Have you ever received complaints about white garments turning gray?

One of two problems usually causes this discoloration.

Most whites are treated with fluorescent whiteners or optical brighteners during manufacturing to achieve a desired shade of white. Brighteners decompose with age, exposure to light, or, in some cases, the heat of cleaning. Washing the item in bleach will also destroy the brighteners. Decomposition causes the white fabric to appear dull and dingy, or have a slightly yellow or green color.

Inspecting leathers and suedes at the counter when they come in for cleaning is probably the most valuable time spent in any counter transaction. A great deal of customer dissatisfaction can be avoided by imparting a little knowledge to the customer of what to expect after their garment is cleaned. Otherwise, they are likely to yell, “What have you done to my beautiful suede? It doesn’t look the same!”

Q: Upon delivery of her finished goods, a customer noticed a shifting and distortion of the yarns appearing as thin areas in the underarm of her blouse. What could have caused this?