Clothing was an important indicator of wealth and social standing in ancient Roman culture, and fullonicas provided laundry services to clean their white woolen togas. The best cleanser for sweaty togas was ammonia, and the best source of ammonia was urine. The garments were soaked and agitated in a mix of water, alkalis and urine, then rinsed and dried in the sunshine. A vigorous brushing with thistle restored a fresh look to the togas. Keeping citizens looking neat and tidy, the fullonica laundry was a respected and essential part of ancient Roman society.  

Too often, keepsake garments take up valuable closet space and get crushed in the process. We not only clean and archivally pack wedding gowns, we also preserve baby outfits, prom dresses, christening gowns, letter jackets, costumes and ceremonial garb, military dress uniforms, even Grandma’s afghan. Give your treasures the special treatment they deserve. Thoroughly cleaned and properly packaged, your keepsakes will preserved for the future and ready to stack on a shelf.

Shirts and blouses can go both ways – let us know if you like a lot or a little starch for crispness. Or do you like a smooth softer feel instead? Our professionals launder and press shirts and blouses with the finish you like best. Not all shirts are the same, so remember to tell us your preference when bringing them to us.

Get the most out of your winter sportswear. Check for salt, grit or food spills après ski. Close zippers and release tension on drawstrings or elastics, dry thoroughly before storing. Specifically follow care instruction tags: high tech fabrics need special attention, sometimes more sophisticated than a home washing machine. We’re your garment cleaning and care experts—even for technical sportswear.  

Back in the 1890’s, King Edward VII popularized sewn-in “turn-ups” as an alternative to rolling up pant bottoms in rainy weather. Cuffs were a sign of elegant tailoring until WWII wartime clothing restrictions banned cuffs and flaps on pockets to save fabric. Today, cuffs are recommended on trousers with wide or long legs, double pleats and high waists. Cuffs tend to shorten the leg line, so are best for the taller and slimmer. Our alterations team can add or remove cuffs from most pants. Call for an appointment.

First, a long and healthy life. Second, peace to all. Followed by the usuals: eat better, smile more, lose weight, learn something new, share, drink more water, walk. To that we’ll add “Say Hello” to someone new every day. We say hello a lot every day as part of our job. And the more we do it, the more we like it. Drop by soon and we’ll show you how good it feels to be greeted as a friend. See you in the New Year!

We’re closed today to be with family, celebrating the holidays and preparing for a better new year. As Charles Shultz of Peanuts fame said, “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” We hope you’ve enjoyed your share of “a little something extra” this year. We’ve built our business by providing it to every customer, every day. We wish you the best and thank you for your patronage

Health and happiness to you and yours.  There’s never been a year like 2020, and we’ve learned a lot of lessons we hope we won’t be needing too much longer. Stay safe and stay optimistic.

Monday’s the longest night of the year — days start getting longer Tuesday morning! Pagans held off the demons of darkness with bonfires, a cheery warm way to welcome back the sun. While the nights may be cold and dark, we can make your time in bed more comfortable with our professional cleaning and laundry services to keep everything from sheets to pillows and comforters fresh and cozy.

Be sure to pick up your cleaning before we close for Christmas to spend time with friends and family. Check our holiday schedule if you have last-minute rush orders, we’ll do everything we can to take care of your cleaning needs. Next Friday, we’ll be home, celebrating and relaxing. To quote from classic favorite “Miracle on 34th Street,” Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the solstice, make it a day of peace and goodwill for all.