Recurring Redeposition noted by IFI

In 2001, drycleaners only accounted for 11 percent (1,348) of the garment damage problems submitted to IFI’s International Textile Analysis Laboratory. The low percentage echoes last year’s total of 11 percent, which was down from 14 percent for 1999.

However, that low percentage could be much less if drycleaners quit repeating the same mistakes. One trend that continues to plague the industry is redeposition, or the redepositing of soil resulting in the graying of white colored items or the dull appearance on colored items. This year, redeposition accounted for 20 percent of the problems caused by cleaners, making it the second most common drycleaner/launder problem for the ninth year in a row. In the past ten years, it has represented 22 percent of the total amount of errors caused by cleaners. Ironically, the problem is easily preventable.

“Redeposition is completely in the hands of the cleaner,” said IFI Research Supervisor Ivan Andrasik. “Proper detergent concentration is critical to keeping soils in suspension and away from the garments. Attempting to save money by reducing chemicals and supplies only increases the chances for increased customer claims and lost money.” IFI noted that many solvent quality factors can lead to redeposition, including: high insoluble material content; dark or discolored solvent due to dye bleeding; dirty solvent due to high nonvolatile residue (NVR); an insufficient amount of detergent; and if the moisture content is too high.

The problem may also occur as the result of cleaning factors, such as an insufficient flow rate; overloaded washers; too long of a running time; and if pre-spotted items are not sufficiently dry.

In order to prevent redeposition, IFI recommends that cleaners: select a high-quality detergent; install a cartridge filter if the powderless spin filtration is inadequate; maintain an adequate distillation program; maintain the proper detergent concentration; load the washer to 75-80 percent loading capacity; properly classify each load; monitor the flow rate of solvent to ensure a minimum of 10 solvent changes per wash cycle; and take time to completely dry pre-spotted items.

IFI also noted that separate all-carbon housing is essential in cases where drycleaning businesses receive a high amount of bleeders.

Dye/design damage was the most common fabric care snafu committed by cleaners for 2001, making up 22 percent of the overall errors. Of the 319 total mistakes, 155 involved spotting and 62 involved bleaching. The remaining 102 were classified as color change (56) and wetcleaning/bleeding (46).

Failure to follow care label instructions proved to be another roadblock for cleaners, comprising 16 percent (235) of the mistakes. That number is up from the previous year, which was nearly 15 percent.

The remaining problem areas included: shrinkage/distortion, 14 percent (201); fabric damage (chemical, heat and mechanical), 12 percent (169); damage to finish/texture from poor finishing, chafing, pile distortion, etc., 9 percent (133); stains, 6 percent (82); and miscellaneous, 1 percent (13).

Manufacturers and consumers. Overall, IFI analyzed almost 13,000 pieces of clothing and household goods last year. Of those, 45 percent (5,730) of the damage that occurred during the cleaning process was attributed to manufacturers. That is significantly higher than 2000, when manufacturer’s were charged with 40 percent of the overall accidents.

Leather garments were the most common manufacturer problem, balancing out at 23 percent (1,290). Dyes, finishes and inferior skins represented another 1,057 faulty garments for manufacturers and the ambiguous category of “defects’ had 753 instances, or about 13 percent.

IFI’s laboratory statistics also revealed a strange anomaly: the customer is not always right, apparently. Consumers managed to be wrong 35 percent of the time, actually, causing 4,445 garment problems through general use or improper storage.

Consumers can take some consolation in knowing that they were, at least, more right than they had been in the previous two years. In 2000, the percentage of customer problems was 36 percent, and in 1999, that number was much higher at 41 percent.

To nobody’s surprise, the main fault of customers for the year was stains, which accounted for 28 percent, or 1,281 of the problems.

Fabric deterioration due to contact with acidic or alkaline substances was a close second with 1,246 mishaps. Unfortunately for cleaners, such damage often remains unnoticed until the garment is subjected to mechanical action and heat during the care process, but IFI pointed out that in such cases, its garment analysis can provide cleaners with some backup support to explain the damage.

IFI’s International Textile Analysis Laboratory is available for service exclusively to all IFI members. For more information on submitting a garment for analysis, call (800) 638-2627, ext. 128 or 129.