Dry Cleaning ST.JOHN Knits

There are always lots of questions regarding care and dry cleaning ST JOHN Knit garments and special arrangements.

ST JOHN SUITS

 Try to always have the jacket and the skirt/pants dry cleaned at the same time to make sure the color depth remains the same.  If you have the skirt or pants dry cleaned more often than the jacket, you may find that the deep color fades slightly and it is noticable when you put them together.

 It is very important to ask one of the stores in your area that sells ST JOHN if they can recommend a dry cleaners for ST JOHN knits.  You can call around and find out which dry cleaners specializes in ST JOHN knits and is familiar with dry cleaning. If they are not aware of special arrangements with ST JOHN knits, don't leave your garments with them.  

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS for ST JOHN Knits

The buttons on the ST JOHN are 22K electroplated gold and some have pearls or jewels on the buttons.  Many are gold with enamel.  Make sure all metal on the ST JOHN garment is wrapped with foil. On exceptional buttons you might want to remove them to safe guard the jewels or crystals. Some of the gold chains on the suits can be unhooked.  In many cases your dry cleaner can  "spot" clean your ST JOHN garments to keep them looking new longer.  Any 22k electroplated gold on the garment needs to be wrapped with foil or removed.  The ST JOHN evening garments with paillettes (sequins) need special attention to make sure that the dry cleaners guard and protect the finish.  The Swarovski crystal trim on evening wear is to be cleaned easily and spot cleaning is the best for them.

Leather on ST JOHN knits

Be sure to let the dry cleaners know that the trim is leather.  They usually know how to care for it.

Problems with Dry Cleaners Not Familiar with the Garments

You need to ask questions before leaving your garments with a dry cleaners.  In a recent case, a owner left her jacket to be cleaned and didn't know the cleaners.  When she returned to pick up the jacket, all the pearls in the middle of the gold buttons were missing.  The owner found pieces of the pearls in their equipment.   

Will the fabric shrink?

Never heard of the ST JOHN  knit shrinking before, until a lady told me that when she picked up her ST JOHN suit at the dry cleaners it was two or three sizes too small.  The dry cleaners had put the suit in with laundry and it went through the wash cycle and then they pressed it. The dry cleaners usually have insurance for these things, but it means finding the sales receipt and proving the value and in the meantime, you don't have the suit to wear.    

BLOCKING the ST JOHN Knit up or down a size or two?

Yes, the dry cleaners that know ST JOHN knits can block the garment up or down.  You hear sellers say, that Santana can be blocked up or down a size or two, but be careful.   You want to be sure you take it to a dry cleaners that is recommended by a ST JOHN boutique or store that sells ST JOHN.

Always remember when you have the suit blocked larger it thins the knit.   You can tell if Santana knit has been blocked too much because the knit appears thinner than normal ST JOHN knit.  Sometimes you can almost see through the knit.  The ST JOHN speciality knit and other textured knits can be blocked but it doesn't change as much as the Santana knit.  

How Often is Necessary.....to dry clean ST JOHN knits!

In many cases, if you have a number of ST JOHN suits you may find that you really don't need to dry clean them very often.  You can lengthen the life of your ST JOHN garments if you don't dry clean any more than necessary. They look new longer with less dry cleaning. 

If you spill something on navy or black ST JOHN knit garments, you can wipe it with a wet cloth and many times it is good as new.  However the colors are tougher to spot clean because you may leave a water stain and make it worst.  

What happens to White - why does it become Cream?

White ST JOHN knits are dazzling and sensational looking.  It is true that in time the white changes to a cream color which is caused from the dry cleaning process. It doesn't change overnight, but eventually it does.  So unless you really have to, restrain from dry cleaning white very often.

ST JOHN washed in Woolite? 

Please don't try this.  You can tell in an instant if someone has tried to wash or soak their ST JOHN knit garments in a knit washing product. The suit will never look the same and the new is gone.   Even if you have the garment professionally pressed, the knit never looks right.   If you found this article helpful in anyway, please place your vote below for a YES. Thank you.