August 2003 Issue
In this months Issue:
After the Party
Bathing Suit Bonanza
Scarves
Home Laundry Tip
In our last issue, we talked about the facts to consider when shopping for a wedding dress. This month, well explain what to do with your beautiful gown after the party is over.
Most brides want to preserve their dresses, either as a memento or sometimes to pass on to a daughter, family friend or relative. We recommend that you have the dress professionally cleaned before you store it.
Even if the dress looks pretty clean (and frankly, wed be surprised if it did, given all the dancing, walking, drinking and eating the bride likely did while wearing it!), its important to get it cleaned before storing it. The dress may have invisible stains from food, beverages and even body oils and perspiration. If you dont clean the dress properly before it is stored away, these stains will become visible and permanent.
All apparel items, even wedding gowns, are supposed to have care labels that indicate a viable care method, and this label covers all components of the dress, including the trim. Trim tends to be a problem, however, according to the International Fabricare Institute.
Most wedding gowns have some kind of decorative trim, and its important to inspect that trim before cleaning since many cannot hold up to a traditional dry-cleaning process. For example, many beads, glitter, sequins and laces are attached to wedding gowns with adhesives that could dissolve. Some beads and glitter are made of plastics that could separate from the dress. We also have had issues with trim fabric yellowing when their finishes oxidize. An ivory or ecru trim could lose color and no longer match the gown; this is a result of poor colorfastness of the dye, not improper cleaning.
Gowns that dont withstand the care procedure on the label should be returned to the store you purchased it from for an adjustment.
At Pressed4Time, we consider ourselves wedding gown specialists. We will be happy to clean your gown for you. Then its up to you: we can store it in a special box to help you preserve those wonderful memories!
Bathing Suit Bonanza
Even though its midsummer is starting to wind down, its not too late to take good care of your bathing suit. Building sandcastles and body surfing can be hazardous to your beach attire. Sun, sand, salt, suntan lotion and chlorine can really damage a suits fabric and make it unwearable after just a few outings.
If youd like your bathing suit to hold up for the rest of the season and even last until next summer, here are some simple tips:
* Wash out your suit after every use. This will remove the chemicals from the pool or the salt from the ocean. Then air dry.
* Never dry bathing suits in the sun (unless your suit is already on your body!) or in the dryer, since both of these methods can cause deterioration of any rubberized fabric. Instead, use an indoor line or just hang it up in your bathroom or shower area.
Scarves
Scarves are a fantastic fashion accessory that can always dress up an outfit. They often are made of delicate fabric; before purchasing a scarf be sure to see whether its handwashable or dry clean only. If the scarf is washable, use a mild soap solution or even shampoo. Remember, dont wring the scarf out, just rinse it in cold water and hang it up to dry. You can try rolling it in a towel to take out some of the water first.
If youre like most people, your scarves are lurking in the back of your drawers or thrown over a hanger in your closet. Heres a great idea to keep scarves unwrinkled and easily accessible.
After youve finished using the gift wrap on a large roll, or when youve finished a roll of paper towels, dont throw that cardboard tube away. Take a scarf, roll it around the outside and hold it in place with a decorative pin. You can then store the tube in a dresser drawer or stack it on your closet shelf.
Home Laundry Tip
During the hot summer months, even the most carefully applied makeup can drip or rub off on your clothes. If youve gotten foundation, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, or blusher on clothing, dont despair. Theres a simple solution, probably sitting right on your bathroom sink.
Take a regular bar of soap or the so-called beauty bars and wet the stain. Rub in the soap, working it in well. Wash the area well with warm water and once the stain is gone, launder the item according to the care label instructions. If that method doesnt work, try using a small amount of your regular laundry detergent applied directly to the area. If the item needs to be dry-cleaned, bring it directly to us and dont try to fix it yourself.