General Questions

Does Admiral Cleaners offer same day service? Yes, we offer same day service Monday through Friday at most locations. Please check with the location nearest you (see Admiral Locations). What is the Admiral Express Bag service? Admiral provides the customer with 2 free Express Bags. Each bag has a tag showing the customer's name and cleaning preferences (i.e. starched shirts, etc.). Customers just drop off the Express Bag at the front counter and leave. Bags are returned to the customers with their cleaning. How does the Frequent Cleaner Club work? Simply present $60 in ticket receipts and receive $5 off your next order. For your convenience, Admiral provides Frequent Cleaner Club envelopes in which to collect the tickets. Does Admiral offer coupons? Admiral offers its own web coupon (please click on the Coupon button). We also accept most competitors' coupons up to a maximum of 33% off of our prices. One discount per customer. Does Admiral offer alteration services? Yes, we have seamstresses at many of our locations. Services include hemming, mending, zippers, etc. Please call or come in with your specific request. Does Admiral offer Pick-up and Delivery service? We offer pick-up and delivery service in many areas of Anne Arundel County and in the Chestertown, Maryland and Westminster, Maryland zip codes. GARMENT CARE TIPS What should I do when I have a stain? The garment should be taken to your dry cleaner as soon as possible. Stains that are left too long can become permanently set. Removing a stain can be somewhat complicated since there are many different fabrics and types of stains. Admiral has trained "stain removers" with years of experience who use specialized stain removal agents. If you know what caused the stain (i.e. soda, white wine, etc.) please be sure to inform your dry cleaner. These often "invisible" stains contain sugar, which can caramelize and turn brown in the heat of drying. They need to be flushed out before dry cleaning. Is it safe to have draperies, bedspreads, and slip covers cleaned? Draperies, bedspreads, and slip covers may suffer some damage when they are cleaned. This can be due to sun-fading, long-term soiling, age, and components which are simply not able to withstand normal cleaning procedures and shrink. Many times fabrics do not appear damaged until after they have been through the cleaning process. Due to the above, many cleaners, including Admiral, require that a release be signed before these types of items are cleaned. Why do colors sometimes fade or run? There are several reasons. Sometimes toiletries, such as perfumes, antiperspirants, and lotions can affect dyes. Therefore, they should be allowed to dry fully before you put on a garment. Some colors change in cleaning due to the manufacturer's poor dye selection. It is always advisable to have matching pieces cleaned together so that any color loss will be uniform.Color running or fading problems occur more frequently with some manufacturers than others, even when care label instructions are followed meticulously. If there is ever a question as to whether it is the manufacturer or your cleaner who is at fault for color loss or color running, the garment may be sent to an independent laboratory operated by the International Fabricare Institute. My shirt came back with a cracked button. Can this be prevented? Buttons sometimes weaken after repeated pressings. Admiral makes every effort to check each shirt for cracked buttons before it is assembled, but often a weakened button does not crack until you try to fasten your garment. If your shirt should come back with a cracked button, please return it to the store location or to your route driver. Admiral's policy is to replace any missing or damaged button free-of-charge. What do I do if I have a problem with my dry cleaner? When damage occurs during the cleaning process, recourse depends on where the responsibility lies. If the problem is due to a manufacturer's defect (including poor dye selection or failure to pre-shrink the fabric) you should take the garment back to the retailer for an adjustment or a refund. If the problem stems from a condition such as a particularly stubborn stain or the age or condition of the garment, the customer usually has no recourse. If we made a mistake in processing, then it is Admiral's responsibility and we may make an adjustment based on the life expectancy, age, condition, and replacement cost of the garment.   ENVIRONMENTAL What is "perc"? Almost all cleaners have dry cleaning machines that use the solvent perchloroethylene (perc) to clean the clothing. Perc is used because of its excellent cleaning properties and its reaction to natural man-made fibers and fabrics. It falls into the same low toxicity classification as many everyday compounds including household ammonia or bleach, gasoline, nail polish remover, and other widely used products. What does Admiral do for the environment? Admiral meets or exceeds all required environmental standards. Admiral purchases the most up-to-date dry cleaning equipment and closely monitors the perc levels in machines. Who do I call if I would like more information? International Fabricare Institute (IFI) has consumer information including an explanation of the dry cleaning process, the benefits of professional cleaning, and fabric care tips and hints. The IFI website is at www.ifi.org.