June 2008 Issue
In this months Issue:
Drying: Line, Flat, Drip Dry
Here Comes the Bride
What's YOUR Footprint?
Home Laundry Tip
All clothes, towels and linens need to be washed (we knowsome 10-year-old boys who might disagree!), but there are many alternatives to how to dry those items.
Automatic drying. Put enough clothing in the dryer so that they will tumble properly, but don't overfill the machine or your clothes will be wrinkled. It's best to under-dry items rather than over drying them. Cottons and preshrunk material can be dried on high or regular temperature settings, while low or delicate settings are best for synthetics, items that will snag, sheer or gauzy fabrics and most cotton knits. After every load, be sure to check the lint filter and empty it. Remove items when the load is done to avoid wrinkling and fold or hang the garments right away. If you forget and your clothes become wrinkled from sitting in the dryer too long, just leave them in the dryer, add a moistened white towel and run the dryer on a low temperature setting for five minutes.
Drip-drying or "hanging items to dry" indoors. This method is great for light cottons, polyesters, silks and items that will not stretch (and don't say "dry flat only.") You can put items like jackets, blouses, dresses and sweaters on hangers that allow them to drape correctly (never use wire hangers). It's best to button or zip up the garment; smooth collars, seams, trim and pockets. For smaller items like lingerie or pantyhose, use a small collapsible rack or hanging rack.
Drying flat. Many items like knits and wool sweaters have labels that indicate "lay flat to dry." If you don't follow these directions, the fabric may stretch or become misshapen. Lay the item on a clean white towel or sheet on a flat surface, away from the sun. Some of these items may need to be put on the "air dry" setting of the dryer first to prevent them from becoming stiff. Check the label on the garment for these instructions or symbols.
Line drying. It's a method that was popular many years ago, and is still a wonderful and energy-efficient way to dry clothes. If you live in an apartment or condo with little access to a backyard or open area, line drying might be difficult, but if you have the space and some clothespins (and neighbors that won't mind!), try it this summer.
If you are going to line dry items, be sure to remember the following tips: Pin dresses by the shoulder; full skirts by the hem and straight skirts and pants by the waistband. Hang shirts by the tail and always leave unbuttoned; T-shirts should be hung by the hem. Fold underwear over the line and then pin; in socks pin by the toe. Fold sheets hem to hem over the line and pin by the corners; pin pillowcases on one side only, leaving the other side to hang open. Shake out towels and then pin at the corners.
Here Comes the Bride
A wedding dress can be a substantial investment, even though you will likely only wear it once. Many brides store the dress after the wedding for sentimental reasons or in the hopes that a daughter or other relative might want to wear it.
Unfortunately, no cleaning process or storage method can guarantee that your dress won't yellow or even deteriorate (lace is a very delicate fabric!), but there are ways to ensure good results for storage.
If you have a dress that you've inherited and want to use, please talk to your Pressed4Time representative. We know all about the care, preservation, restoration and careful storage of these precious mementos. We can help you decide whether the dress can be cleaned, altered or restored.
After the gifts have been opened and the toasts made, it's time to think about putting the wedding dress away. Once we've cleaned the dress and boxed it for you, it's important to store the wedding gown in a cool, dry place. Typically, newlyweds end up putting the wedding dress in a basement or an attic, and these are two of the WORST places to leave it. The back of a bedroom closet is your best choice.
Your wedding dress is special: let us help you treat it right!
What's YOUR Footprint?
How much of an impact are you making on our planet? What steps can you do to help our environment? There's no way that we can complete eliminate the effect that we humans have on the environment, but if you have a better idea of how your actions affect our world, you can make changes, That means reducing energy and water consumption, reusing resources and recycling whenever possible.
To determine your own environmental "footprint" (the impact of your own individual consumption), check out a great website(www.therainforestsite.com) and click on the right hand side on "your environmental footprint." You'll be able to calculate your carbon and environmental impact and learn ways to reduce or change some of your daily consumption habits. Plus, there are lots of easy-to-implement tips that can really make a difference.
Home Laundry Tip
Whether they're made of canvas, leather, wool, suede or nylon, tote bags are invaluable accessories. But since they go with us everywhere, tote bags also endure a lot of abuse-they're exposed to weather, they sometimes sit on dirty floors or under seats. What's the best way to clean them?
If you have a canvas bag with no leather trim, you can hand wash it with a product like Woolite. After it's been washed, let it air dry, but be sure to put in acid-free tissue paper so it keeps its shape. If there are wrinkles, don't steam or iron; they will come out once you start using the bag again.
If your tote bag is leather, you can apply clear shoe cream or polish (not wax) once a month as a protectant. Be sure to test it on the bottom of the bag first. If your bag has scratches, you can try to camouflage them by using a clean dry cloth and a little bit of white vinegar.
For bags that are made of wool, suede, or are canvas with leather trim, it's best to bring them to us for dry-cleaning.