Stories from Madrid

Sometimes my clothes come back smelling like chemicals. Is that OK? No, dry cleaning uses a chemical solvent that removes dirt and stains without shrinking or damaging fabrics. But the solvent should be filtered throughout the process to remove soil and odors. It there’s a chemical smell, that’s a sign that your dry cleaner isn’t doing a good job. Some cleaners charge a lot more than others. Does price make a difference in how my clothes will be treated?

Hate to tell you, but the more money you spend the better care and service you’ll get. Of course, that doesn’t   mean that every cleaning job requires top tier treatment. Say you have a basic pantsuit that isn’t new or stained. Try a discount cleaner. For items that are messier or more valuable, a midlevel cleaner is good. And then there are the specialty cleaners, whom you can rely on for intricate or very expensive items.