October 2004 Issue
In this months Issue:
We Love Sweaters!
Comforters to Cuddle Up With Tonight
Can I Help You With That Bag?
Home Laundry Tip
Sweaters have become a popular fashion accessory, both for the office and for your free time. Folks in colder climates often think of big, bulky and warm sweaters at this time of year, but new, thinner materials are also available so that everyone can enjoy the cozy feel of a sweater.
In cleaning sweaters, always follow the label instructions, treat stains right away and check knitted sweaters for unraveling and fraying before washing.
Acrylic. Acrylic fiber can be affected by heat, which can result in the fibers stretching. Lay acrylic knit sweaters flat when ironing and use low heat; if the item can be washed and dried, be sure to use low temperatures. Acrylic sweaters are often less expensive than other fabrics, but they will not hold up as well in the long run.
Angora. Angora rabbit hair is blended with wool and synthetic fibers to create a very soft fabric. The biggest problem you'll face with angora sweaters is shrinkage; so always hand wash. Even using a delicate cycle on your machine may cause shrinkage. Be sure to use a mild detergent, since regular alkaline detergents can damage the fibers. Lay flat to dry.
Cashmere/Mohair/Camel's Hair are all very soft. Camel's hair is sometimes blendedwith wool. Other fibers from the camel family include alpaca, guanaco, llama and vicuna. Cashmere and mohair are from goats, and often are blended with wool or synthetic fibers; mohair is generally the stronger fiber. Most sweaters made of any of these materials are "dry clean only." Problems you might encounter with these fabrics are pilling and matting.
Chenille. Chenille (caterpillar in French) yarns actually look like a caterpillar or pipecleaner. Chenille can snag or pull easily, so it's best to handwash chenille sweaters, even if the label says machine washing is okay. After washing, lay flat to dry.
Wool. Wool is popular because it's durable, comfortable and keeps the wearer warm! Wool requires special handling in dry cleaning and laundering to avoid shrinkage. If the label calls for hand washing, be sure to use cool water and a mild detergent. Soak for up to five minutes and rinse thoroughly. Squeeze out excess water without wringing or twisting, and then lay flat to dry, away from direct heat or sunlight. If the label says machine washing is okay, use the gentle cycle.
Be sure to bring us your sweaters for cleaning and we'll help you keep them in good shape for many seasons to come!
Comforters to Cuddle Up With Tonight
Some people like to sleep in a bed with an old-fashioned blanket tucked in; others enjoy the more relaxed look and feel of a comforter. Under normal use and care conditions, a quality comforter can last for years.
You can purchase a plain comforter and a comforter cover (called a duvet, pronounced doo-vay), or a comforter with a pattern. If you choose the latter, watch out for stains. While comforters may say they're washable, they're often so large that they won't fit into your home machine and may need professional cleaning help, or at least a trip to the local laundromat!
If you're looking for warmth and long wear, down is probably your best bet. Many quality comforters also use materials like silk, wool and cotton.
When purchasing a comforter, it's important to know just how warm you want to be at night. Comforters come in different designations, depending on how much "fill" they have. Moderately priced comforters usually are in the 500-550 fill range, while 600-700 is the range for higher priced types. Also, consider the thread count: the higher the number of threads per woven square inch, the smoother and softer the fabric. Look for a thread count of at least 230 threads per inch.
Construction of the comforter is important. There are three different stitch types: karo, which looks like open-sided diamonds and lets the stuffing shift a little; ring stitch, which allows the stuffing to move a little more; and square stitch, which holds the filler in place. Larger squares allow more stuffing to be used, which ultimately means a warmer comforter. Thats why many people look for square stitching when they're buying a comforter.
No matter what type of comforter you choose, feel free to bring it to Pressed4Time for special cleaning and care!
Can I Help You With That Bag?
Perhaps on your last trip, you jammed in that last pair of pants and the zipper on your baggage broke. Maybe when your bag came off the conveyor belt, it had a huge rip in the side. And how long has it been since that handle of your garment bag has been broken?
Did you know that Pressed4Time does luggage repair? Of course we do! We can replace or repair zippers, fix rips and tears, and get you on the road again.
Home Laundry Tip
There's still time to get a few more barbecues in this season, but we don't want that barbecue sauce youre using to end up being a permanent part of your clothes!
Like ketchup, spaghetti sauce and steak sauce, barbecue sauce contains tomato, sugar, tannins, oils and coloring, all of which can be difficult to remove if it's set by any kind of heat. That means it's important to first use cool water to rinse the stained area. Then apply some type of laundry pre-treatment remover and rinse again. If the stain remains, sponge with a mixture of half vinegar, half water and rinse again in cool water. Try washing it according to the care nstructions; you may have to wash it several times. Remember, DO NOT put it in the dryer until the stain is completely removed!