I have worked in the dry cleaning industry for almost 30 years. I worked in my family's dry cleaning operation as a manager and owner. Currently, I write a blog for those in the dry cleaning industry, as well as work for a manufacturer of dry cleaning chemicals. Over the years I have spent in the dry cleaning industry, I estimate that I have been in over 2000 dry cleaners in the US.
I would recommend finding an DLI "Award of Excellence" cleaner in your area. These can be located on the DLI website: www.ifi.org. Award of Excellence dry cleaners are professional dry cleaners that have displayed a skill set that shows they are exactly that, excellent dry cleaners.
Explain to them the age of the garment, ask if they are accustomed to cleaning heirloom type garments and do not hesitate to ask for a reference. If the garment is heavily soiled or stained, it may be difficult to use the aggressive techniques required to clean a very delicate garment, but your Award of Excellence dry cleaner should be able to predict what type of results you can expect.
That is a tough question. First it depends on the amount of garments being processed, as well as the types of garments. Lint is produced from mechanical action taking place in the dry cleaning machine. This happens as the clothes tumble during both the cleaning and drying portions of the dry cleaning cycle. This lint will end up in several places.
1) The lint filter.
2) The filtration system.
3) In the still (when using a 2-bath process)
4) On the clothing that is being cleaned (especially when no detergent or an ineffective detergent is being used.
A good rule of thumb is that 100 lbs. of cleaning will release about 1/2 pound of insoluble soils. Insoluble soil will not be 100% lint and I am not sure what percentage of these insolubles would be lint, but lets say 50%. So, if a dry cleaner cleans 200 lbs. of average soiled garments. 1 pound of soil would be released. If that 1 pound contains 50% lint, I would expect 8 ounces of lint to be produced per every 200 lbs. cleaned.
That is the best I can do. It is a very ball parkish estimate, but I think you can also see that the actual amount of lint released is a very small amount.
I would recommend taking leather garments to the dry cleaner, as opposed to cleaning them on your own. There can be several different processes used, depending on the type of leather, trim, dyes used, etc. Some of these may be better off cleaned in a wetcleaning method, while others may be better off cleaned in specific solvents. Leave it to the professional dry cleaner to solve you problem.
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