Look your best

A customer asked, "The care label on a sweater indicates it is hand washable. Can I wash it in a machine on a delicate cycle?"

There is some risk involved in using any care process not recommended by the manufacturer. Hand washing involves manual removal of soils with water, detergent, and a gentle squeezing action. A care label that calls for machine washing, in a delicate or gentle cycle, indicates the garment can be removed with water, detergent or soap, slow agitation, and reduced time in a washing machine.

Hand washing is a restrictive care process that minimizes the amount of abrasion a garment receives in cleaning. If handwashable garments are machine washed in a gentle cycle, agitation may be further minimized by putting the item in a net bag.

Even this procedure is in violation of the care label instruction, however, and places responsibility for damages on the launderer rather than the manufacturer.

The first step toward having a great wardrobe is being able to work with what you already own. You may think you need to start from scratch, but what about those great clothes you already have in your closet? If you have a great skirt and no matching blazer, why buy a new set? Just buy a blazer instead! What about those wonderful wool pants you haven’t worn because of a broken zipper? Replace the zipper, not the pants!

Here are some tips you can follow for maintaining an updated, streamlined closet.

• Sort through your closet and donate anything you haven’t worn in two years to a local charity. There are few things as satisfying as cleaning your closet and helping someone else at the same time!
• Determine which items need repair, cleaning, or pressing. It may be helpful to make a chart listing item, color, style, state of wear, and any repairs or cleaning needed. You can take this chart with you when you go shopping to help make rounding out your wardrobe easier.
• If you have an old skirt that you love but that is seriously out-of-date, considering shortening the garment to give it a new, fresh look.
• Coordinate new outfits. Maybe the jacket you received as a birthday present is the perfect match for those new suede pants. Coordinate several new outfits and arrange your closet in a way that’s convenient for you.
• Don’t forget to inspect your shoes and boots. Have heels and soles replaced as necessary. Remember that ill-fitting shoes can cause misery for your feet and entire body.

Now that your closet is in great shape, keep it that way. Clean your clothes regularly. Using sachets for your drawers and cedar blocks for your closet will help keep your clothes fresh smelling, moth-free, and a pleasure to wear!

Although cleaning down items usually is not a problem, a comforter with poor construction and insufficient quilting can cause the down to shift, lose shape, or become matted.

Inspect the comforter for these things before purchasing:

• Make sure the comforter is well-quilted. Quilting stitches should run both vertically and horizontally with quilting lines about 8–10 inches apart.
• Check the strength of the stitching. Comforters with loose stitching can allow the down to shift.
• Check for fullness in the quilted areas. Thicker filling will provide more insulation.

 

At the end of winter, don't forget to have it cleaned before putting it away for the next winter. Schedule a free pick and delivery service with Sarni Cleaners, and we'll clean and store it for you.

Neckties are both a fashion statement for men and a problem for cleaners. The fabric used for ties is cut diagonally to the weave, or “on the bias,” so it makes a neat knot when worn around the neck.

Unfortunately, this type of cut is easily distorted or stretched, causing puckering and fullness. In many instances, sizing or finishes are used during manufacturing to stabilize fabrics. If the finish is removed in cleaning, the fabric will lose its shape and stability. In the case of ties, this makes it nearly impossible to return the necktie to a wearable condition.

Sometimes a tie doubles as a bib and collects a variety of stains. Most tie stains require water to remove them. In many cases, the dyes are also affected by water, leading to problems when it comes time to tackle a tough stain. Attempts to remove the stains will likely disturb the dyes.

The several layers used to make neckties prevent quick drying of any particular area. The typical solution is to take the tie apart to work on only one layer at a time, but this can also cause distortions because of the bias cut. When you have trouble cleaning your tie, just call Sarni Cleaners at 1-800-727-6475 or bring it to one of our convenient locations in downtown Boston, Everett and Lynnfield. We'll take care of it for you.