-
Sweater care.1
Remove lint and pet hairs with a lint roller or wrap your hand with tape, sticky side out, for a clean look. Pills (those little bumps right above the smooth weave) are removed with a pumice stone, scissors or simply shave them off with a disposable razor. For those little snags inside, pull through with a…
-
Cashmere deluxe.
While still a splurge, cashmere’s more affordable than ever. But it’s still an investment worth protecting. Before pulling on your sweater, wait for deodorant to dry or it can build up and create a stain. Don’t wear the same garment more than once a week. Remove wrinkles by ironing on low, inside out. And please,…
-
Plan holiday parties early.
Check your supply of table linens to make sure there are no stains, no candlewax or wine ring leftovers. Our professional finishing department can press everything to five-star quality, and we often can brighten old lace and linen. With everything you need on your table is spotless and sparkling, you’re well on the way to…
-
Seasonal switch.
Before you store away your summer favorites, make sure everything’s clean and free of spills and stains. That little white wine spot or soda spill can oxidize over time, leaving a brown stain. Pack like-colored items together and keep everything away from light and moisture. If you don’t have closet hanger space, fold everything with…
-
Make your bed.
After summer’s hot nights, now’s a good 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…
-
Red wine stains.
Here’s a new red wine stain removal trick from the Food Network. Flush the stain with white wine to remove as much stain as you can, blotting between rinses. Follow with distilled white vinegar rinses to get the last of the red out. Then launder as usual. Or promptly bring the stained garment to us, for expert…
-
Trends for Fall.
Look for pistachio, the color not the nut, everywhere head to toe. Grungy romance in black lace with chains and chokers. Layers and layers of knits, think sweater on top of sweater. Bold colorful hosiery makes a splash. But so does period details like puffy sleeves, capes and Victorian neck ruffles. Expect a lot of…
-
Dry faster.
When you absolutely need it now, give the load an extra spin cycle while it’s still in the washer. It will remove a lot of moisture in just a few minutes. Then, throw a bath towel into the dryer with wet garments. After about 15 minutes, take the towel out and let the clothes finish…
-
Fresh workout.
When your favorite fitness gear loses its fresh smell, a few tips from on-line Valetmight help. First, turn everything inside out before washing to expose what’s the dirtiest. Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to your washer to release odor-causing bacteria. Special detergents like Win or HEX are formulated to deep clean performance fabrics. And never…
-
The classic OCBD.
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…