Most loads in your washing machine can be effectively cleaned with cold water. The only time you really need to use hot water (with bleach) is for germ-killing sanitation on diapers or sickroom linens. Today’s detergents are formulated to work in warm or cold water, and heating water for laundry can chew into your utility…

Bright skies, warm breezes and longer days mean it’s time for a good spring cleaning. We always start in the bedrooms, stripping beds down to the bare mattress. We clean comforters, dust ruffles, pillow shams, even area rugs and curtains. Launder everything washable and send the rest to us for professional cleaning. We expertly clean and…

Vinegar’s back! This inexpensive miracle worker gives brighter, cleaner, fresher laundry. For instance, it removes sweat and deodorant stains, replaces fabric softener to reduce static, and boosts detergent power while eliminating buildup from powdered cleaners. An overnight soak in half and half vinegar and water can help kill stubborn workout smells. Add a half cup to…

Don’t cheat yourself of one of life’s little luxuries by saving the cloth napkins for company. Even regular cotton or linen napkins are easy to care for and make every meal a little bit nicer. Choose a dark or richly patterned fabric for extended use (stains don’t show). Smooth and fold napkins right out of…

A few minutes preparing your laundry before throwing it into the machine will save grief and add life to your clothing. Unroll shirt sleeves and pant cuffs. Zip up zippers to avoid snagging the metal teeth on knits and woven garments. Unbutton button-down collars and button-front shirts to avoid stressing buttons and buttonholes. Tie drawstrings…

When a forgotten tissue in the pocket hits the washing machine, tiny shreds of linty paper get everywhere. Pick off the bigger pieces before letting the dryer’s lint trap do its job. Remove while damp and shake out remaining scraps, use a clothes brush or lint roller to finish.

Tonight’s the longest night of the year — days start getting longer in the morning! We can make your bedding even more comfortable with cleaning and laundry services to keep everything from sheets to pillows and comforters fresh and cozy.

If candles dripped on the tablecloth, let everything cool and peel the wax off with your fingers.  If it’s stubborn, freeze the tablecloth, then scrape off the wax with a credit card. Wash in hot water to remove the remaining embedded wax. Better yet, and a lot easier, bring your table linens to us for…

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…

Laundry experts take sorting to a new level when they recommend sorting not only by color but also by fabric type. We always separate linty laundry like towels and sweatshirts from corduroys, permanent press and smooth fabrics that can pill. Separate loads for pure whites, lights and patterns on white, darks, brights and delicates lets…