Tirpok

By brightleaf

Summer sports are a great way for kids and adults alike to get out and enjoy the sun. But what happens when you get grass stains, mud splatters and tears to your favorite jersey? Washing at home can set the stains and permanently ruin your sports gear. Lucky for your gear, we are waiting at home plate to knock those stains out of the park. Our professional cleaning is made to get those nasty stains out before they set so bring them to us after the big game, so you will be ready to hit the field for that next fun game. We can mend little tears and rips or professionally apply patches for your team.

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From:: Leave your sports stains to the pros

By brightleaf

Poppin’ neon colors, abstract patterns and slinky styles are what’s on at poolside or beach. Look for one- and two-piece suits in bold geometric patterns, from exact to wavy and distorted. Crave a little more old-school? Details like fringe, braiding, halter necklines and ruching, all in neutral colors screaming Boho. See examples and more at Cosmo’s summer trends. http://youtu.be/6pl-QLVCyJI

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From:: Which suit suits you for summer?

By brightleaf

Are smelly stains making you wrinkle your nose every time you lay down on your pillowcase or wipe your mouth with your napkin? Did you forget a load of laundry in the washing machine and now it smells like mildew? Or did the dog lay on your favorite blanket and all you smell is wet dog even after its been washed? Well, take a trick out of grandma’s playbook and break out the vinegar – Mix ½ cup of white vinegar with the detergent and water then add the items into the machine. Vinegar helps erase the smell and can prevent color bleeding at the same time.

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From:: Odor outers

By brightleaf

Are you in the hunt for a cool fabric this season, but want to try something other than cotton? Flax is the oldest known fabric, and is commonly referred to as linen. Flax is eco-friendly and great for areas with high moisture and humidity. Flax is less likely to mildew, keeps the body cool, and can cost less than cotton. Another bonus – flax is less likely to fade in the sun, so bust out bright flax t-shirts and summer dresses this sizzling summer. And don’t worry if one care label says Flax while another says Linen – designers are capitalizing on the “go green” boom and putting flax on their care labels instead of linen – but have no fear, they are the same great fabric.

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From:: Flax by any name

By brightleaf

Scared of shrinking your fancy new jeans? Remember, it’s the last 15% of the hot dry cycle that causes shrinkage. Clothing has a base moisture level when “dry,” but overdrying causes the fabric to shrink, fade and lose softness. Instead of using a hot dryer, hang dry or “air only” dry those items you are worried about. A trick to maintain the right shape: when taking out of the wash, tug at the legs and the waist to tension them out to size before hanging to dry. This removes wrinkles and restores the original shape. When in doubt, bring them in for professional laundering or dry cleaning.

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From:: Keep your jeans in shape

By brightleaf

Fashion first aid kit. Emergencies happen, and quick fixes can save the day (or night). Double stick tape removes lint, fixes falling hemlines. Use a black Sharpie on a scuffed heel. Use a piece of hangar foam to remove deodorant or makeup stains from fabric. Keep a coffee filter in your makeup bag to blot a shiny nose or brow. Chapstick can hold flyaway hair. And keep our phone number handy for tailoring, cleaning and pressing.

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From:: Fashion first aid.

By brightleaf

The unbreakable rule: keep the spotlight on the bride and never wear white, cream or pale pastels. Prints with light backgrounds are fine, as long as they don’t read as white from a distance. If the ceremony is in a house of worship, cover your shoulders with a sleeved dress or jacket. If the wedding’s outdoors, skip the heels and wear comfortable flats that won’t sink into the lawn. A fancier evening reception demands a cocktail dress or your standby little black dress. Beachside festivities are casual, time for sundress with a cardigan or short denim jacket for after dark. And don’t forget the sunscreen.

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From:: Summer wedding tips for women.

By brightleaf

Women have it easy just wearing a simple non-white dress. But in summer, the men’s traditional dark suit can be a little warm, somber and predictable. For a city wedding, choose a light weight suit in gray, blue or a subtle pattern. Style it up with a sky blue, pink, mint green or lavender long-sleeved Oxford or poplin shirt. In the country, blazers and sport coats reign, paired with well-cut chinos. Seaside or resort? A tailored white shirt, colored chinos and a light-colored linen blazer. Keep everything understated. And crisp.

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From:: Summer wedding tips for men.

By brightleaf

We quote Erma Bombeck, popular newspaper humorist and author. “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” Join us and celebrate our nation’s freedom, liberty and blessings. Happy Birthday America!

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From:: Happy 4th of July!

By brightleaf

White canvas shoes are perfect for summer – until they start looking beige. Here’s how to remove stains, thanks to How to Clean Stuff. Scrub away dirt stains with shampoo on a nail brush, wipe residue away with a damp sponge. Use dish soap on grass stains, and nail polish remover on grease or tar. After you’ve removed as much as possible, apply oxygen bleach with a nailbrush or toothbrush to any remaining off-white areas. If you don’t mind losing the new look, canvas shoes can usually be machine washed on a gentle cycle with warm water. Hang to air dry.

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From:: Sparkling white sneakers.