Polly’s Corner

Going to a dry cleaners isn’t like getting your hair cut. When you get your hair cut you exhibit the current state of your hair, have a discussion about what you’d like to change and what the final state should be, and then listen to your stylist verify that they have understood what you want and express whether and how they can effect the required changes.
A dry cleaners is a bit more like a petrol station. The machinery is weird and the liquids smell funny and while it is odd it’s also conceptually not that complicated. The only reason you pay someone else to have this equipment and perform this task is because of economies of scale, and unlike say a normal washing machine, it’s just a bit too inconvenient /​unhealthy to have one in your own home.
Dry cleaners aren’t wizards. You don’t go to a dry cleaner and present your gravy soaked clothes showing them where the spots and stains are and then have them reassure you they will attend to these specific areas of concern to give you the finished state you desire. You are really just paying them to put your stuff in the machine because they have one and you don’t. They’ll take it out again for free, and not lose it in the process, but there’s no scope for special attention to be given in between.
Burhan at Polly’s (I didn’t get to meet Polly) knows all this. You can show Burhan the spots and stains and you can tell Burhan all about how they got there, but he will make no guarantees other than he will put your things in the machine, take them out of the machine, and not lose them.
(One nice thing about Polly’s is the dry cleaning machine is on site, which might be important to you if you worry about your things getting lost in one of the centralised dry cleaning factories.)
£28 cleaned a ball gown, suit, suit coat, and three shirts. The gravy stains came out and the creased-​in sweat marks didn’t (for which Burhan received neither commendation or condemnation.) He did get it done in time for a wedding, and didn’t lose anything, which was at least worth a smile and a «cheers». This is literally as good as it gets.

I’m generally very pleased with the fast and friendly service, but they’ve been closed for over two weeks now and are holding my clothes hostage! Does anyone know if they are renovating/​moving/​closing down?

Oh Polly, I doubt that’s your real name, but I love your work.
This is MY dry cleaner. I don’t know if her name is Polly, but I love her. she has repaired SOOOO many of my clothes. I am having her re-​invent one of my favorite skirts that has a huge tear in it, and she is going to do it for only £5!!! She totally made a new suit for Raul (out of an old suit he bought at the Burlington coat factory) for £15!
She’s lovely. I think the guy working there must be her husband, and he handles the dry cleaning side, and he is SUPER creepy, he has REALLY long finger nails, but they are both nice enough, but I secretly suspect he is a slave driver when the blinds are closed, b/​c HOW IN THE HELL does she get all that sewing done in such a short matter of time?