Check the care tags on your clothes as you sort through your laundry. The items that can be safely dry cleaned, without damage to the fabric content, will usually say "machine wash or dry clean" or "dry clean only" on the tag.
Mark soiled or other problem areas on garments in order to find them quickly when you go to the dry cleaner. Put masking tape or pins on or near the stains.
Prepare a list of stain origins, if you know how the stains occurred, to share with the dry cleaner. Taking the guesswork out of identifying a stain will save the spotter time when he pre-treats the items.
Avoid pre-treating stains on clothing that will be dry cleaned. While your cleaners may fade the spots, the dry cleaner's solvents may do a better job and are made especially for the source of the specific stain.
Search the pockets of all the clothing you are taking to the cleaners. Take out any loose change, slips of paper, lipstick, chewing gum and other odds and ends you may find. Some items, such as paper money, may survive the cleaning process, while others, like gum and makeup, can damage not only your clothing, but also that of others in the same load.
Take your dry cleaning in as soon as possible to avoid stains and odors from setting. It is easier to remove fresh dirt from clothing immediately.
Prepare to spend a few minutes with your dry cleaner, explaining the services you want performed on your clothing. Give her the list of stains and point out any other issues about which you may be concerned, such as loose buttons or a broken zipper.
