Ever wear jeans fresh from the store and notice your hands and shirt turned blue? When dye is transferred by friction, it’s called crocking, and the indigo dye in blue jeans is a notorious crocker. Before you leave a tint of blue everywhere, the laundry is your first stop. Wash with cold water and, before the rinse cycle starts, stop the machine and add two cups white vinegar and soak. After a couple of hours, turn the machine on to finish. Hang and air dry your jeans, then press with the hottest iron setting. Then throw them back into the machine for one more cold-water wash.

Want to make a local, sustainable investment? Look no further than your local merchants. Hometown businesses create jobs and contribute to our community in many ways. The numbers are impressive: three-quarters of every dollar stays here in your community compared to only about 40% when shopping at a chain outlet.

Count on us to keep your keepsakes fresh and protected. Preservation’s not just for bridal gowns, we can help save christening gowns, military uniforms, letter jackets and prom dresses. And restoration by our experts can repair stains, tears and loose seams. We not only keep your everyday wardrobe looking its best, we help preserve heirlooms for the future

Hand washing may not always be the answer — “dry clean only” may seem like a scare tactic, but the manufacturer has tested the fabric, patterns and styles prior to production; hand washing may cause colors to bleed, styles to alter or the fabric to break down. Ask us to recommend professional dry or wet cleaning to extend the life and looks of your garment.

After summer’s hot nights, now’s the time to freshen your nighttime environment. Begin by stripping the bed down to the mattress. If you use a mattress pad, launder (or bring to us) and dry thoroughly, hanging on the line, if you have one. Flip and rotate the mattress. Is it time to replace your pillows? Unless they are very high quality, it may be easier to buy new than clean old. Sniff test the winter comforter, blankets or quilts. We can clean them to like-new freshness – even king size is no problem for our machines. Be ready to snuggle up when winter chills arrive.

We’re not accusing anyone of coloring outside the lines, but if you open the dryer door to find a colorful myriad of melted wax stains. The easiest way to solve this problem is to bring the garments in for drycleaning. We’re able to remove most, if not all, stains through cleaning and professional stain removal procedures.

We’ll be closed Monday to celebrate the holiday with our families. It’s a time to remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The reward of a thing well done is to have done it right.” Come to think of it, every day is good time to remember the value of doing things right. Have a great long weekend, see you Tuesday.

After each use, rinse swimwear in cool tap water to remove sunscreen, sand, sweat and chlorine. To wash after a few wearings, turn the swimsuit inside out and hand wash in the sink, using a few drops liquid detergent in warm water. Gently squeeze the suds through the garment, don’t wring or twist. Rinse well and lay flat to dry. At the end of the season, put your swimwear in a mesh lingerie bag and run through a gentle wash machine cycle with a mild detergent before storing for next year.

Well-made garments are getting harder to find and they’re always more expensive, but in the long term they’re almost always a better investment. Treehugger.com tells to look for signs of quality: thicker fabric with a better “hand,” tight weave and more precise sewing. Check the lining, the buttonholes and look for loose threads. Above all, choose a garment that you can wear with clothing you already love.

We know where those missing socks are hiding—they’re clinging inside a pillowcase, to the inside of the dryer drum, or have sneaked under the washing machine. You’ll never lose another with our professional secret: lingerie bags.  Sturdy mesh zip-up bags keep small items together and prevent delicate items snagging or getting wrapped up in larger pieces. Hopday is one popular brand that’s available.