Domestic services

Clothes go into water with a biodegradable detergent rather than the solvent a traditional dry cleaner would use. We press the piece afterwards and hand it back on a hanger.

We look at each garment with you and note stains before we start. If a fabric needs a different method, or if it is leather or suede we have not agreed to take, we will tell you at drop-off.

Yes. We inspect the jacket and trousers, clean them, and press them back onto a hanger.

Tell us about stains and previous repairs when you leave the suit. Leather and suede go through a different process, which we set with you at the counter.

No. We clean with water and biodegradable detergent at The Boathouse, so perchloroethylene stays out of the machines and so does silicone solvent.

Traditional dry cleaning often uses perc, and some methods sold as eco still run a silicone solvent, so we built a water-based shop instead. If a fabric cannot go through that method, we will tell you at drop-off rather than put it through anyway.

Usually, and the fresher it is the better it lifts. Do not wash it and do not iron it first, because heat sets a stain for good.

Tell us what caused the mark when you drop the garment in. We go through every stain with you before we start and say which ones we expect to shift.

Yes, once we have looked at it with you. We check hem dirt, champagne marks and veil fabric first, and because some beads and trims cannot be wet, the quote follows from that.

We agree the timescale then, so the hand finishing has the time it needs. Structured occasion wear waits for that look before we start.

Yes. We wash duvets, pillows and bedding, including king and super-king sizes that will not fit a domestic machine. A plain single is £23.50 and a plain king is £29.50, with feather more than that and super-king priced when you ask. The full list is on the prices page.

Tell us the filling if you know it (down, feather or synthetic) so we choose the right cycle. We cannot safely tumble a duvet with broken baffles; we will tell you if that is the case when we see it.

Yes. We take up hems, close split seams, replace buttons and zips, and take garments in or let them out, all in the same building as the cleaning. A button starts at £5.50, a standard zip at £21.50 and trouser shortening at £21.50, with 10% off when you have three things done. The full list is on the prices page.

We agree the work with you first and clean the garment afterwards, so a new hem comes back properly finished instead of pressed over the old crease. Making a garment from scratch is the one thing we do not do.

Yes. Blazers are usually dry cleaned; shirts and PE kit are usually laundered as a labelled bundle so the set comes back together.

We leave name tapes in place. Tell us the school if you want the bundle kept together through the term, and ask if you want tapes sewn on: we will add them to the same ticket.

Yes. Silk saree, cotton saree, Banarasi saree and Kanchipuram saree all come through here. We open the piece out with you and look at the zari, the beadwork and the way the pleats are set.

We clean in water with biodegradable detergent rather than perc, then finish the pallu and pleats by hand. Blouse and dupatta can go on the same ticket. Walk in at The Boathouse or book a collection across Medway.

Yes. Tartan kilt, Prince Charlie jacket, waistcoat and the rest of a Highland outfit are cleaned and pressed so the pleats sit correctly. We look at the fabric and any hire pleats with you before we start.

Academic gown, Irish dance dress and other traditional or ceremonial pieces go through the same way. Drop in at The Boathouse on Ocean Drive, or book a collection across Medway.