ARDC Technical Analysis: When pink turns white. The case of the Zanone Sweatshirt

Have you ever taken your favorite sweatshirt to the cleaners only to find it with mysterious light patches? Often the blame is placed on the professional, but the science of cleaning tells a different story. Today we analyze a real case handled by our technical department, ARDC (Reciprocal Damage and Dispute Analysis).

Object of the Analysis

Item: High-quality cotton Zanone sweatshirt.
Color: Original pink.
Problem found: Presence of discolored areas (from pink to white) after professional treatment.

Diagnosis by the Rampi Technical Office Many believe that dry cleaning with perchloroethylene can “eat” the color. The technical reality is different: perchloroethylene is a stable solvent that does not cause such color alterations on correctly treated natural fibers like cotton.

Our analysis revealed that:

The solvent is not to blame: Dry cleaning does not produce localized color degradation from pink to white.
The “revealing” effect: Professional washing simply removed surface dirt, bringing to light an existing but “hidden” damage.
The real culprit (Bleaching Agents): Only contact with oxidizing substances (such as bleach, aggressive household detergents, or unsuitable stain removers) can cause such sharp and localized discoloration.

ARDC Verdict: Responsibility and Conclusions The analysis excludes the responsibility of the dry cleaner. The damage is attributable to accidental contact with bleaching products that occurred before delivery to the shop. Mechanical rubbing or a standard wash cycle could never have generated that type of white stain.

Frequently Asked Questions on Luxury Sweatshirt Cleaning:

Can dry cleaning discolor a Zanone sweatshirt? No, dry cleaning with perchloroethylene does not alter the pigment of cotton fibers if the garment is intact.
Why do white stains appear after dry cleaning? This is usually due to residues of bleaching products (bleach, peroxides) that got on the garment before washing. The professional process cleans the fiber and makes the pre-existing chemical damage visible.
What to do if a pink sweatshirt turns white? Unfortunately, chemical bleaching is irreversible because the pigment has been removed from the fiber.