Dry Cleaning Formalwear

If you have an event coming up, you may be wondering what dry cleaning formalwear is going to cost you. For an important event, it’s worthwhile to find a place you can count on to do a great job cleaning your dress, suit, or overcoat, so you look sharp and feel confident. If you’ve never had items dry cleaned before, it can be a little overwhelming to weigh all the options and figure out where to take your things. Here are some factors in how much it costs to dry clean a suit, dress, or coat.

 

Location

Dry cleaning formalwear can vary drastically in price, depending on where in the country you are getting it done. Services cost more in big cities than they do in small towns and rural areas, but you are more likely to find cleaners with decades of experience in the city. If you are flying somewhere for a wedding or high school reunion, you will  probably want to have your items cleaned or at least pressed after you arrive, since items tend to wrinkle during travel.

 

Material

Another thing to take into considering when dry cleaning formalwear is what material your clothing is made of. If your overcoat has leather or fur accents, not only will that increase the price substantially, but you may find it harder to find a cleaner who will take your items. In Seattle, your best bet for leather or fur is Corry’s Fine Dry Cleaning, where we have decades of experience under our belt cleaning these specialty materials.

Another place where the fabric could matter is in your dress shirt. Many cleaners need to hand-press silk blends or other materials that are not 100% cotton, which is more costly than machine-pressing shirts. You can ask about this when you drop off your items, so you don’t get any surprises on pickup.

 

Vintage Items

Another factor when it comes to the price of dry cleaning formalwear is whether your items are vintage or antique. The vintage store can yield some interesting pieces, but older clothing needs more care. Special care for vintage items can result in up to a 300% upcharge, because they require an expert to oversee every step of the process.

 

The Bottom Line

Many factors can affect the price of dry cleaning formalwear. When you drop off your suit, dress, or coat, you can request a quote to make sure you know what you’ll owe at pickup. If cost is a concern, we highly recommend calling ahead, checking the cleaner’s online price list, and chatting with the front counter at drop off.