October 2002 Issue
In this months Issue:
Five Things You Need to Know
Its That Time Again
Home Laundry Tip
Stains are an unavoidable part of life with clothes! No matter where you are, stains can happen: at work, at a restaurant, at home, in your car or on a bus. It seems as though stains often appear at the least opportune times and your first reaction may be to get the stain out immediately, so other people dont think youre a slob! Actually, many types of small clothing stains can be successfully removed at home. If the stained area is large or numerous, however, its best to bring the item to a professional like us!
Here are five tips to remember when dealing with a stain at home:
1. Stains should be treated as soon as possible to avoid damage to the fabric. The longer a stain remains on a fabric, the harder it is to remove. Stains also may attract insects, which will further damage your garment by eating away at it.
2. If youre going to attempt stain removal by yourself, first check for colorfastness. Remember to blot, never rub or brush the stained area, since this may damage the fabric. Work slowly from the outside edge of the stain towards its center and keep checking your work during the procedure. Stains behave differently, depending on the fiber content, dye, finish and construction of the fabric.
3. Dont attempt to remove stains from delicate fabrics like leather, satin, suede, furs, vinyl, taffeta or organdy. Also, some types of stains dont work well with home methods. These include nail polish, paint and medicine stains. Bring these items directly to us and well do our best to get the stains out.
4. Spilled a beverage but dont see a stain? Its there, believe us. Many fruit juices and drinks disappear into the fabric and leave no visible stain at first. Once the sugars are deposited on your item, however, heat from your dryer or washer will brown them and thats a stain thats virtually impossible to remove. If you spill juice or soda on a fabric, flush it out immediately with water, even if you cant see a stain.
5. To bleach or not to bleach? Bleaching is a last resort if the stain does not respond to other treatment. Test the bleach first on an unexposed seam or a sample of the material. Wait five minutes for a reaction; many white fabrics contain an optical brightener that will turn yellow when bleached.
Its That Time Again
The seasons are changing and so are your clothes. No matter what part of the country you live in, fall and winter mean new wardrobe choices.
How you store your clothes will determine if youll be able to use them again next season. First, clean all items before storage. This is like taking an insurance policy, since dirty clothes can attract insects or mildew.
Dont store items in a basement or attic, since high humidity or dampness can cause problems. A spare closet with cedar or under a bed are your best bets. Clothes should be stored in airtight containers or bags; remember NEVER store clothes in the plastic drycleaning bags we provide. This can cause yellowing or mildew.
Mildew is a fungus growth that usually develops on soiled clothing or items stored in damp or humid conditions. Mildew usually appears as irregular, speckled stains and has a damp, musty odor. Mildew doesnt only stain fabrics, it can deteriorate them, too. The odor can be removed by washing, but the stains are more difficult to eliminate.
Insects are another storage danger. While wool fabrics are most likely to be attacked by insects like moths, carpet beetles, cockroaches and silverfish, other fibers are also susceptible. Insects are usually attracted to the fabric by a food or beverage stain, and while feeding on the stain, cut or weaken the surface fibers of the garment. When the item is cleaned, the weakened fibers are flushed away and the damage becomes apparent.
If youre taking sweaters or other items out of storage, be sure to inspect them carefully for damage. Hang items up in the shower to get rid of wrinkling or creasing, or bring the items to us for press only service.
Home Laundry Tip
If you have kids, theyre probably already busy on their first projects in school. And if youre an adult, you may be starting home-improvement or crafts projects. In either case, a sticky situation may occur when you get glue or rubber cement on clothing. The simple solution: rub a dab of petroleum jelly directly on the gluey area. Youll be able to get the glue into a ball and then just scrape it off with a dull knife or even an old credit card. Once its off, rub in some dishwashing liquid and launder the garment following the care label instructions. If its permanent glue, however, youre probably out of luck. Superglue-type products generally cannot be removed from fabric.