13th Mar 2023 love2laundry Dry Cleaning

How Long Can Clothes Stay in the Cleaners?

Have you ever left your clothes in the washing machine for three days? Or perhaps it has slipped your mind that you were supposed to collect your garments from the dry cleaners?

When it comes to laundry, it is very easy to become distracted and forget about your washed clothes. It happens to all of us!

So, how long can clothes stay in the cleaners?

In this article, we will explain what you should do in case you ever forget about your laundry!

How long can clothes stay in the cleaners?

At dry cleaners’

Picture this. You have taken your dirty laundry items to the dry cleaners and you have been given a time slot as to when you can collect your clean garments.

The day arrives and you become preoccupied with your busy lifestyle, so you completely forget that you were supposed to pick up your dry cleaning. Oh no! What happens next?

If this happens to you, you are not alone. Research has shown that up to 15% of dry cleaning is never claimed by its owners, which takes up valuable storage space at the business premises.

Ever wondered, exactly how long can clothes stay in the cleaners?

Well, in most cases, the dry cleaning company will give the customer a courtesy call, to remind them that they still have their garments. So, the customer can go ahead and collect their garments as soon as they can, so they can breathe a sigh of relief that they have been reunited with their clothes!

However, if the dry cleaning company does not have any contact details for the customer, then there is little that they can do. Usually, the company will keep the garments on hold for up to 90 days, in case the customer walks in and asks for them back.

Once the 90-day period is over, then the dry cleaner may donate the garments to charity or needy people (such as the homeless).

Generally, dry cleaning companies don’t want to keep abandoned garments, because they don’t have the storage space to accommodate every single unclaimed item.

At a launderette

Let’s look at a similar scenario. You have visited a launderette to get your clothes washed and dried.

Suddenly, your phone rings and you are called away, due to an emergency. So, you dash out of the building. You don’t even realise it until hours later, but you have left your clothes inside the washing machine at the launderette.

What happens next?

In most cases, the launderette will keep your clothes on hold for you, for a week or two, in the event that you come back and collect them.

However, if you leave a washing machine or tumble dryer unattended at a launderette, you should know that your clothes are a target for thieves. A launderette is a public place, so someone can easily open the appliance door and steal your clothes.

If your clothes aren’t stolen at the launderette, then someone might move your clothes out of the appliance and dump them somewhere, because they want to use your washing machine or tumble dryer. Hence, it is always a risk to leave your garments at a launderette for too long.

The launderette themselves will not hold themselves responsible if anything happens to your clothes which have been left unattended.

Hence, we would always recommend supervising your clothes for the entire time you are at a launderette. Never leave your clothes unattended, not even during the wash cycle, because you are leaving them at risk of being moved without your permission or stolen.

What if my clothes have been damaged at the dry cleaners?

By UK law, dry cleaners have to take ‘reasonable care’ of garments left with them, which means that you can claim compensation if your belongings are damaged or lost while in their care.

If the dry cleaner has lost or damaged your garment, then you should notify them straight away and make a complaint. The dry cleaner can offer you compensation, cover the cost of repairs, or pay to replace the item.

Click here to view the guidance from Citizens Advice if a dry cleaner has lost or damaged your belongings.

What happens if I leave my clothes in the washing machine overnight?

We have all had those days when we accidentally left our wet clothes inside the washing machine overnight.

Well, if it’s just a one-off because you forgot to take out your wet clothing, then that is fine. You can dry the clothes as you normally would, but your garments will probably smell musty, due to the dampness, and have more wrinkles, because the wet clothes have been scrunched up for hours.

However, we strongly advise you not to make a habit of leaving your wet clothes inside the washing machine for more than 8 to 12 hours. This is because bacteria, mould and mildew can grow on your wet clothes, thanks to the damp environment.

Having mould and mildew on your clothing can be harmful to your health because the garment has been contaminated with potential toxins that worsen allergies and respiratory conditions.

You should always remove your wet clothes from the washing machine as soon as the wash cycle has ended, so you can begin the drying process.

Is it ok to leave clothes in the tumble dryer overnight?

No, you should not leave a tumble dryer on overnight, while you are asleep.

This is because tumble dryers are a huge fire hazard when they are left on.

Firefighters in Somerset have warned of the danger of leaving tumble dryers and washing machines on overnight after an unattended tumble dryer caused a fire in a kitchen flat.

Electrical appliances account for around 12% of UK house fires– and tumble dryers can easily catch fire if there are large build-ups of fluff that ignite when exposed to the heating elements inside the machines.

You should always be awake and stay close to the tumble dryer, while your clothes are being dried inside.

Where can I find laundry and dry cleaning services?

We at Love2Laundry offer laundry and dry cleaning services, which you can access from your smartphone.

We operate an on-demand laundry service in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton and Bury.

We provide a door-to-door service, so we will collect your items, wash, dry and fold or hang them up, and then deliver them straight to your door!

Across London, we also offer ironing services, dry cleaning, linen services, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.

All you have to do is make an order online on our website, or through our mobile app (available for iOS and Android).

You can choose a location and time slot that works for you, and our friendly couriers will collect your laundry items. We will then professionally clean your items and return them to you- all within 24 hours!

Our prices are affordable- for example, our ‘wash, dry, and fold’ package starts from £2.65 per kg.

View the prices on our website here.

We offer a 25% discount on laundry and dry cleaning for all new customers, so, get booking with Love2Laundry today!

How do I pay for my order at Love2Laundry?

At Love2Laundry, we are not your typical launderette. We operate a cashless system, so you will pay for your order via our mobile app or online via our website.

We accept various forms of payment including American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

No more worrying about finding the correct change, or physically dropping off your laundry items- simply input your order with just a click of your fingers, and the rest is up to us!

About Love2Laundry

Love2Laundry is one of the leading laundry service providers in the UK, serving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton, and Bury.

We have an array of services to make your household chores easy for you: we offer laundry and dry cleaning, as well as linen services, ironing, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.

Learn more about Love2Laundry’s dry cleaning and laundry services by visiting our website here.

Download our Love2Laundry app on the Apple App Store here or on Google Play here.

We hope this article has provided the answer to the question, ‘how long can clothes stay in the cleaners?’

Check out our blog here to read more articles like this.