Q: Why is dry-cleaning so expensive?
A: Dry-cleaning is a specialised trade within the clothing industry. All dry-cleaners vary but this is how ours work:
Each garment is first inspected by a member of staff and then sorted into it's
appropriate area at the dry-cleaning station.
It is then inspected for stains and damage and treated individually with spotters depending on the nature of the stain and the material of the garment.
It will then go into a specific cycle in the dry-cleaning machine - more delicate garments / materials will take more time due to their specific needs and therefore cost more. The garment is then inspected again and if it is still stained, all the above will be done again, at no extra charge.
When it has satisfied the stain removal stage, the garment will then be put into the steam cabinet. This is where stubborn creases are blown out using steam.
The garment is then handed over to a professional member of staff, where it is finished individually on the presser.
The garment is then inspected by the quality control superviser to ensure that all stains are removed* and that the garment has been finished and pressed satisfactorily. When s/he is happy with garment it is then bagged, tagged and hung up / folded for the customer.
So by the end of each cycle, every garment has used it's fair share of electricity, chemicals, soaps, water, paper, plastics and staff. Not to mention all the usual business expenses; rent, rates tax and so on.
But be reassured - with the individual care and time each garment receives it is definitly money well spent.

*See Question 2 regarding why some stains do not come out!

Q: Why do some stains not come out & why do I still have to pay for cleaning if they don't?
A: Some stains are obviously easier to remove than others. And this can vary a lot depending on the type of material as well!
I'll give you an example:
I have a child who destroys herself in tomato ketchup almost every other day! Anyway,on one such day she was wearing a cotton white skirt and a pink polyester top. As per usual, I did my separate washes - whites & colurs. Both cycles on the washing machine were set at 40 degrees and I used two scoops of the same washing powder in each cycle as well.
but funny enough... the stain came out of the pink polyester top and not the white cotton skirt!
This is when dry-cleaners can have the same problems. Some very delicate materials such as silk, rayon and linens can not be put on the same temperatures as other man made materials like polyester, polymide or nylon.
And depending on the colours and type of stains some spotters can not be used to treat the stains. But the garment will still go through the same process of dry-cleaning just using other chemicals etc. This is why you still have to pay for the service. Dry-cleaners generally have a policy: If there is a risk of damaging the garment, don't do it without the owner's risk!

Q: What is Owner's Risk?
A: This is when a dry-cleaner may inform you of certain risks involved in dry-cleaning your garment and you can decide whether to go ahead or not.If you do decide to go ahead, you must sign a document to state this. The dry-cleaner will do his / her best to prevent any damage from incurring.