Clothing Tips

Removing Spots

Blot the spot: If you spill something on a garment, always blot the spot. Rubbing some fabrics, especially silk, breaks the surface fibers. You won't know it until you wash or dry-clean that item and find you have a frosted or a chalky appearance.

Act quickly: Age is the enemy of successful stain removal. A coffee stain that happens today will come out much easier tomorrow than it will next week or next month. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that the stain will be permanently set in the fabric. Also, some stains can break down cotton, linen, and silk fibers, causing thinning and holes in the fabric.

Nuzzle hairspray: Hairspray and water can remove ballpoint ink, but you may be trading one problem for another. That's because hairspray may contain alcohol and oils such as resins and lanolin. The alcohol in the hairspray can cause color damage, especially on silk; oils and other ingredients could lead to additional stains.

Target sweat: Most people don't realize that prolonged contact with deodorants and antiperspirants may cause permanent damage. Combined with the effects of perspiration, the damage can be extensive. The most frequent damage comes from overuse of these products, or infrequent cleanings. This leads to the buildup of a stiff, caked-up residue or to fabric damage.

To prevent chemical damage, do not overuse the product and allow it to dry before dressing. To remove the residue on washable garments, wash as soon as possible after wear in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Soaking in a detergent containing enzymes or an enzyme presoak may be necessary.

Mastering Home Laundry

Whether you plan on doing laundry once or twice a week or just do it when needed, it’s still a chore. Here are some tips to help you get better results:

• Whites should be washed in hot water to maintain whiteness, maximize soil, and stain removal.
• Lights should be washed in warm temperatures to maintain brightness andmaximize stain removal.
• Darks should be washed in cold water to minimize dye fading and color loss.
• Don't overload the machine, which can cause white streaks and local abrasion because the clothes don't move around freely.
• Use proper water levels for maximum soil removal. If water levels are too low,soils will not be rinsed out, and discoloration and staining may occur.
• Use the right amount of detergent. Using too much detergent does not get your clothes any cleaner.

Taking Care of Drapes

While drapes and curtains hang at the windows, they attract dust, cooking odors and airborne particles. You should gently vacuum them every other month to prevent buildup. If the drapes get wet from rain at an open window or condensate on the windowpane, the moisture combined with the dust or smoke particles in the fabric can cause ugly water rings. They require cleaning if you want to get long-term use from them.

• If washable, you may be able to do it yourself, preferably in a front-loading machine. (The long panels tend to wrap around the agitator in a top loader.) Air dry or tumble dry at low temperatures if recommended. Follow all care instructions; if there are none, you may want to bring them to us and have them cleaned professionally.
• If your drapes need to be cleaned, Clothes 2 You Cleaners offers a takedown service. We will take down your drapes and re-hang them after cleaning.
• Drapes attached to wood frames or wall brackets are very difficult or impossible to remove from the windows. These may benefit from an on-site drapery cleaning process.

Keeping Linens Fresh

Regular cleaning will keep your bed linens fresh and looking their best.

• If washable, you can do it yourself, preferably in a large, front-loading machine to allow free movement and keep the linens from bunching up. Tumble dry in a large capacity machine, which will help fluff up the filling material.
• If care instructions for the items recommend professional cleaning, bring them to us for proper handling.
• Some bed sets create a theme in the room, and include table covers, dust ruffles, decorative pillows, chair arm covers and other accessories. To ensure that the items always match, they should always be cleaned at the same time. Otherwise, you may notice a variance in color or sheen.

Caring for Napkins and Tablecloths

Table linens used for holidays and special occasions should be cleaned after each use. If they are put away without cleaning, stains can oxidize as they age, which can cause yellow, tan or even brown stains. Some stains can degrade cotton and linen fibers, which can cause holes.

If washing at home, do not treat stained areas with chlorine bleach, unless you plan to immediately wash the item. Spot treatment with undiluted chlorine bleach can damage cotton and linen, and will cause holes.

Spray starch at home does produce a nice appearance to tablecloths and linens. However, it cannot match the crisp feel and appearance you get when you take your tablecloths to be professionally handled by a reputable cleaner. Consider Clothes 2 You Cleaners the next time you are getting ready for a party or hosting a holiday event at your home.

Cleaning Before Storage

Unless you have three or four empty closets in your home, you probably switch and store clothes with the changes of the season. Before putting clothes in storage, have them cleaned to remove stains. This prevents stains from aging and discoloring. Also, food and beverage stains, as well as body oils and perspiration, are tasty treats for pesky insects.

To minimize damage on garments and maximize their life, we suggest that you:

• Inspect and clean clothes before storing. If any need repairs, this is the time to have that done.
• Don't store dirty clothes. Their condition gets worse with age and heat exposure.
• Use plastic containers appropriate for garment storage. Make sure they close tightly.
• If storing in bags, use bags that allow the clothes to breathe.
• Store in places that do not have not extreme changes in temperatures. Attics might be okay for storage in the winter, but not during the summer, when temperatures can top 120 degrees. Extreme heat can cause permanent yellowing and other damage.
• Don't store garments in damp basements. Even with the best storage bags or containers, moisture can penetrate into the fibers, which can lead to mildew and objectionable odors.