Do you remember how enthusiastic you were when you got your favorite clothes? Then, a few months down the line, you’re not as excited to wear them as they don’t look as new? This is one of the challenges we face when we purchase new clothes – when they start to look not so new after a very short time.

Even though the quality of the cloth plays a pivotal role in how fresh they will look after some time, your dry cleaning provider might also be responsible for your clothes fading fast. Hence, it is important you pay attention to how your clothes are dry cleaned.

To keep your clothes looking brand new, here are some dry cleaning and home washing tips to get started

1. Are the appropriate washer settings being used?

Whether you are involved directly in washing your clothes or not, ensure the right washer settings are used. Professional dry cleaners should know the right setting to use for every cloth type. For example, if you use a harsh/strong setting for a piece of delicate fabric, it will not last long.

Different washer settings have different labels like gentle/mild/harsh/normal/delicate, etc. So, you must be careful to discern the meaning of these labels before dry cleaning your clothes. It is also advised to check your clothes labels to see if there are instructions from the manufacturer.

2. Is the right detergent being used?

Another reason why clothes lose their aesthetic appeal is that they are not washed or dry cleaned with the right detergent. When drycleaners use the right detergent, your clothes will keep looking newer for longer periods of time. It is important to mention that laundry detergents are of different types. Some detergents are suitable for delicate/sensitive fabrics. At the same time, some are made for tough fabrics.

Generally, powdered detergents are harsh on fabrics, so you can opt for the liquid type. However, it is important to mention that some detergents are derived from plants. And there are several types on the market that are great for almost any fabric. Make sure you conduct your due diligence and watch out for customers’ reviews.

If you’ve tried washing clothes yourself without great results, it might be best to give a professional laundry service a try.

3. Check the labels – or use an expert

Detergent labels give clear instructions on how to use them and the right kind of clothes they should be used on.  When washing at home, it’s best to use care instructions on the label.  But here is one advantage of using an expert garment care service –  clothing label laws don’t give every possible way to clean, they are only required to list one acceptable way to clean.  If your dry cleaner is very experienced, they can go beyond the clothing label and use their own expertise to handle a tricky or complicated garment. If the instructions look quite complicated and beyond your knowledge, you should have a professional handle it for you.

4. Ensure your clothes are inside out before washing

Leaving your clothes inside out before you wash is a dry cleaning hack that is often sidelined. It is important to turn your clothes inside out before they are put in the water. Sometimes, the spinning action of the dry cleaning machine can impact wear and tear on your clothing items. Hence, it is better if the interiors of your clothes are on the receiving end instead of the outside.

Additionally, if you are washing clothes that have buttons, and other fashion embellishments, washing them inside out is a smart way to ensure they don’t fall loose.

5. Use cold water to wash except stated otherwise

It is important to mention that using hot water to wash your clothes is highly disadvantageous because it makes clothes fade faster than usual. Usually, hot water is appropriate for gardening and camping wear, soiled sheets, etc.

Asides from these, it is best to use cold water to wash all your clothes because it has no effect. The threads of your fabric will remain intact, and the strength of the textile will not reduce.

6. Get a Laundry Mesh Bag

Laundry Mesh bags provide a protective film between the items inside and the others in the washer. The bags are made from a resilient and porous polyester mesh material permeable enough to allow soap lather and water to pass through. And it prevents other particles from passing through.

To use a laundry mesh bag, all you need to do is put your clothes inside and close with the zipper or closure mechanism. Then, put the bag in the washer.

Laundry mesh bags are useful in protecting delicate fabrics when you are washing. When they are inside the bag, your clothes can never get damaged, especially if you are doing mass laundry with several clothes.

7. Buy durable fabrics

An underrated dry cleaning secret is taking ample time to look at the fabrics on each garment you want to purchase. Getting a durable fabric saves you the stress and worry of having your garment age prematurely.

A piece of durable fabric will last for a long time and still maintain its aesthetic appeal. Such fabrics need little care to maintain their brand new look, and you will spend less trying to preserve them.

8. Rotate your clothes

If you are intentional about keeping your clothes fresh and brand new, be ready to rotate them. This is a hack that many people don’t utilize.  An easy way to start is to hang recently worn items at the back of the closet, or for washed clothes, take the extra few seconds to remove the current items in the drawer, then place your recently washed clothes at the bottom of the drawer, and then put the items you haven’t worn yet on top.  If you find yourself digging to the bottom of the drawer for those recently washed items early – you probably really don’t like the items on top – so get rid of them and get stuff you love to wear!

9. Air dry your clothes

Even though dryers are great, allowing your clothes to air dry impacts an appealing scent. Clothing items like pajamas and jeans can be used in a dryer.

However, other categories of clothes should be air-dried because they are susceptible to damage when used in machine dryers. Like hot water is disadvantageous to fabrics, hot air in machine dryers is not appropriate for several clothing types and textures.

Conclusion

Having read these washing and dry cleaning tips mentioned in this piece, it is important to reveal that the way your clothes are handled determines their long-term use. If you don’t know how to apply some of these dry cleaning tips, it is advisable to see a professional dry cleaner to get the best results.

 

https://www.wisebread.com/10-smart-ways-to-keep-your-clothes-looking-new

https://www.collegefashion.net/college-life/laundry-tips-to-keep-clothes-looking-new/

Have you noticed the DIY dry cleaning kits popping up in stores around the country? These kits promise to handle your dry cleaning needs from the comfort of home. The marketing is enough to make you consider trying DIY dry cleaning, but don’t move forward quite yet. DIY dry cleaning isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

In fact, there are some risks that you should consider before trying to dry clean your garments yourself. After going over the risks, you’ll realize that you’re better off using a dry cleaning delivery service.

DIY Dry Cleaning Can Damage Fabrics

Dry-clean-only garments require special care. Unfortunately, DIY dry cleaning kits aren’t gentle on all fabrics. If you dry clean clothes yourself, you might damage the fabric, forcing you to discard items you love. This is a big risk to take, so it’s wise to use professional dry cleaning services instead.

Fabric Might Shrink

When you use a dry cleaning delivery service, you don’t have to worry about your garments shrinking. Professional dry cleaners take special care to ensure that the fabric remains in tip-top condition. That’s not always true with DIY dry cleaning kits, though. Many people have complained about garments shrinking after at-home dry cleaning.

If your garments shrink, they won’t fit properly. They might not even fit at all. You can avoid this by using a professional instead of tackling this task yourself.

The Strong Smell Can Trigger Headaches and Migraines

Professional dry cleaning services leave clothing fresh and clean, without strong smells. Unfortunately, DIY dry cleaning kits have earned a reputation for leaving strong smells behind. The smells are unpleasant for everyone, but it’s even worse for people prone to migraines and headaches.

Strong fragrances can trigger migraines in people who are susceptible to getting them. If you’re in that category, you could end up nursing a migraine every time you wear clothes dry cleaned at home. Even if you don’t get migraines, the strong fragrances might cause headaches. It’s not a risk worth taking when you can use a dry cleaning delivery service for your garments.

Body Odors Might Remain on the Fabric

Imagine putting on a freshly dry cleaned garment, only to realize it smells like body odor. Sadly, that’s what many people deal with after using DIY dry cleaning kits. While these kits do freshen up garments to a degree, they often leave some bad smells behind. This can include musty odors and the

smell of sweat in the underarm area. That can be pretty embarrassing if you have to wear the garment out. Fortunately, a dry cleaning delivery service will remove all the odors. You won’t have to worry about anyone noticing a bad smell when you get your clothes professionally dry cleaned.

Cause Stains to Set Into Fabric

At-home dry cleaning kits can remove some types of stains. However, they aren’t a match against oil-based and difficult-to-treat stains. If you try to dry clean stained clothes at home, the oil or grime might set into the fabric, making the stains harder to remove. Using a dry cleaning delivery service is the easy way to ensure that the stains are professionally removed so you don’t have to get rid of your clothing.

Create Stains

DIY dry cleaning kits can even leave a stain on previously unstained garments. Some people finish the process at home, only to find dark stains on the fabric. Some users have had success removing the new stains, while others have been forced to discard the garments. You love your dry-clean-only clothes, so this isn’t a risk worth taking.

If you dry clean your clothes at home, you could end up wasting money when you have to replace items in your wardrobe.

Damage Embellishments

Professional dry cleaners understand the challenges of caring for fabrics with embellishments. One wrong move can damage the embellishments, ruining the garment. Because of that, they take special care to ensure that the garments look new after cleaning. When you use a DIY dry cleaning kit, you risk damaging embellished garments.

The embellishments could fall off, forcing you to pay to repair the garment. Instead of spending the money to repair your clothes, send them off to a dry cleaning delivery service. Then, your clothes will be properly cleaned the first time, saving you money in the long run.

Flimsy Bags Destroy Clothes

You don’t want to toss your dry clean only clothes into the dryer without protection. Unfortunately, many DIY dry cleaning kits include flimsy bags that are susceptible to tears. Numerous customers have complained about opening the dryer, only to find the bag is split and the clothes are flying around. If the clothes get caught on zippers or embellishments, they can get damaged.

When you use professional dry cleaning services, you don’t have to worry about this happening. Your local dry cleaner will safeguard all of your garments to prevent rips and tears during the cleaning process. You don’t have to worry about your clothes tumbling around with other garments when using a professional service. You also don’t have to worry about flimsy equipment putting your clothes at risk.

Avoid These Issues With a Professional Dry Cleaning Service

As you can see, you can’t expect quality if you dry clean your garments yourself. If you want fresh, clean garments that maintain their shape, it makes sense to use a professional dry cleaning service.

You don’t even have to drop the clothing off. Instead, schedule a dry cleaning delivery service to take care of everything for you. The valet will pick your clothes up from your house or office, rush them to the facility, and then deliver them to you when they’re done. When you use this service, you can save time and money since you won’t have to worry about replacing the garments.

Begin by signing up for dry cleaning delivery online. Then, it won’t be long before your clothes come back. Once you receive the delivery, you can store your dry-cleaned garments or hang them up so they’ll be ready to wear.

Sources:
https://www.marthastewart.com/270246/dry-cleaning-solutions
https://laundrapp.com/blog/do-at-home-dry-cleaning-products-really-work/
https://www.excedrin.com/migraines/causes/can-smells-cause-migraines/
https://drycleanersatlanta.com/2015/08/at-home-dry-cleaning-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/

You just got some corporate pants for work, and you want them to remain in shape for a long time. Caring for these pants determine how long they will serve your needs. Usually, the common idea everyone has when taking care of their corporate pants is wash, dry, iron and fold. However, this is not all it entails if you want your pants to serve you for a long time.

If you want your pants to perfectly complement other items in your wardrobe like your blazers, shirts and shoes, they should be in good condition.

Here are some tips you need to know for your pants to remain brand new

Washing your pants

Using a washing machine

Before you wash your pants, you need to check the instructions because if you don’t wash them the right way, they might be damaged. It is best to use a washing machine for wool, quality polyester and cotton pants. While silk, delicate cotton and wool can be washed by hand.

1. Test the pants material with water

Before you wash, you need to perform a little test. All you need do is sprinkle a little amount of water on some parts of the pants, preferably the hidden edges. Also, you can apply some of the detergents you intend to use on the moist part of your pants and run your hand through. If the color washes off, you need to take it to a professional dry cleaner.

2. Turn the pants front-to-back

To protect the pants, turn it inside out and put into a mesh bag. This helps to prevent the buttons from falling out and reduce fading.

3. Put the pants in cold water and wash in a gentle cycle

Put the mesh bag containing the pants into the machine and add a sizeable portion of mild detergent with cold water. Switch the washing machine on and place it on a gentle cycle to wash. When the cycle ends, remove the pants from the washing machine.

Using your hands

1. Fill the container with mild detergent and cold water

In this case, you can use a basin, bathtub or even a sink to wash your pant. Add a little quantity of mild laundry detergent till the water starts to produce bubbles.

2. Soak the pants in the water and detergent mix

Saturate the pants into the mixture till they are fully submerged in the container you are using. Then, scrub out dirty regions in the pants, do this gently to prevent damaging the material.

3. Refill the container with fresh water

At this point, you are about to rinse out the pants, so evacuate the soapy water when you are satisfied that the pants are clean. Refill the container with cold and fresh water and dip the pants in and out till it is completely rinsed.

Drying your pants

1. Using a tumble dryer

If you have a tumble dryer, your work has been made easier. You can use the spin cycle to remove some moisture in your pants. Then, put a dry towel in the dryer to soak the water each time it collides with your pants during spinning.

Additionally, choose a particular time frame for the right amount of heat. If the pants are still damp, put them back in the dryer for some minutes until they are completely dry.

2. Air drying

If you don’t have a tumble dryer, using the air-drying method is an effective one too. Roll the wet pants in a dry towel, and squeeze gently to remove water. More so, if you have a clothesline outside your house, spread the pants on the line and hold them with clips.

3. Use a hairdryer

Some parts of your pants might not be completely dry, and you will feel the dampness even after drying. If you are in a hurry and you have a hairdryer close by, you can blast these damp areas until they are dry. Ensure you do this gently to avoid burning the fabric.

Ironing your pants

1. Confirm if you can iron the pants or not

Many pants come with instructions as regards washing and ironing. You can check the tag to see the manufacturer’s instructions. Sometimes, the tags highlight the ideal heat settings for ironing the pants. Generally, pants made from nylon, polyester, cotton, wool, linen and denim can be ironed.

2. Use a flat surface

It is best to use a flat surface like an ironing board so that you can easily eliminate wrinkles.

3. Fill the iron’s steam compartment with water

These days, many irons come with a small tank for adding water. As you iron, the water produces steam which helps to eliminate wrinkles and folds.

4. Iron the pockets

Usually, laundry services iron the pockets first to prevent additional wrinkles. So, take the front and back pockets out and iron gently.

5. Spread the pants across the surface

At this point, there is no specific way of ironing your pants. You can decide to start with the top and waistband section or start with the pants legs. All the same, ensure the temperature of the iron is mild to prevent burning the fabric.

 

Folding/Storing your pants

1. Leave your pants to cool down for few minutes

When you are done ironing, let them cool down for few minutes to prevent creating further wrinkles.

2. Hang/Fold your pants

You can use a pants hanger to keep them free from wrinkles. Secure each side of the pants to the waistband appropriately and hang it in your closet. Alternatively, you can fold your pants and store them beyond reach. Let the hem of the pants meet the waistband so that you can fold it in half. Another reason to fold your pants is that it helps to create space if your closet isn’t big enough.

 Conclusion

It is understandable that not everyone has the luxury of time to go through the stages of caring for pants, from the washing to the storing stage. You can get a professional laundry service to handle it for you while you attend to other tasks. Taking care of pants requires a great deal of care and patience, and this is what a laundry service and delivery offers you.

You likely free up space a couple of times a year by storing seasonal clothing. You want your dry-cleaned clothes to be ready to wear when the time comes around, so proper storage is a must. Let’s go over some storage tips that will help you protect your dry-cleaned clothing.

Use a Dry Cleaning Delivery Service Before Storage

You should never store dirty clothing. First, stains and odors can set in during storage, making it harder to clean when it’s time to wear the clothing again. Also, the stains and smells might attract insects. Then, you could end up with holes in your clothes due to an insect infestation. Thus, contact a dry cleaning delivery service to freshen up your clothing at the end of the season. Once you get it back, you’ll be ready to store it.

Choose a Temperature-controlled Storage Space

Next, you need to think about where you will store your clothing. While you might want to toss your garments in the attic, that’s a bad idea unless it’s insulated and climate-controlled. Instead, you need to choose a temperature-controlled area. Also, select an area that’s dark so your clothing won’t be exposed to UV rays.

Many people store clothing under the bed or in another closet. For instance, if you have a guest bedroom, you can use that closet for your seasonal clothes. Then, your clothing will get the protection it needs during the winter or summer.

Choose What to Hang vs. Fold

Then, you need to look through your garments and decide what to hang and what to fold. Be sure to fold clothing that stretches easily. This includes sweaters and knits.

On the other hand, you need to hang garments that are prone to wrinkles. A dry cleaning delivery service will return the clothing wrinkle-free, and you can keep them that way by placing them on hangers. This includes dresses, suits, dress shirts, and blouses.

Storing Folded Clothing

Some people choose cardboard boxes for storing folded clothing. However, cardboard attracts pests, so you could end up with an infestation when you get your clothing out of storage. Also, cardboard doesn’t keep moisture out. Because of that, a leak could ruin your garments if you store them in a cardboard box.

Instead, choose plastic containers. Then, place acid-free tissue paper between each folded item. Put one garment on top of the next, but don’t stuff the container too full. You need to give your clothing room to breathe. Also, put the heavier garments on the bottom, followed by the lighter garments on top. This will also help the clothing breathe while in storage.

Storing Clothing on Hangers

Next, you’ll need to store your items on hangers. Choose heavy wooden or padded hangers for your clothing. After putting the garments on hangers, you’ll need to secure them in garment bags to protect them. Avoid using plastic garment bags. Your clothes can’t breathe in plastic. Instead, you should use cotton garment bags. The material will protect your clothing while still allowing air to circulate.

Label the Clothing

If you’re storing lots of clothing, it’s a good idea to label the containers before placing them in storage. Then, you won’t have to dig through boxes to find what you’re looking for if you need an item.

For instance, assume that you experience an unseasonably cool day in the spring and want a sweater. With labels, you’ll know exactly where it is, so you can go through one box instead of five or six.

You can use a marker to label the outside of the boxes or make labels with a label maker.

Along with labeling the boxes, you might want to label the garment bags as well. Place notes on each garment bag so you’ll know what’s underneath each one. That way, you won’t have to lift bag after bag, looking for your items. Then, you won’t have to worry about securing the garments back on hangers while looking for the clothing you need.

Protect Your Clothing With Cedar Blocks

Back in the old days, people used mothballs to protect their clothing in storage. However, many people have gotten away from this practice. First, mothballs are toxic, so they pose a threat to kids and pets. Also, they don’t have a pleasant smell. The last thing you want to do is put on clothing that smells like mothballs. That’s the wrong way to make an impression.

Instead, place cedar blocks in the storage area. These blocks will keep pests away and also help your clothes smell fresh. You can use the same cedar blocks season after season, but you need to sand and re-oil them so they’ll remain effective. Do this at least every three years so you can get the most out of the cedar blocks.

What About Wedding Gowns?

Wedding gowns are a bit different than other clothing. You’ll want to begin by taking your gown to a wedding gown preservation company. Then, the company will take care of your wedding gown dry cleaning and storage. You’ll get the gown back in a box for storage. You’ll want to store it in a temperature-controlled place, away from direct sunlight.

Start with a Dry Cleaning Delivery Service

From wedding gowns to business clothes, a local dry cleaning delivery service can handle it all. Begin the process by entering your zip code on the website. Then, you can get pricing for dry cleaning pickup and delivery. You’ll be surprised by how reasonable the prices are. Part of the reason the service is so affordable is that you don’t pay for pickup and delivery. That’s free, so you can save a bundle with this service.

After you schedule your service, the company will clean your clothing and drop the garments back off. Then, you can use these tips to store your dry-cleaned items so your clothes will be ready for next season.

 

Sources:

https://www.dcleaners.com/blog/3-reasons-dry-clean-clothing-storage/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/15-tips-for-storing-seasonal-clothes/

https://www.antons.com/2012/04/clothing-storage-advice/

Your local dry cleaning service likely puts your clothing on wire hangers before delivering it to you. Those hangers are fine for transporting your clothes to your house, but they aren’t good for long-term use. The wires are too flimsy to properly support your garments. Plus, the hangers can cause your clothes to stretch out, completely changing the shape. You can keep your clothing looking great by using the right hangers.

You need to choose hangers based on the types of garments you need to hang. Then, your clothing will get the support it needs, and you won’t have to worry about the fabric warping.

First, consider the hanger’s material. Then, you need to choose the proper shape and features.

Hanger Materials to Use for Clothes Cleaned By a Dry Cleaning Service

Hangers are made of various materials, including wood, satin, and velvet. Choosing the right material is the first step when shopping for hangers.

Velvet Hangers for Delicate Items

Your delicate clothing is fragile, so the wrong hanger could damage your garments. Fortunately, you can keep your delicate clothing intact by using velvet hangers. Soft velvet is gentle on delicate items while also providing the support necessary.

There’s another reason to love velvet hangers. The material keeps your clothing in place, so you don’t have to worry about slick clothes sliding off and falling on the floor.

There is one thing to keep in mind when using velvet hangers. The velvet color can easily transfer onto your wet clothes. That’s not a concern when using a dry cleaning service. The clothes will be dry and ready to hang up when the valet drops them off. However, if you use these hangers for other items, make sure the garments are completely dry before hanging them. Otherwise, you’ll have to take your garments to the dry cleaner for stain removal.

Satin for Lightweight, Wrinkle-prone Clothing

Your clothing will be pressed and wrinkle-free when you get it back from the dry cleaner. You want to maintain that clean, crisp look, and satin hangers can help. Satin hangers can easily support delicate and lightweight items. The material is gentle on clothing and prevents damage and creasing. Just don’t hang suits or other heavy garments on satin hangers. They aren’t strong enough to support heavy items, but they do a fantastic job of keeping lightweight garments looking their best.

Wood Hangers for Suits and Other Heavy Items

Wood hangers are ideal for suits, coats, and other heavy garments. These hangers are durable and can easily support heavy items. They balance the weight, preventing the fabric from stretching. Also, the wood is durable, so the hangers will stay intact as well.

Wood hangers cost more upfront, but they can last forever. Also, you can choose from various types of wood, allowing you to create the look that you want. It’s hard to beat the refined elegance you will get with wooden hangers.

Padded Hangers for Knits and Evening Wear

You don’t want a hanger to damage your knits or evening wear. That’s why padded hangers are such a good option. The padding won’t catch on the garment, so you won’t have to worry about loose threads or rips. These hangers also provide ample support and don’t alter the shape of the clothing.

On a Budget? Consider Plastic Tubular Hangers

Plastic tubular hangers aren’t a great option for suits and other heavy items. They can bend and stretch, so you get the support you need. Also, you can use them for your dry-cleaned shirts and other light, non-delicate items. Consider using these hangers for those items since they are less expensive.

Keep in mind that plastic hangers can lose their shape over time, even when you only hang lightweight garments. When that happens, you do need to replace them. Also, it’s important to know that there is a big difference between low and high-quality plastic hangers. Choose a higher quality to ensure maximum support for your clothing. You might pay a bit more upfront, but it’s well worth it.

Choosing a Hanger Shape

When you’re shopping for hangers, you’ll come across contoured and flat options. Flat hangers take up less space, allowing you to store more clothing in your closet. You can use these for T-shirts and other lightweight options.

You’ll want to choose contoured hangers for coats, jackets, and other garments. Your clothing will get more support from contoured hangers.

Which Features Do You Need?

You also need to consider the features you can get when choosing hangers. Let’s look at some of the most important features you’ll need for your dry-cleaned garments.

Trouser Bar and Shoulder Flairs

You need your suits to look their best at all times. With that in mind, choose a hanger with a trouser bar and shoulder flairs. The trouser bar will hold the pants, while the shoulder flairs will ensure the jacket maintains its natural shape.

Clips

If you need to hang skirts, get a hanger with clips. You can clip skirts to the hanger so they don’t slide off. These clips will also ensure that your skirt remains wrinkle-free after using a local dry cleaning service.

Strap Notches

Dresses with thin straps can fall off the hanger. You can avoid this problem by choosing a hanger with strap notches. The notches will secure the straps, so your dress will stay put.

Dry Cleaning Near Me – Schedule a Service Today

Now that you know how to hang your garments, sign up for a local dry cleaning service and schedule the pickup. Then, prepare your clothing for dry cleaning so it will be ready for handover to the valet. The valet will pick up the clothes from your home or office and drop the garments off at the facility. Then, you’ll get it back in a snap, and you can place it on the appropriate hangers.

Sources:

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/advice/a35576/surprising-ways-you-ruin-your-clothes/

https://www.hangorize.com/blogs/tips/types-of-hangers

https://threadcurve.com/types-of-clothes-hangers/

Do you have clothing with “dry clean-only” tags, and you aren’t sure how to properly care for the items? You know that you need to use a dry cleaning delivery service to clean the clothes, but how often? Also, what should you do between dry cleaning appointments? Get the scoop so you’ll know how to protect your garments. Then, your dry clean-only items will look fresh and new, even if after years of wear.

Stick to a Dry Cleaning Delivery Schedule

Sticking to a dry cleaning schedule will help your clothing last longer. Dry cleaning is gentle on fabric and removes odors and stains. Following a dry cleaning schedule will help you keep your clothing for years.

Let’s look at how often you should dry clean your garments.

You need to dry clean your dresses after wearing them once or twice. Send blouses to a dry cleaning delivery company after wearing them three or four times. Sweaters should be dry cleaned after wearing them two or three times, while you can wear pants and skirts five times before dry cleaning them. You also need to dry clean outerwear one time each season.

If you are unsure how often you need to dry clean your clothing, talk to your local dry cleaner. Your dry cleaner wants your clothing to last, so he or she will assess the items and go over a schedule that will preserve your garments.

Always Dry Clean Garments Before Storing Them

Do you put dry clean-only garments in storage? If so, always dry clean them first. This is important, even if you’ve only worn the item once. Body oils and other materials can damage the fabric. These materials are often invisible to the naked eye, so you might not notice an issue until you take the garment out of storage. Avoid this problem by sending the clothing to a dry cleaning delivery service before putting garments in storage.

Change Clothes When You Get Home

Because you don’t dry clean clothing after every wear, it’s a good idea to take it off when you get home. This will keep your dry clean-only garments fresh and clean between trips to the dry cleaner. Plus, you’re less likely to get stains if you change clothes when you get home.

When you take off your dry cleaned clothing, hang it back up, so it doesn’t get wrinkled. That way, it will be ready to wear the next time you need to put on a suit or blouse.

Prepare Your Clothing Before Sending It to the Dry Cleaning Company

You also need to prepare your clothing for dry cleaning. This is a simple process. Begin by gathering all the garments you want to send to the dry cleaning delivery company. Then, check for stains. If you find any stains, use masking tape or pins to mark them. Be sure to include information about how and when the garment was stained, so the dry cleaner can use the best techniques to remove it.

You should also see if your garments have missing buttons or need alternations. Your dry cleaner can handle this for you, so evaluate your clothing and make a note of any issues that need to be addressed.

If you have time, unbutton your shirts and remove pet hair from the garments before sending them to the dry cleaning company. While this isn’t necessary, it does speed up the process, so you can get your items back faster.

Finally, meet the valet and place your garments in the bag. Then, the dry cleaning company will handle the rest.

Don’t Treat Stains Yourself

If you have a stain on a dry clean-only garment, don’t treat it yourself. You could end up stretching or shrinking the garment. Plus, you could rip the fabric, and the stain might bleed, affecting more material. Instead, take it to a professional who specializes in dry cleaning stains. A professional dry cleaner can use solvents to remove the stain without harming the garment.

Take Garments Out of the Plastic

If your garments come back in plastic, remove them from the bags. Over time, plastic can break down and harm your clothing’s fabric. Also, plastic bags are a breeding ground for moisture. As the moisture builds up, you can end up with mildew on your clothing. You don’t’ want that to happen, so take your items out of the plastic bags as soon as you get them back from the local dry cleaning company.

Be Careful When Hanging Items

You want your dry cleaned clothing to look its best at all times. That’s why you need to take your clothes off the wire hangers when you get them back from the dry cleaning company. Wire hangers are only meant to be used for a short period of time.

Once you get your clothing back from the dry cleaner, transfer your garments to a solid, strong hanger. Strong hangers, such as wooden hangers, provide more support than wire hangers do. Because of this, these hangers maintain the shape of the clothing.

While wire hangers aren’t good for long-term use for your clothing, you can repurpose them. Wire hangers make fantastic marshmallow roasters, scarf organizers, and more. Get creative, so you can reuse your wire hangers instead of discarding them.

Sign up for Dry Cleaning Delivery Today

Now that you know how to protect your clothing, it’s time to take the next step. Sign up for a dry cleaning delivery service to handle your cleaning needs. You can schedule the service online, so you don’t even have to spend the time making a phone call. Once scheduled, a valet will pick up your garments and transport them to the dry cleaning facility. They’ll be professionally cleaned, and then the valet will take them to your home or office.

This service is a breeze to use, so don’t delay. Schedule your service today, and you can have professionally cleaned clothing without having to travel to the facility yourself.

Sources:

https://styleblueprint.com/everyday/dry-cleaning-tips/

https://www.stitchfix.com/women/blog/ask-a-stylist/when-to-dry-clean/

https://www.shafferdrycleaning.com/cleaning-tips/keeping-clothes-like-new/

Your wedding was one of the best days of your life. You can keep those memories alive by saving your wedding gown. Then, you can look at your gown anytime you want to relive that special day. You can also pass it down to your daughter or soon-to-be daughter-in-law to wear for their weddings. Some women simply put their wedding gowns away, only to discover the material didn’t stand the test of time. You can ensure your wedding gown lasts by taking steps to preserve it. Find out how wedding gown dry cleaning and other methods will help you preserve your dress.

Wedding Gown Dry Cleaning – The First Step for Preserving Your Dress

You might think you don’t need to dry clean your wedding gown since you only wore it for a few hours. Plus, you were extra careful when it was on. Even so, it likely contains body oils and sweat. It might even have a bit of makeup that you’ve yet to detect. If you store the gown without cleaning it, the stains will set in and could discolor the gown. Thus, the idea that you don’t need to clean your wedding gown is just one of many dry cleaning myths.

The dry cleaner will remove oils and stains and also prevent the fabric from stretching or tearing. Also, dry cleaning is gentle on embellishments, so your wedding gown will look new when the dry cleaner is finished.

Consider using a wedding gown dry cleaning drop-off service so you won’t have to transport the gown yourself. An attendant will pick it up, take it for cleaning, and then drop it back off to you. This is much easier than attempting to transport the delicate gown in your own vehicle.

When’s the Right Time for Wedding Gown Dry Cleaning?

You can get your wedding gown dry cleaned, even if the ceremony was years ago. However, if possible, have it dry cleaned immediately after the wedding. Many brides schedule a dry cleaning pickup service to come the day after the wedding to pick it up.

Prepare the Wedding Dress for Storage

After your wedding dress has been dry cleaned, you need to prepare it for long-term storage. Use acid-free tissue paper to wrap your wedding gown. Only use white tissue paper since colors can bleed onto the dress.

Also, put tissue paper between each fold on the dress. This will prevent the dress from creasing while it’s in storage.

Finish preparations by stuffing the sleeves and bust with tissue paper. Then, when you remove the dress from storage, it will still have the same shape.

Place the Gown in a Preservation Box

When you get your wedding gown back, you need to place it in a preservation box. A preservation box is filled with nitrogen instead of oxygen and is airtight, so nothing can get inside. The box is also acid-free, which is critical when storing a wedding gown.

Wedding gown preservation boxes are available with and without seals. If you choose a box with a seal, do not open it unless you intend to use the dress. On the other hand, if the preservation box doesn’t have a seal, you can open it and look at your wedding gown when you want. Just keep in mind that opening the box exposes the dress to sunlight and other elements. Because of that, don’t open it too often.

If you want to keep the preservation box closed but also want to look at your dress, you can choose one with a viewing window. Then, you won’t have to open the box to admire your dress.

Store Your Preservation Box

Wedding gown preservation boxes can be large, so you might want to store yours out of the way. Don’t put it in the attic, basement, or garage, though. The temperature and humidity levels can get out of hand in these spaces. That can harm your dress, even when it’s in an airtight box.

What About Breathable Bags?

Some women choose to store wedding dresses in breathable bags instead of preservation boxes. This is a good short-term solution, as long as the bag isn’t made of plastic. If you choose a breathable bag, don’t use a hanger since that can cause the dress to stretch and become mishappen. Also, store the dress in a cool and dry place to protect it from sunlight and moisture.

While you can keep it in the bag for a few weeks or even months, transfer it to a wedding gown preservation box as soon as possible. That is the best way to ensure your dress lasts for generations.

Check on the Wedding Gown

If you choose a box without a seal, it’s a good idea to check on it every two years. Even with the proper preparation, your dress can form creases when it’s in storage. When you check on it, look to see if any creases have formed, and add additional tissue paper if needed. Doing this can prevent deep, permanent creases from forming in your dress.

Don’t Forget Your Accessories

Depending on your dress materials and the size of the box, you might be able to store your shoes and accessories as well. Many women like to do this so they can enjoy the complete look when they open the box. Make sure everything is clean before you place it in the storage box.

Schedule an Appointment for Wedding Gown Dry Cleaning

Whether you are planning a wedding or just tied the knot, your life has probably been a bit of a whirlwind lately. Your schedule is already jam-packed, and you can’t add one more thing to your list. Fortunately, you can schedule a dry cleaning pickup service online. This is quick and easy to do, so you can mark an item off your list in a matter of minutes.

Once you schedule your pickup, your driver will be there quickly. Put on white gloves when handling your wedding dress off to the attendant. That will prevent any additional oils or stains from getting on the dress before you get it professionally cleaned. Then, when you get it back, follow the rest of the steps to preserve your gown.

Source:

https://www.brides.com/story/is-wedding-dress-preservation-worth-it

https://www.theknot.com/content/preserving-your-wedding-dress

You likely bring various garments to the dry cleaner, but what about your comforters and blankets? You can enjoy some serious benefits if you have a dry cleaning delivery service pick up these items and clean them for you. Let’s go over the benefits, and you’ll understand why dry cleaning is the way to go.

A Dry Cleaning Delivery Service Deep-cleans Bedding

Your comforters and blankets are likely much dirtier than you realize. Along with surface dirt, the bedding probably has skin cells, oil, and dust mites. This can penetrate the fabric, making it hard to clean bedding in the washing machine. While your washing machine is great at handling dirt and grime on the surface, you need to turn to a dry cleaner to deep-clean your bedding. Dry cleaning chemicals penetrate the fabric and remove the dust mites, skin cells, and everything else. If you want to sleep on clean bedding, start by finding a company for “dry cleaning near me.”

No More Lumps With Dry Cleaning

Washing machines leave dust mites and more behind because comforters twist, turn, and bunch up during the cleaning. It’s hard for the detergent to penetrate the surface when it’s all bunched up.

The bunching and twisting cause another problem, too. The twisted fabric and trapped moisture can cause comforters and large blankets to fill with lumps after washing.

Getting the lumps out isn’t easy, and your comforter might never look the same. Fortunately, you can easily avoid this problem with dry cleaning. Your comforter won’t be bunched up during the cleaning, and you also won’t have to worry about trapped moisture.
If you want your comforter to be lump-free and ready to put on the bed, it makes sense to use a dry cleaning delivery service.

Preserve the Colors With Dry Cleaning

Have you ever noticed that after several washes, the colors fade on your blankets and comforters? You might end up replacing them before necessary because you can’t stand the way they look. This is especially painful if you choose blankets and comforters to match the décor in your bedroom. Once the fabric fades, the bedding no longer enhances the look. Dry cleaning is the color-safe way to clean your bedding. The colors won’t fade at all, so you can keep your comforters and blankets longer.

Protect Your Washing Machine

Unless you have a commercial-grade washing machine, it’s probably hard to fit your comforter inside. You might try to jam it in, but that can be a mistake. Overloading your washing machine can damage it, leading to expensive repairs. Using a dry cleaning delivery service can protect your washing machine while also ensuring your bedding is clean.

No More Off-balance Loads

Does this sound familiar? You pop your comforter in the washing machine and then move onto something else. Maybe you are cleaning the house or relaxing with a book. Then, you hear a loud banging sound. After your heart makes its way back inside of your chest, you realize the washing machine is off balance because the load is too large. You have to open the machine, readjust the load, and start it up again. Then, it can happen again and again during the same load. That’s incredibly frustrating and something you can easily avoid by using a dry cleaning delivery service.

Avoid Shrinking Your Bedding

Did you know that your comforters and blankets can shrink in the washing machine? You probably won’t notice at first, but your bedding will shrink after numerous washes. Once it shrinks, it won’t fit properly on your bed. Plus, your blanket won’t feel nearly as warm and cozy after it shrinks. Since dry cleaners don’t use water, items do not shrink. You can have your blankets and comforters dry-cleaned as often as you like without worrying about anything shrinking.

Remove Tough Stains With Help From a Dry Cleaning Delivery Service

You do your best to keep your bedding free of spills, but accidents happen. Maybe you are enjoying your morning coffee in bed, only to have it spill all over your comforter, or perhaps a child jumped in the bed with a skinned knee. These are just two of the numerous ways you can end up with stains. Fortunately, dry cleaning delivery services can handle most stains.

From organic stains such as blood to fat, grease, and oil, dry cleaners have chemicals that can remove stains and make bedding look like new. For the best results, find a company that offers “dry cleaning near me” as soon as you notice the stains. Fresh stains are much easier to treat. However, your dry cleaner can also work on older stains. Also, tell your dry cleaner about the stains. The dry cleaner will likely ask for some information and then will get to work to remove it.

Save Time and Avoid Stress With Dry Cleaning

Washing comforters and blankets at home is time-consuming and stressful. It’s not fun and can ruin your entire afternoon. On the other hand, dry cleaning delivery is quick and easy. You simply schedule the service, and the company picks up your blankets and comforters. Then, they dry-clean the bedding, and deliver it back to you. You don’t even have to worry about how long you have to wait to pick up your dry cleaning since it’s delivered to your front door. This is completely stress-free.

Dry Cleaning Near Me: Scheduling Service

Scheduling dry cleaning delivery is a breeze. Begin by entering your zip code to get pricing for your area. Keep in mind that you can schedule service for a single-family house, a building with or without a doorman, or your office. You can even schedule group delivery to your business if your coworkers or employees want to dry-clean garments. Then, choose a regular or rush service and place your order. Once you place the order, you just need to hand off your comforters and blankets, and the company will do the rest. You don’t even have to pay any monthly or delivery fees, making this a budget-friendly way to clean your bedding.

Sources:
https://redhanger.com/why-you-should-dry-clean-your-blankets-and-comforters/#:~:text=Dry%20cleaning%20cleans%20the%20fabric,in%20their%20sleep%20by%20sweating.
http://www.mygiservices.com/why-you-should-always-dry-clean-your-comforters-and-blankets/
https://www.dcleaners.com/blog/stains-can-dry-cleaning-remove/#:~:text=Your%20clothing%20isn’t%20ruined,the%20existence%20of%20the%20stain.

You have a closet full of clothes to care for, which means you have to decide between washing and dry-cleaning services. Before you choose, learn which clothing is intended to be dry-cleaned and which should be washed. Then, you can separate your items and begin to look for “dry-cleaning near me.”

Silk – Use Dry-cleaning Services

Properly cared for silk clothing has been known to last a lifetime. Your silk garments might have hand-washing instructions, but dry-cleaning is even better. Dry-cleaning services use special chemicals to ensure that silk and other materials maintain the proper color and shine. While all silk garments benefit from dry cleaning, you should always dry-clean bright, printed, lined, or dark silk garments. You can ruin these items if you hand-wash them.

Embellished or Sequined Garments – Dry-clean Only

If you wash garments with sequins and other embellishments, they could come apart in the washing machine. You could spend the better part of a day cleaning sequins and embellishments out of your washing machine, and then you’ll have to shop for a new garment. You can avoid these problems by searching for “dry-cleaning near me.” Your local dry cleaner is equipped to handle these items without damaging them so they’ll be ready to wear when you get them back home.

Pleated Clothing – Find “Dry-cleaning Near Me”

A washing machine can wreak havoc on pleated garments. Over time, the pleats will recede, and the garment won’t look sharp at all. Your local dry cleaner can preserve the pleats while ensuring your clothing is fresh and free of stains.

Rayon – Always Dry-clean

Rayon isn’t designed to be washed in a washing machine. In fact, your washing machine can’t clean it properly, so it will still be dirty when you take it out. Dry-cleaning chemicals can remove stains and odors from rayon garments.

Suits – Let a Dry Cleaner Handle the Job

Washing a suit can change the fit and shape. What once looked great can be tight or ill-fitting after the end of a wash cycle. However, dry-cleaning services clean suits without changing the shape. Your suit will have the same fit after you get it back from the dry cleaner.

Wool – Use Dry-cleaning Services

You can technically wash wool, but if you do, it might change shape. That can lead to boxy sweaters that are too short. Dry-cleaning services will clean your wool items in a way that allows them to keep their shape. If you’re tired of wearing ill-fitting sweaters, definitely take your garments to a dry cleaner.

Lined Clothes – Dry-clean Only

If you have clothing with lining, you need to search for “dry cleaning near me” and use such a service. Washing lined clothes can alter the lining and cause the clothing to lose its shape. That won’t happen when using dry-cleaning services.

Leather – Use a Dry-cleaning Pickup Service

If you have a leather jacket, pants, or other items, take them to the dry cleaner. Water can ruin them, so you’ll probably have to get rid of them after a single wash. Your dry cleaner will clean and refresh your leather items while ensuring they look as good as they did when you bought them.

Velvet – Always Dry-clean

If you have velvet items, you likely love how luxurious they feel. However, they will feel less and less luxurious if you wash them. Your velvet items will keep the soft feeling you love when you have them dry cleaned. Also, you won’t have to worry about your clothing losing its shape when you take it to the dry cleaner.

Linen – It Depends

You can machine wash most linen items. Wash and iron the linen, and then it will be ready for use. However, some linen items have dry clean only tags. You’ll want to use dry-cleaning services for such items.

Denim – Wash or Dry-clean, Depending on the Type

When it comes to denim, it depends on the type. You can machine-wash standard jeans, although you should only use cold water and avoid the dryer. Instead, hang them up to dry after they finish washing. If you have high-end jeans, consider dry cleaning them, so they maintain their look and shape. Otherwise, you could end up having to buy new jeans in the near future.

Finally, if you have raw denim, avoid cleaning it for as long as possible. Treat stains, but don’t put the denim through the wash until it’s necessary. Then, soak the jeans in cold water, and air-dry them. This will prevent the jeans from shrinking and the dye from bleeding. Once they are clean, hold off until your next cold soak. The less you clean these jeans, the longer they will last.

Cashmere – Dry Clean or Hand-wash

Of course, your dry cleaner can handle fine wools like Cashmere, especially if your cleaner uses a more gentle solvent like GreenEarth. However, you also have another option. This might come as a surprise, but you can hand wash cashmere. Don’t throw it in the washing machine, though, as that can destroy the material. Instead, you can try hand-washing all of your cashmere garments. You can get a cashmere shampoo such as this to clean it in cold water. Then, hang it up to dry instead of putting it in the dryer.

Cotton – Use a Washing Machine

You can use a washing machine to clean your cotton clothing. Do not use hot water, though, since that can cause the clothing to shrink and the colors to fade. Instead, stick to cold or warm water when cleaning cotton.

Synthetics – Use a Washing Machine

You likely have lots of garments made of synthetic materials. These materials can be machine washed, but you need to use a delicate or low cycle. Also, hang synthetic clothes to dry them instead of putting them in the dryer. If you follow these two washing tips, your garments made of synthetic materials will last much longer.

Use a Dry-cleaning and Laundry Pickup and Delivery Service

Now that you know which garments to wash and which to dry clean, you’re ready to care for your clothing. You can simplify the process by using a dry cleaning and laundry pickup and delivery service. Then, you can get clean clothing without doing any of the work.

Sources:
https://www.rinse.com/blog/care/which-pieces-you-should-and-shouldnt-dry-clean/
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/clothes-to-dry-clean/
https://www.hamperapp.com/post/dry-cleaning-or-laundry-services
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/which-clothes-need-dry-cleaning-and-which-dont-240401