THSCC Forums

It is often said that it's important to value what one's time is worth. Well, I've decided my time is worth more than ironing shirts. Besides. I can't do it properly anyway. So, I've heard tell of places that do "99 cent shirts" for years and years. Trouble is, I've never found a place that actually does it. Anyone know of one? Either in the RTP area close to Morrisville, or in Durham close to Southpoint. Thanks!

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

I have not worn an ironed shirt or pant in decades except for a rare dry cleaned suit. Permanent press and a big dryer is good enough for me. Dress or casual. Of course, nobody ever said I was a sharp dresser . . .

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

I'm just the opposite. I only worn a laundered/dry cleaned button down shirt or pants/slacks since 2004. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

I've had to buy some new clothes recently, and I decided it was time to do better than ratty jeans and a four year old Pro Solo t-shirt or whatever. I find that the shirts I like are almost always cotton, or, worse still, linen. The cotton ones look "okay" straight out of the dryer, not like I slept in it, but still not great. I use fabric softener and dryer balls, no noticeable difference.

Anyway, they definitely need ironed out of the dryer, and I can't do it right. All I can do is make them look "different." Not "better."

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Karl, I don't have a specific recommendation, but every place I take them to does an OK job for the $1.10 average price i pay. They all do *fine*, none are awesome that I know of, and one is not head and shoulders above the other for such a low-dollar service like dress shirts. I still launder them once in awhile at home as their cleaning process takes its toll over time. I take them to the most convenient place near home or work---typically in or near a shopping mall with a Kroger or Lowe's.

(As an aside...I have yet to find a cleaner that can do a good job removing stains from more complicated stuff like ties, suits, blankets, sweaters etc. As an example I scored a Brooks Brothers silk blend sweater for like $20, promptly spilled coffee on it and have subsequently taken it to multiple cleaners without success.)

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86

I follow the following Rules for everything except suit-and-tie clothing:

Rule #1: Never, and I mean Never, buy clothes that don't look 'fine' when hung/folded fresh out of the washer or dryer
Rule #2: If you see a really good deal on a piece of clothing, or a really cool style you like, but it has special laundering/ironing considerations, see Rule #1.

Yes, this probably explains my (lack of) fashion, but bypasses this issue almost entirely.

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

You guys know I own a Dry Cleaners?(23 years today!) Although I'm in Fuquay, I do have strong feelings on this general subject matter. Not all Dry Cleaners are reputable.The "cheap" ones seldom are. There is a real problem in my industry caused by the "discount" or "one price" business model. But thats another story.
If you choose to patronize these stores, good luck. Heaven fordbid you have a problem...or need a stain removed.

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2008 Burnt Piston Award Winner!!!!

Robert, if I knew that, it slipped my mind. Unfortunately, though, Fuquay is nearly an hour from me, and even I could iron a few shirts in an hour. Maybe. Do you have a suggestion for a place in Durham or RTP?

I'm interested to learn more about the cheap dry cleaners. Tell me more about the cheap places, and why you think they're to be avoided. This is an area I obviously have little familiarity with. All I know is that I've got some reasonably nice shirts, and I'd like them to not look like I slept in them when I wear them in public.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Karl, I knew I was too far from you for your business, just had a button pushed by the general topic. The "discount" or "one price" stores are a business model that is a cancer in my industry. Two main groups are putting mom and pop with 60 to 100 k down in business and setting them up in these discount locations. The operators know very little about the business and can only compete based on price. The average lifespan of these operators is 2 years. Then the landloards "rewash" the store and sell it again to another mom and pop (usually Korean or Indian) and get their 60k again plus monthly payments until they fail. In the meantime, the stores look busy and the market for full price stores is "difficult. "
Just last week, my fellow operator in Angier closed his doors after 28 years. My chemical salesman is an owner of a plant in Durham, who's on the road selling because he isn't making money in his store. He is considering shutting it down. Let me set the record straight: I'm a free market
conservative who believes in competition to my core. Competition is healthy and good for the customer. Unless it's convoluted like my industry is right now. Sour grapes, maybe. Put yourself in my shoes. Try to compete with a seemingly endless supply of "unfair" competitors. So... please go to a reputable store. I'll make some calls and try to find you a good location run by a responsible operator. Karl, thanks for asking this question! We as a club should do our best to support our membership. Maybe a computer programmer for a large corporation wouldn't see the need in this (not picking, just an example!) but as the owner of a small service business, I know how vital this is. I will gladly drive out of my way to do business with one of our own.

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2008 Burnt Piston Award Winner!!!!

Please explain what is "unfair" about these "discount" dry cleaners. I'm curious.

<---Hasn't used a dry cleaners, ever, and it shows

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Irony: While posting this lengthy reply (sorry) I was interrupted twice. Once by a lady who had mildew on a dry clean only dress who needed help,and the other by a lady who washed her husbands favorite shirt with something that bled on it. Hopefully, the value that I add to my general services will keep me here another 23 years.
P.S. I charge $2.15 for a shirt, and do over 400 daily. If you have a problem at my store, it is resolved to your satisfaction at all cost!! One of the secrets of the "one price" cleaners is they have signage in their lobbies that says "limit of liability for any cleaned item is 15 times price charged to clean that garment." If your shirt cost over 15.00 and something happens, your screwed. Be forewarned.
Karl, I will get back to you with recommendations. Thanks again.

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2008 Burnt Piston Award Winner!!!!

Ryan, Like my above post says, those businesses are almost always set up to fail. It would be like having a parts store a block away that sold parts for half what the market price is, with operators who were put there by landloards who "owner finance" them, poorly train them, and hope they fail so they can get another down payment and start the whole process over again. Suppose you run the parts store down the street that competes with them,charges a market price, compensates your employees fairly, pays taxes and stands behind your products and reputation. On the surface, this looks like sour grapes on my part. I realize that. And it's hard to explain how "the guy down the street" can charge 2.25 for something I charge 4.75 for. The store down the street from me is on it's second owner, and is normal for that type operation. In the mean time it makes life tough for those of us who try to do it the right way. So, I guess "unfair" competition is my word for it.

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2008 Burnt Piston Award Winner!!!!

Yeah its really not unfair, more like stupid and uninformed but I get it now.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

$2.15 is about what I paid the last time. I picked the place based solely on proximity. I later discovered that, because of the intersection they're at, picking stuff up on the way home is a PITA. I'm also noticing, at this very moment, that they didn't do a very good job around the cuffs. Lots of small, tightly defined wrinkles where the sleeve and the cuff come together. I won't be going back to that place.

Work has a service that comes once a week, takes your stuff away, and brings it back dry cleaned. I don't know what they charge, how long it takes, or who's actually doing the work.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Robert,

To be honest, they all look the same from the outside. I couldn't identify a "good" cleaner based on the storefront if my life depended on it. The one I picked I did based on convenience, good alterations service and reasonable prices. If there's a checklist of features that differentiates the good from bad, i'd appreciate knowing what it is....thanks!

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86