March 2003 Issue
In this months Issue:
Stains Can Make Lasting Impressions
Shirt Solutions
If the Shoe Fits
home laundry tip
Stains Can Make Lasting Impressions
Nothing destroys the appearance of a garment more than a stain. If you cant get out a prominent stain, you cant wear the garment again.
Many people believe that fancy equipment, expensive treatments or top-secret chemicals are the most effective methods of stain removal. Theres a simple truth about stains: the longer they remain on a garment, the harder it is to remove them, no matter what method you use.
This isnt just hearsay: the International Fabricare Institute conducted extensive studies on garment stains and found that the single most important factor that determined whether a stain could be removed was timing.
To conduct the study, IFI stained numerous garments with the same type of stains. After allowing the stains to remain on the items for just one week, 80 percent of the stains could be removed satisfactorily. After three weeks however, only 50 percent of the stains that aged on a fabric could be removed.
The IFI tested a variety of fabric materials. Researchers found that the easiest fabrics to work with in stain removal were made of synthetic fibers, like polyester or blends. Stains in cotton were the most difficult to remove. Other problem fabrics included silk, wool and rayon.
When an item becomes stained, you need to take quick action. Wash the item according to care instructions or bring it to us for special attention. Although its tempting to throw that stained shirt or pair of pants in the corner of your closet, its best to clean it right away.
If youre cleaning the item at home, be sure to check it to ensure that the stain is out before putting it in the dryer. Heat will set a stain and may make it impossible to remove. If you bring the item to us, be sure to mark it or put a note with it (if you know what type of stain it is, that can be helpful to us!). At Pressed4Time, well do our best to get your clothes back to you in great condition.
Shirt Solutions
Home launderers often tell us that its extremely difficult to get shirts and blouses clean, especially in areas under the arms where there are perspiration stains, and around the collar, where often there lurks the infamous ring around the collar stain. Although many customers assume that we dry clean their shirts, thats not the case: all of our shirts are laundered.
Then why do your shirts come out so much cleaner when we handle the laundering duties? Removing dirt, perspiration and body oils requires high water temperatures. Commercial laundries like ours use temperatures in the 150 to 160 degree range. For safety reasons, however, home water heaters are set at much lower temperatures. That means stains may not respond as well to the lower temperature water in your home or apartment.
Another reason you may not be able to tackle that stain effectively: your home laundry is not equipped with the steam guns, spotting tables and cleaning solutions that are often necessary for removing really tough collar or underarm stains. Before and after we launder your shirt, we use a variety of tools and techniques to safely remove troubling stains and odors.
Remember, were the clothing professionals. Were experts at solving many of your most challenging cleaning problems, especially that nasty nemesis, the ring around the collar of shirts and blouses.
If the Shoe Fits
Having a problem with tight shoes? Often, women find that after a pregnancy their shoe size has increased this can be temporary or permanent. If you have a pair of leather shoes that you just cant bear to part with, then try this chilly but helpful method.
Take two small, heavy-duty plastic bags that can close securely (zip-lock types are probably best.) Fill them with water, close them (check to be sure there are no leaks!) and then put each bag into the top part of the shoe. Put each shoe in another, larger plastic bag and place the two bags in the freezer for one day. As the water freezes, it expands slightly and will stretch the leather a bit.
After the 24 hours is up, take the shoes out and allow the shoes to defrost so you can re-move the bags. If there is any moisture on the shoes, be sure to dry them with a clean cloth.
And speaking of wet feet, we know that winter is often a time when peoples shoes and boots get wet, especially if you live in a part of the country where it snows. You may be tempted to put wet shoes or boots under a radiator or near a roaring fire please dont! Youre sure to get distortions in the leather or even cracking, plus you may not be able to get your feet back in as the leather could shrink.
home laundry tip
Love that wool sweater but hate how much it itches when you wear it? Heres a simple trick that will take the itch out of wool and wool-blend garments. Youll need glycerin, which is available at pharmacies and often in supermarkets, in the lotion and creams department. Hand wash the item (lukewarm or cool water is best), using two to three tablespoons of the glycerin. Dry the items flat to avoid stretching or shrinkage and voila, youll have a comfortable, soft garment!