National Clothesline

Sometimes, drycleaners just want a second opinion on a garment analysis report issued by the Textile Analysis Lab at the International Fabricare Institute. Fortunately, such a service exists.

IFI members who are not completely satisfied with the results of a garment analysis report may send the report to the association’s Garment Analysis Peer Review Group for a re-evaluation.

The group was originally formed in 1996 with five members, but it has since changed its ranks and added two additional members.

The job of the group’s seven members will be to analyze contested reports to determine if the judgements were fair, complete and accurate.

According to Muir, the process is very simple. “Members contact the analyst, and, if they can’t work it out with the analyst, or if they want to bypass the analyst, they contact me and we have them send the garment back in. The Peer Group meets once a month so we have the group examine the garment once it’s here.”

Upon further scrutiny of the case, the Peer Review Group sends a letter to the cleaner with an overview of the group’s decision. In necessary cases, the original report may be revised to reflect the opinions of the group. Regardless of the outcome, IFI assures cleaners that all possibilities for the cause and responsibility for the damage to a garment will be considered.

In 2001, IFI’s International Textile Analysis Lab studied nearly 13,000 pieces of clothing and household goods, of which approximately 11% were attributed to mishaps in the care process by drycleaners and launderers.

Yet, despite having more that 1,400 reports pointing to the fault of cleaners, Muir noted that contested reports are not as common, but still necessary.

“We don’t have that many contested reports,” she said. “This is just one more option for members. If there is a disagreement or dispute with a report, they can discuss it with the analyst and that usually takes care of it. But, this service is for something that is usually more involved. It’s between the cleaner and the consumer and they just need a little more information or they completely disagree with the analysis.”

IFI’s International Textile Analysis Lab offers garment analysis reports only for IFI members. The cost is $16.50 per garment, plus an additional $8.50 for shipping and handling per package.

Once a cleaner has paid for a report, there is no additional fee to contest the results and have the Garment Analysis Peer Review Group review the findings.

For more information, contact Lorraine Muir at IFI by calling (800) 638-2627, ext. 129.