August 2009 Issue
In this months Issue:
Keeping Bathing Suits Clean
How Should You Choose a Dry Cleaner?
MONEY SAVING TIP
Pressed4Time Home Laundry Tip
Imagine this: You own a garment that you love. Every time you wear it, it gets soaked over and over in water and often in chemicals or salt. It's exposed to hot sun, oil and creams, and often to sand, dirt and sweat. After wearing, it often doesn't get rinsed for hours and usually ends up balled up, damp, in a tote bag or rolled up in a towel.
That's the typical life of a bathing suit, also known as a swimsuit. To keep a bathing suit looking its best, time after time, it's best to rinse it in cool water first, then wash in a mild soap (read the manufacturer's instructions, of course. Don't wring or twist the bathing suit. Bathing suits should NOT be washed in a washing machine, although some people do so on a delicate or gentle cycle or in a mesh bag. That's because the agitation can break the fibers down. Wash bathing suits by hand and dry flat, away from the sun. Placing bathing suits in a dryer can ruin the elastic and any decorative elements.
How Should You Choose a Dry Cleaner?
When you purchase an item with a label that says dry clean only you are making an investment. So doesn't it make sense to choose a dry cleaner that will provide the best service for that investment? You may be tempted to use establishments that offer discount prices or coupons, have fancy ad campaigns or provide other enticements. But here's what the Neighborhood Cleaners Association says: When it comes to labor-intensive services such as dry cleaning, it's extremely rare that you can find quality, knowledge, service and reliability for discount prices. What does this mean? If the prices are very cheap, it's likely that something is being sacrificed, and it's probably quality or service. How do these establishments cut corners? They might be purchasing less expensive spot removal products. Perhaps they're not as careful about maintaining pure cleaning agents. They may not be changing filters as frequently as we do. Maybe they're cutting back on pressing or packaging equipment, or even hiring less experienced or qualified staff. Our customers know that Pressed4Time is not the least expensive, but we are certainly not the most expensive. We work hard to stay competitive in price, but we will NEVER compromise quality or service to you. So when you make the commitment to your clothes and invest in quality items that require dry cleaning or laundering, you can trust us to do the best job possible.
MONEY SAVING TIP
Making the most of your trip to the Laundromat Looking for ways to save money the next time you go the Laundromat? Here are some great ideas:
Before you head out to the Laundromat, sort your clothing into wash loads so you know how many machines you'll need. This will also allow you to separate out items that are delicate or should be hand-washed. Buy larger containers and then pre-package laundry detergent into small zip-top sandwich bags for each load. Buying detergent at the Laundromat is always more expensive.
Once you arrive, look for larger machines. You'll save money by washing more clothes at the same time. But remember, don't overload machines.
Don't wash towels with corduroys and fleece fabrics or you'll be dealing with a linty mess. Also, be sure that there are no colored items like socks in white loads or you'll be wearing pink items!
Don't overload the dryer; if it's too full the clothes won't have room to circulate and you'll have to pay for another drying cycle. Or consider letting clothing hang up to dry; you can invest in a small drying rack or if you have a backyard, consider a clothesline.
Pressed4Time 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 don't 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.