trim dye bleeds, resulting in transfer of color onto the yellow dress fabric in various areas. The pressing process is not a factor.

Who's responsible? The manufacturer since the black trim was not able to withstand the recommended care instructions without dye disturbance.

What to do: This dress should be returned to the retailer or manufacturer.

Since the damage is related to solvent power, a process using a lower power solvent (such as petroleum, hydrocarbon, or GreenEarth) may have been successful. In some cases careful wet cleaning may have been possible. However, according to the United States care labeling regulation, this dress could be cleaned safely in any solvent, including perc. This interpretation may differ in other countries.

Featuring a garment does not imply that a manufacturer is knowingly or continually producing defective goods. While this particular item was deemed unable to withstand the recommended care process, other comparable garments may or may not hold up to the care instructions.

Copyright 2009, Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, all rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or distribution is prohibited.