May 2021

By brightleaf

We all have a favorite pair that fits like an old friend. When you buy a new pair made of untreated raw denim, the denim aficionados recommend wearing them for six months before washing. Why? It takes wear to break down the super-stiff denim, and during the process the fabric actually starts to conform to your shape. When you do wash (or have us expertly wash or clean your denim), turn inside out, use cold water in a gentle cycle. If you want them to fade, use hot water. Lay flat or hang upside down to air dry, avoid a hot dryer. Then lay the jeans on a flat surface, fold in half from left to right. Grab the stacked jean legs and fold them in half so the bottom lines up with the waistband. Fold in half one more time and store in an uncrowded drawer or shelf.

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From:: Jeans classics.

By brightleaf

Book as early as you can – caterers, venues, florists and popular bands and DJs are first-come, first-booked. Think seasonal: flowers in season are prettier, fresher (and a lot cheaper) so choose your flowers and let them guide the color scheme for your special day. This is a good time to mention we are very, very experienced with wedding gowns, alterations, formal wear and the inevitable last minute emergency. You can count on us for more than archival gown preservation after the event. Let’s get your date on our calendar so we can be part of your total wedding plan.

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From:: Bridal planning 101.

By brightleaf

In the cleaning business we hear a lot of ways that people try to take care of things. Here are a few we found at fashion blog StyleCaster. Stinky vintage clothing can be freshened by spritzing with a mixture of one part vodka in two parts water. (Or drink the vodka and bring the garments in for dry cleaning.) Never put a garment on right after ironing – let it hang for five minutes to set the press. (Let us do your pressing and this won’t be a problem.) Use white wine to remove red wine stains. (This sounds like a waste of white wine.) Whatever the stain, finish or fit, trust the professionals to take best care of your garments. Our success has been built on customer satisfaction. Our cleaning and stain experts can even undo some home remedies. But we do best when you start with us.

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From:: Tips and tricks.

By brightleaf

Warm weather means chinos for most guys, dressed up with a white cotton shirt, dressed down with t-shirt or polo. Chinos come in colors way beyond khaki; we’re seeing classic blue, green, grey, brown and black. And there are a lot more colors in chinos than ever before (try Dockers). For a crisp tailored look, let us clean and press all kinds of cotton trousers. For home care, wash your chinos inside out in warm water, avoid bleach and over drying. If the seams wrinkle, touch up with a steam iron. Then hang on a trouser hanger, ready for wear.

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From:: Chino alert.

By brightleaf

…and get that wedding gown properly cleaned packaged for storage. Whether it’s been 2 months or 20 years, our experts can clean, press and preserve your special gown. Professionally trained to provide appropriate care for rhinestones, beads and lace, our team provides expert care for even the most delicate dress. Before stains oxidize or spread, your treasured garment needs cleaning — before beads yellow, rhinestones dull, and champagne and cake frosting stains turn brown and dingy. Bring the veil, too. You’d hate to see what happens to makeup on lace over time.

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From:: It’s never too late to say “I do”

By timheitzman

Towels that once were bright and fluffy may turn dull and dingy with use. A helpful article in hunker.com offers a few easy steps to restore the joys of a clean white towel and lengthen the life of your linens. Try adding 1/2 cup of washing soda (or 1 cup of baking soda) to a towels-only wash load. Don’t overcrowd –three or four large towels per load gives room to agitate, rinse and spin. Presoak in hot water with your usual detergent – but only the recommended amount. Avoid chlorine bleach – it weakens fibers. Use an oxygen bleach to whiten. Avoid fabric softeners of any kind, they coat the fibers with a waxy residue that prevents them from absorbing water. And line dry in the sunshine to naturally whiten and add an unmatchable fresh scent.

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From:: White towels for summer

By timheitzman

If reusable fabric face masks have become part of your routine, you probably know that keeping masks clean is critical. Ideally, you’ll wash your mask after each wearing, using a mild detergent in the machine or mild dish soap when hand-washing. Bleach, ammonia or fabric softeners aren’t recommended. Heat kills the virus, so either use hot water or a hot dryer. Ironing with a steam iron adds a crisp look and extra virus-killing. Don’t share masks and treat a used (worn) mask as potentially contaminated, toss it in a plastic bag until you can properly clean it. Yes, it’s a bit of extra work, but you’re helping stop the spread of corona virus and avoiding filling the garbage with disposable masks.

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From:: Face mask cleaning

By timheitzman

Do turn your clothes inside out before washing. That’s the way they were assembled, and especially on dark items, you’ll be helping preserve the rich dark tones (and any applied graphics) from unnecessary friction. Do use a delicates mesh bag to prevent snagging, tearing and stretching. Do separate fabric types when you can. Cottons and polysters need different temperatures and spin cycles. Don’t overload your washing machine or use too much detergent. And don’t use hot water unless you need to. Today’s machines and laundry detergents work just great with cold or cool water. Check the garment care instructions.

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From:: Make your clothes last longer