Days are short, nights are cold. To get the most relaxing and refreshing sleep, start by stripping the bed and dusting the mattresswith baking soda and your favorite essential oil. Lavender, chamomile, sandalwood or geranium are classic, add 20 drops to a box of baking soda, mix well and massage into the mattress. Wait an hour or so before vacuuming up all the baking soda. The mixture helps lift soil, remove mites and freshen while wicking away moisture. Now add freshly laundered linens and you’re ready for some dream time. Our professional laundry machines are perfect for duvet covers and comforters, quilts and blankets.

If you’re lucky enough to own a hand-made quilt, you’ll want to keep it aslong as possible.  Twice a year folded quilts should be opened and aired, hopefully outdoors in fresh air before careful inspection and refolding, in a different pattern than before to minimize permanent creases. Keep quilts out of direct sunlight to prevent fading. While some quilts can be safely washed in cool water on a gentle setting, dry cleaning can clean without the likelihood of fading, tearing or other damage to delicate fabrics.

Chlorine laundry bleach can irritate skin, eyes and lungs and weaken natural fabric fibers. Four other methods for whitening laundry, some of them as old as washing itself. The juice of half a lemon added to regular detergent in your next load will brighten and freshen. Hydrogen peroxide in a 3-percent solution can whiten whites, but it’s not safe for colors). Baking soda naturally freshens, softens and whitens laundry – try a half cup per load and use to pretreat stains. Remove rust stains (that chlorine seems to bring out) by moistening stain with lemon juice, then cover with table salt overnight. Next day, rinse in cool water and launder.

Keep gym clothes fresh by presoaking in warm water mixed with an ounce of laundry detergent and the juice of a lemon to penetrate water-resistant technical fibers like Spandex and Lycra.  The lemon’s citric acid helps break down oily buildup. Gently scrub armpits, neckline and any other stained or odor-retaining areas before soaking overnight. Then launder regularly in warm water with a white vinegar finishing rinse. Or bring the whole pile to us for professional stain removal and laundering. We know how to get the stank out, that’s our job.

Soak cranberry stains 15 minutes in a mixture of one tbsp white vinegar and ½ tsp liquid laundry detergent in a quart of cool water. If the stain persists, sponge with rubbing alcohol and rinse. Scape off gravy spills, sprinkle with baking soda to soak up the grease, then pretreat with a small amount of dish detergent before washing in hot water. Or get even better (and easier) cleaning by bringing your table linens, aprons, dress shirts or neckties to us for professional spotting and cleaning.

We’re inspired by Willie Nelson’s apt “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”  While we get ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow with friends and family, we’d like to thank a few important people in our lives. Thanks to our staff, who deliver top quality and gracious service every day. Thanks to our community, without your support we’d be nothing.  Thanks to our families, for understanding that running a business is a 24/7 commitment.  And thanks to you, our customer and friend. We’re all lucky, blessed and privileged to share our gratitude every day.

Definitely add fashionable, warm scarves for winter. After wear, untie, smooth and hang gently so the wrinkles can naturally relax. Never iron a scarf after wear – the heat can darken and set invisible soils and skin oils. Always wear a scarf with fur, leather and suede to prevent collar soiling from skin oils or makeup. When your scarf needs freshening, we suggest hand finishing to preserve the hand rolled hem or fragile fringe.

Let our linens department help put the finishing touches on your tablecloth and napkins. Nothing’s as nice as professional pressing – and our experts can remove most stains, even on delicate lace and linen. Bring your holiday linens in now and they’ll be clean and crisp for your Thanksgiving festivities.

Join us honoring our veterans this Monday, Veterans Day. We’re proud of their service to our country and thankful for the protection they provide for our American way of life. Let’s remember to thank those who serve, those who sacrifice, and their families. Let’s all do what we can to honor our veterans.

Does shared closet space make finding your favorite outfit a hassle? Tired of shuffling dry cleaning bags only to find the pants you were looking for was in another bag with your partner’s jacket?  Let us know on your next visit – we’re happy to package your cleaning separately based on male, female, and children’s attire. Then putting them away is a snap. Better yet, finding your outfit during early morning marathons to work and school becomes so much easier.