Laundry place on 5th Ave - buttons getting ripped off

jimmy · February 2009

I've been going for a while now to the place on 5th Ave, between 2nd and 3rd, basically only to get my dress shirts cleaned and pressed for work. I've never been overjoyed with them, the employees are usually pretty surly and they don't really seem to be able to get stains out that well, but it's super convenient.

But lately, I've been getting my shirts back with buttons missing. The top button for some reason looks like it's getting melted somehow, it's all crusty, sometimes half is broken off, and now the smaller collar buttons and sleeve buttons have started getting torn off. It's gotten to the point where I have to check each shirt when I get it back and bust out the needle and thread to sew on the spares provided with the shirts, but it's getting ridiculous. Tried to put on a shirt this morning, fresh from the cleaners, and it was missing the top button, one of the collar buttons, and one of the sleeve buttons. Enough is enough.

To make a long post even longer...has anyone had a similar problem with this place?

And, the main point - can anyone recommend a place close to 5th Ave and 3rd St. that does reliable cleaning and pressing of men's dress shirts, without destroying the buttons...shouldn't be too much to ask.

brooklynpotter · February 2009

q: are the ones that are getting the buttons cracked off the same brand? (i'm not saying this is your fault, or the shirt's fault, but sometimes some brands have hardier buttons)

jimmy · February 2009

Nah, I've gotten shirts from all over, ranging in quality from crappy to nice, and the problem seems to affect them all - and it's weird, none of the other "main" buttons down the front of the shirts are damaged, it's exclusively the top button that gets "melted" for lack of a better word. Like I said, it looks kinda crumbly and discolored, like some sort of chemical reaction broke down the plastic.

The smaller buttons on the collar and sleeves aren't melted, they just get torn off, often leaving holes in the fabric big enough that I can't really sew replacements back on in the right place. Weird stuff.

brooklynpotter · February 2009

it's their iron presses. they are either careless when they use them, or they're old and need new padding.

jimmy · February 2009

Huh - good to know - so I guess it's probably only going to get worse (as it has) - so any recommendations for another place close by?

I realize there are basically cleaners every couple of blocks in the neighborhood, but I'm more hoping for a recommendation of one that doesn't have surly employees and doesn't damage your stuff...

booklaw · February 2009

I've been using the cleaners at 7th Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets for many years now. They are very friendly (at least once they get to know you) and they do excellent work. My shirts come back very nicely pressed, and no buttons are missing or broken.

easilyfound · February 2009

I use the dry cleaner on 7th Ave and 11th Street. Shirts I had taken to other cleaners in the neighborhood seemed to come back with spots on them that were not on them when I dropped them off. Someone told me that those spots are caused by a dirty press. No spots on shirts cleaned at my current dry cleaner. So I recommend them.

booklaw · February 2009

As I understand it, the spots are somehow caused by bits of excess starch on the shirt. They come out at the next washing.

Nevertheless, I agree that if you can find a dry cleaner that doesn't leave such spots, you should go for it.

jimmy · February 2009

Cool - thanks for the input, I guess I'll try booklaw's place first - although it's a shame having to walk up a couple aves when there was a place so close...oh well

caseopele · February 2009

The place on the corner of 5th ave and 7th st used to be pretty good, they're also good with alterations. A little closer to you so it's worth a shot.

amvass · February 2009

I live near that laundromat. I had the same problems. The last straw was when one of my shirts came back with a gash in it.

I have been going to Yes Cleaners between President and Union for at least 2 years now. I love them. People are friendly there and they have cleaned and tailored a whole assortment of clothing. I don't mind the walk.

jimmy · February 2009

Thanks again - got my first batch back from the place on 7th btw 2nd and 3rd - employees/owners were polite and helpful, more importantly the shirts were clean, pressed and had all their buttons!
Plus they've got one of those new-fangled "computers" so that you don't have to give them your name, address and phone # every single time you drop stuff off...it's a little thing.
But caseopele, thanks, I'll try your place next, a little bit closer would be nice.

raw · February 2009

I had the same button problem with a place on 6th Avenue near Union Street, which closed around 3 years ago. I liked the place because it was the only dry cleaner open on Sunday. When I complained about the missing buttons, they said my shirts and buttons were made out of cheap materials. I have not lost buttons at any other dry cleaner, so I suspect they weren't cleaning the shirts properly.

Laundry place on 5th Ave - buttons getting ripped off

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