The O.F.A. - Ontario Fabricare Association

Have you ever taken your favourite blouse to the dry cleaner, only to get it back with the old stains still intact, or with new ones that did not show before?

Occasionally things do go wrong. While some problems may rest with the cleaner, in many circumstances your dry cleaner may not be to blame. Responsibility for breakdowns in quality garment cleaning falls into three categories: manufacturer, dry cleaner and consumer responsibility.
If your dry cleaner followed the recommended cleaning process as outlined on the care label and the garment is damaged during cleaning, the manufacturer is responsible. And if, when wearing the garment you cause a stain which cannot be removed, unfortunately, it will be your responsibility.

Most cleaners will attempt to restore and repair the garment or explain the cause of the problem to you. They may also offer to obtain an unbiased report from a testing laboratory to help explain the problem.

What Is The Manufacturers Responsibility

In Canada, we have a voluntary system for care labelling that is used by manufacturers.* It is simple and easy to understand and is based on five symbols each with their own meaning. The wash tub means washing, the triangle bleaching, the square drying, the iron ironing and the circle dry cleaning. The colours used correspond to the three colours of traffic lights, red for STOP, amber for CAREFUL and green for GO AHEAD. They are applicable only to clothing and not to household or other textiles.

The National Standard of Canada Care Labelling of Textiles outlines the tests that must be performed and specifies the criteria against which each of the care symbols should be evaluated. If errors are discovered by the Competition Bureau, the manufacturer is contacted to correct the
mistake.

*Canada's Textile Labelling Act, subsection 5(1)

No dealer shall apply to a consumer textile article a label, or sell, import into Canada or advertise a consumer textile article that has applied to it a label containing any false or misleading representation that relates to or may reasonably be regarded as relating to the article."

What Is Your Responsibility / CONSENT FORMS

As a consumer your responsibility is to care for your garments by following the manufacturer's care guidelines as indicated in the care label. If there is a stain, tell your dry cleaner what type it is and when it occurred.

If after cleaning a problem arises from a manufacturing defect, return the garment to the store and ask for a credit or refund. If the retailer refuses, you may have to send it directly to the manufacturer. They can be identified by the "rn" or "ca" number on the care label. Their address can then be obtained from the Competition Bureau. Check the Blue Pages for the regional office nearest you or visit their web site at competition.ic.gc.ca. You can then send the item to the manufacturer via registered mail with an explanation for the return.

------ Consent Forms

If your dry cleaner asks you to sign a consent form, it indicates that they are aware of a potential problem and wish to alert you to the fact that there may be some damage caused to your garment in the cleaning process. If you agree to sign, the item will be processed with care and will likely be fine. Be aware, however, that if the garment does become damaged, you have waived your right to compensation because in signing the form you indicated that you were aware of the risks involved.

OFA