January 2005 Issue
In this months Issue:
New Year's Resolutions
Just How Good Are We?
Cleaning Winter Accessories
Home Laundry Tip
What Happens to Your Clothes If You Have a Flood?
What Happens to Your Clothes If You Have a Flood?
Yes, it's that time of year again, when everyone begins making resolutions. Typical resolutions? Losing weight, quitting bad habits, spending more time with family and friends or even making that first million bucks. Unfortunately, most people start off with good intentions but don't follow through (but we can still dream about that million dollars, right?)
Here are two resolutions that are easy to follow and will bring you great rewards. Now, please raise your right hand and promise:
" Never to store clothes in the plastic garment bags we provide. We give them to you to protect your clothes only until you get home. Store them uncovered or in fabric garment bags. (Otherwise, clothes can actually get damp or damaged in the plastic. Clothes, like people, need to breathe!!) You can use a fabric garment bag for extra-fancy outfits that don't get worn too often.
" Always to bring in stained items immediately. The longer a stain sets, the harder it is to remove. So go into the back of your closet where you threw that stained garment and bring it in to us right now!
Just How Good Are We?
Why do you use Pressed4Time? Here's what one of our customers figured out for us:
By using Pressed4Time, I save 25 minutes a week (drive time back and forth, plus waiting in line at the dry-cleaning establishment). If I get my clothes cleaned once a week for 50 weeks (Hey, everyone needs some vacation time, right?), that's 25 minutes x 50 or 1,250 minutes (20.83 hours!). And that's just one year!
Now let's take it one step further. Statistics say the average salary is $30,000, which means the average worker makes $14.42 per hour (that's 30,000 divided by 2080 work hours in a year). Multiply the hourly rate ($14.42) times the number of hours (20.83) and you'll realize that you save $300 a year by using Pressed4Time!
Thanks to our customer who presented us with this very convincing information.
Cleaning Winter Accessories
In most parts of the country, the air is cooler, outerwear is heavier, and accessories such as gloves, hats and scarves need to be pulled out of the closet again. It's not simply a matter of just putting them on, however.
First, you need to look carefully at every item. If any of the items were soiled when they were stored, they may have small holes caused by insect damage.
You may want to wash or clean these items. If there is a care label on the item, follow the instructions. Many synthetics, cottons and wools can be washed by hand or machine. If you are going to use a machine, be sure to use the gentle cycle since fabrics can become matted or pilled if they have a "nap."
Items that are knit may need to be stretched to return to their original size. If drying is recommended, be sure to use a low temperature setting.
Some items may require professional dry cleaning (yes, that's us!). Wool, fur and leather items require special cleaning and finishin procedures. Be sure to point out any.
Home Laundry Tip
Not sure whether that new navy blue shirt is colorfast? Worried that your red pants might turn your whites into pinks? You dont need to be a psychic to figure out if a garment is going to "bleed." While some items (usually dark colors) may lose some color in the first few washings, others will continue to bleed time after time. To test for colorfastness, just put a drop of water on an inside seam or some area of the garment that doesn't show. Blot the wet area with a white towel or even a cotton ball. If no color comes off, the garment is safe to wash with other clothes (following the manufacturer's instructions, of course!). If any color does come off, the item should be washed separately.
What Happens to Your Clothes If You Have a Flood?
In light of this years difficult weather conditions, many of our customers have asked us what to do with their garments and home accessories in case of a flood. In addition to hurricanes and other natural disasters, your items can also be damaged at other times of the year as well, for example, if a pipe bursts. The International Fabricare Institute has some great tips to follow.
First, sort through the items that you think can be salvaged. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that you wear gloves when handling items contaminated with mildew or by floodwater.
If there are any items that you cannot thoroughly clean and dry, they should be thrown out, because theyve been contaminated. That includes garments or items damaged by sewage spills, groundwater runoff or water from rivers and streams.
If the items are washable and can be cleaned, there are a number of steps you should take. Bring the items outside and rinse off any water or mud. Allow the items to dry and then shake out any dried dirt. Drying items in the sun will help prevent the spread of mildew.
Its important to then wash the items very carefully. If your washing machine isnt working or the water is not safe to use, bring the items to a laundromat or to us. Just ask&well be happy to help.
If these items cant be cleaned, they remain a source of microbial growth; thats why its best to throw out pillows, stuffed toys or clothing if theyve been in floodwater for more than a week. Its unlikely youll ever be able to get out the odors and the contaminants. The International Fabricare Institute has a free consumer handout on this topic, including specific guidelines and washing instructions, types of fabric damage and information about cleaning non-washable clothes and textiles. Go to www.ifi.org/consumer/FloodDamage/pdf.
What Happens to Your Clothes If You Have a Flood?
In light of this years difficult weather conditions, many of our customers have asked us what to do with their garments and home accessories in case of a flood. In addition to hurricanes and other natural disasters, your items can also be damaged at other times of the year as well, for example, if a pipe bursts. The International Fabricare Institute has some great tips to follow.
First, sort through the items that you think can be salvaged. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that you wear gloves when handling items contaminated with mildew or by floodwater.
If there are any items that you cannot thoroughly clean and dry, they should be thrown out, because theyve been contaminated. That includes garments or items damaged by sewage spills, groundwater runoff or water from rivers and streams.
If the items are washable and can be cleaned, there are a number of steps you should take. Bring the items outside and rinse off any water or mud. Allow the items to dry and then shake out any dried dirt. Drying items in the sun will help prevent the spread of mildew.
Its important to then wash the items very carefully. If your washing machine isnt working or the water is not safe to use, bring the items to a laundromat or to us. Just ask&well be happy to help.
If these items cant be cleaned, they remain a source of microbial growth; thats why its best to throw out pillows, stuffed toys or clothing if theyve been in floodwater for more than a week. Its unlikely youll ever be able to get out the odors and the contaminants. The International Fabricare Institute has a free consumer handout on this topic, including specific guidelines and washing instructions, types of fabric damage and information about cleaning non-washable clothes and textiles. Go to www.ifi.org/consumer/FloodDamage/pdf.