It’s cardigan time again. The age-old classic sweater is a versatile, essential part of the well-dressed wardrobe. A cross between a vest and sweater, it’s ideal for layered comfort in cooler temperatures and gives you a quick transition from casual to dressier. Wear a t-shirt under for a weekend or snazz it up with a dressy shirt for Sunday dinner at the inlaws. Cardigans can go almost anywhere — adding color, texture, and always comfort.
Want an eco-friendly fabric that’s affordable and lasts? Go back to basics: wool is woven into the fabric of our fashion history, but does it get a bad rap? Wool isn’t like that old itchy blanket at grandma’s house you remember. The varieties are endless and the benefits are many. Wool doesn’t fade, and its uses range from strong and sturdy. It’s uses range from a loft within silk comforters to soft and silky weaves in delicate sweaters and scarves. Want to learn more about wool and its benefits? Visit wool.com today!
Consumer Reports cautions that pet hair can clog a washing machine, prevent proper drainage, clumping in drains or sticking to the side of the machine. They recommend removing pet hair from clothes with a lint roller or masking tape. For bedding, put on a rubber glove, dampen it with water, and run your hand over the sheet or blanket. The hair will cling to the glove, so you’ll need to wash it off from time to time. Then run everything through a ten-minute no-heat dryer cycle – most of the hair will be in the lint trap. Throw into the washer, adding ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Clean the washer by running an empty cycle, then wipe down the tub with a damp cloth.
Want to make a local, sustainable choice? 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. Keeping your spending local really helps during the Covid crisis too. Local jobs support local families.
Call it a beanie, watch cap or plain old stocking cap, there’s nothing warmer. Pull on a snug knitted cap to keep out the cold and add some style to your bundled-up look. Knit or crocheted hats made of natural fibers should be handwashed in cool water. Soak for twenty minutes in a mild detergent, agitate gently and never squeeze or wring. Rinse in cool water, lay flat and air dry. Synthetics can be machine washed in cool water, gentle cycle. Air dry to prevent shrinking. Or bring your beanie to the experts. We’ll clean and block your cap to like-new freshness.
That’s Oxford cloth button down and there’s at least one in almost every man’s closet. Back in 1896, John Brooks, grandson of the Brooks Brothers founder, took an idea from polo players, buttoning down the collar to keep it out the player’s face, and made it a preppy classic. Today, it’s a trans-seasonal, hard wearing choice for everything from jeans to a downtown suit. Choices abound with colors and gentle stripes but the basic white or pale blue Oxford cloth cotton shirt is the master of all. With or without starch, we’ll make sure your OCBD shirts are fresh and ready for creating a good impression in the office or on a Zoom call.
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.
Autumn favorite corduroy needs special cleaning care to preserve the rich velvety pile and prevent shrinking. If your corduroy garment is washable, check the label before throwing it in the wash. Never wash with lint producers like fleece, felt or terry. Use the right water temperature, wash like colors together and turn the garment inside out. Then air dry until barely damp, tumble dry for ten minutes at lowest temperature to fluff the nap. Pull from dryer and shake out, turn back right side out and brush nap to remove any lint or surface wrinkles. Or skip all that and let us clean your corduroy for like-new results.
The coronavirus has us all thinking about hygiene more than ever. Handwashing, mask washing and bedding, too. Everything you’re exposed to during the day goes into the bed with you, from pollen and pet dander to bacterial and viral particles. Add dead skin cells, sweat, makeup, lotions. It’s a best-practice habit to change your bedding once a week, more often if there’s sweaty or oil skin. The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends changing pillow cases two or three times a week. With a pandemic, there’s risk of viral particles becoming trapped within bedding fabric. Follow very specific CDC guidelines if a household member has tested positive for coronavirus.
Laundry that’s dried in the open air always smells so good, now science has identified the sources for that fresh scent. Ozone and sunlight reach with materials in a wet garment, creating aldehydes and ketones, according to a study at the University of Copenhagen. For instance, line-dried towels emitted pentanal, a fruity-smelling compound found in cardamom; octanal, creating citrusy aromas; and nonanal with a rose-like odor. Sun-dried towels are loaded with fragrances catalyzed by the sun that smell good.