Look your best

Cashmere is a fiber made from the wool of cashmere goats. It is soft and light with excellent insulation. However, these fibers also have a fine texture and are easily damaged. Cashmere clothing therefore requires additional care to keep it looking its best.

• Buy a garment made from a blend of ordinary wool and cashmere. This type of clothing will be stronger and last longer than a garment made from pure cashmere.
• Consider the length carefully when buying a cashmere coat. A short coat is stylish, but it won’t protect your legs from cold weather. On the other hand, a long hemline will attract debris more easily.
• Choose the color of your cashmere garment. The fine fibers of cashmere pick up lint very easily, which is less obvious on darker colors. Everyday cashmere clothing should therefore be dark, and you should reserve light-colored cashmere clothing for special occasions.
• Clean cashmere garments more frequently to remove the lint. This type of clothing typically requires dry cleaning.

Frugal Francine was always looking for ways to save money. She invested in her wardrobe, knowing the value of good design and good designers, but when it came to taking care of her fashionable frocks, Francine figured she would do it on her own. 

But that strategy turned tragic and expensive for Francine.  Here’s what happened and how you can avoid her mistakes:

The care label on her new silk blouse said dryclean only, but Francine had heard that silks are washable, so she carefully soaked it in the basin with a gentle hand-washing soap. It was ruined.

Read the care label carefully on all garments. Unless the label on a silk garment specifically says that it is washable, don’t douse it at home. If dye bleeds on the shirt because you failed to follow the care label instructions, you'll get soaked - not the manufacturer.

Francine planned ahead for the big meeting with her new boss. Her rayon suit was wrinkled so she hung it up in the bathroom the night before and sprayed it with a plant mister. Then she figured she’d just let the steam do the rest when she showered the next morning. It looked horrible.

Many rayon garments contain dyes and sizing that are sensitive to water and heavy steam. If these items get wet they can be permanently stained or lose their shape. Spritzing these clothes with water can leave permanent stains. Your drycleaner may be able to repair the damage - but there’s no guarantee.

Francine was at her best friend’s house for dinner when she dripped some salad oil on her dress. Quickly she went into the bathroom and rubbed the area with cleaning solvent her friend had on hand. The damage was done!

Never rub a stain. Instead, blot the area carefully - and make sure you test the fabric before using any type of stain removal substance.

Friday afternoon Francine was hurrying to go out and she spilled nail polish on her new linen-blend pants. She knew that stains should be attacked right away so she immediately applied nail polish remover with acetone to the spot. It removed the spot - and a piece of the garment as well.

Acetone, an ingredient in some brands of nail polish, dissolves acetate. Before trying to remove a stain in this manner, test for fiber content. Or use amyl acetate (banana oil) or fingernail polish remover that does not contain acetone and is safe for all fabrics.

It was hot and muggy on the walk home and Francine checked her blouse for perspiration stains. Seeing none, she threw the garment into the hamper for next week’s wash. Francine was horrified to discover a few days later that permanent brown stains had come to light under each arm.

Perspiration, like many other stains, doesn't appear right away. All you have to notice at first is a damp area that dries, leaving an invisible stain that will darken with time.

Please let us help. We'll take the best care of your clothes-everytime!

1. Club soda is not a cure-all stain remover.

Successful stain removal depends largely on the nature of the stain, the type of fabric, and colorfastness. Home remedies more often makes the situation worse, not better. If you must do something - never rub a stain. Blot the stained area. This may help remove some of the staining substance while avoiding damage to the fabric. Bring a stained garment to us as soon as possible to prevent the stain from setting. We are trained and equipped to deal with stains, and if anyone can safely remove them, we can.

2. There is such a thing as an 'Invisible' Stain.

Some stains caused by beverages, food, or oily substances may not be visible after they dry. But later, with exposure to heat or simply the passage of time, a yellow or brown stain will appear. This is the end result of oxidation or caramelization of sweetening agents. It is the same process that makes a peeled apple turn brown after exposure to air.

Please point out spills such as those from, fruit juice, soft drinks, other beverages and food stains that may not be visible after they are blotted or allowed to dry. 'Invisible stains' require special attention. If we don't know about it we can't fix it, so let us know if you spilled something.

3. It's not ok to put a garment away without being cleaned.

Every year we see garments that weren't "dirty when I put it away for the summer," only to be taken out in the fall full of holes and stains.

The smallest unseen food crumb, body oil, perspiration, or other spillage invites insect damage even in the cleanest of homes.

4. Care labels are not always correct.

Most manufacturers never test garments (they are not required to) before the required care label is attached. The U. S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) only requires that a manufacturer have a 'reasonable basis' for their care instructions. Sometimes it's right and sometimes it's wrong. We always attempt to alert our customer to a potential cleaning problem beforehand.


5. Always clean all matching pieces of a garment or home furnishings at the same time.

We understand that only the pants or skirt was soiled and the jacket was still 'clean.' Or, just the bedspread was dirty. The rest of the bed set did not need cleaning.

However, we strongly suggest that all matching or coordinating items are cleaned at the same time. This way any color changes, however minimal, will be uniform.

6. We're not casual about casual wear.

Sure, you may be able to wash your casual clothing at home, but time spent doing that along with the most hated household chore - ironing - only takes away time from family and other pursuits.

We have the skills and equipment to make your clothes look and feel their best by creating a finish and cleanliness that simply cannot be duplicated with home care.

 

 

Usually not. The drycleaning process is carefully controlled.

No. Special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain their color and texture. Sometimes suedes and leather are redyed to replace color loss. It is not always possible to replace or match the colors.

 

While your favorite coat may be keeping you warm this month, we all have jackets and blazers that we use through the year and these pieces of clothing can take a beating. The care method for a coat will depend on its fiber content. For example, coats made of wool, leather, and suede may require more care than coats made of other fibers.  For the most part, follow these tips to help keep your coats looking great year round:

• Wear scarves to avoid soiling the collar, especially for leather and suede coats. Oily stains from hair and skin preparations can permanently stain some fabrics.
• Clean the coat whenever it is soiled. Make an effort to clean the coat once during the season and again before storing.
• When cleaning, make sure you follow the instructions on the care label. When in doubt, ask your drycleaner.
• When storing, hang your coat on a padded hanger in a well-ventilated closet. Avoid hanging a coat by its neck on a coat rack.

 

We all have our own preferences for how much starch we like in our shirts. By choosing no starch, light or heavy starch, we can choose how our clothing looks and feels. Starch offers a host of bonuses and drawbacks. The major benefits to starching are a cleaner, crisper look and improved resistance to stains and wrinkles.

However, the price we pay for this resistance is a possible reduction in the shirt’s wearlife due to a decreased resistance to bending and straightening. Light starch may be the answer to limiting the negative effects while gaining the benefits of starch. This way you’ll get a crisper shirt that’s got some stain protection, but won’t wear out quite as easily as a heavily starched shirt.

Here are some of the pluses and minuses to having your shirts starched:

• Starch can build up after repeated washings, often resulting in an undesirable stiffness. There is no method to prevent this or remove the build-up.
• Starch prevents stains from penetrating the fabric, making them easier to remove.
• Starch increases your clothes' resistance to wear from rubbing and helps your whites stay white more readily.
• Shirts using heavy starch will wear quicker in areas where they are repeatedly bent and straightened (elbows in particular).
• Starch reduces the fabric’s ability to stretch, making the collar feel tighter as though it has shrunk.
• The life expectancy of the average shirt is 35–50 washings. This will fluctuate depending on the amount of abrasion and strain you place on your shirts during wear. Other factors include the fiber content, type of fabric, degree of starching and sizing, and laundering procedures used.

 

Before the tenth holiday party, my neighbor said to me, “Don’t wear your gold lame cocktail dress to a crowded party in a hot room.” What’s so bad about that?

Answer: Partygoers need to be particularly careful of metallic fabric that can corrode if exposed to moisture. To prevent dampness to lame and other metallics, be sure to wear underarm shields that will help prolong the life and looks of your special outfit.

After the eleventh holiday party, my mother said to me, “How are you going to clean your new beaded top after the soiree?” Good question!

Answer: The beads on many outfits are made of polystyrene, which looks like glass. Polystyrene should not be drycleaned but washed as long as it is attached to a garment that is washable.

At the twelfth holiday party, my father said to me, “You’ll look gorgeous in this new fur, just be sure to care for it well.” How do I protect this investment?

Answer: Furs, leathers, and suedes should be kept clean by keeping them covered with a cloth, not a plastic, garment bag. Each should be cleaned annually by a drycleaner who specializes in cleaning furs. Special storage facilities are recommended for seasonal storage of furs. Ask us about storage.

Now, enjoy the rest of the holiday season!

After the seventh holiday party, my cousin said to me, “My suede outfit got soaked in the rain.” How do I handle soaked suede?

Answer: Hang it out to dry. Do not use a blow dryer or heater. When dry, brush with a stiff brush.

After the eighth holiday party, my daughter said to me, “Do I hang up my knit sweater and skirt outfit or should I fold it?” For once she wants my advice!

Answer: Keep knits in good shape by storing and cleaning them properly. Keep sweaters folded loosely with lots of room to breathe. If you must hang it up, fold it over a crossbar. Never hang like a shirt on a wire hanger - this will stretch it.

After the ninth holiday party, my sister said to me, “I’m sorry my baby drooled on your red velvet dress.” How do I remove milk stains, not to mention the baby?

Answer: Blot it gently and bring it to us. Crushed areas of wear can be improved by lightly brushing with a soft brush. As for the baby, don’t pick him up when you have on a velvet dress!

Watch for more parties next week!

Before the fourth holiday party, my silk dress said to me, “Please be delicate when you iron me.” How should I respond?
Answer: Wrinkles should fall out of silk if allowed to hang properly. If ironing seems necessary, iron on a low temperature, 250-300 degrees.

Before the fifth holiday party, my husband said to me, “Do you know if your new rhinestone sweater can be cleaned?” Should I risk the rhinestones?
Answer: Be particularly careful when purchasing garments adorned with rhinestones or other jewelry. Bring it to us before wearing to spot test for cleanability and colorfastness. If you are not satisfied with the results, return it.

Before the sixth holiday party, my neighbor said to me, “My white leather slacks are wrinkled.” I’m pressed for an answer, what should I say?

Answer: Press leather by placing white press cloth over the item and pressing quickly with a cool iron.

More parties next week!