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Holiday stain relief.
The holidays are just around the corner, usually including red wine, rich gravy, cocktails and sugary treats. What else do the celebrations bring? Accidental spills on your favorite clothes and household linens – with some of the toughest stains to remove: acid, sugar and oil based food and beverages. Help us by following a few…
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Three things men do wrong.
You may be the sharpest stick in the room, but these three signs of sloppy dressing will undercut your image every time. Start with your shirt – it should fit snugly across the shoulder with sleeves hitting midwrist and no extra baggage in the shirt body. Sagging pants are so 90’s. Your pants should sit at your…
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The classic cardigan.
Mr. Rogers isn’t the only celebrity in a cardigan. The 7th Earl of Cardigan started it all back in the mid-1800’s. Back then, they were bulky, warm single or double breasted coats with shawl collars. Today, cardigans have slimmed down and are made of almost every material for men and women. They can be worn…
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New jeans blues.
Ever wear a new pair of jeans straight from the store and notice your hands and shirt turned blue? When dye transfers by friction, it’s called crocking and the indigo dye in blue jeans is a notorious crocker. Before you leave blue everywhere, the washing machine is your first stop. Do a first wash with cold water,…
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Wrinkle-free.
The secret to wrinkle-free shirts is a formaldehyde resin finish that stiffens fabric fibers — leading to holes, frays and texture damage from bends and chafing when resin-treated garments go through washing and drying. The net cost? You’d better buy two or three wrinkle-free shirts at a time because they only last half as long as…
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When is dry-cleaning the best choice?
When to throw it in the washer and when to give it to us? Convenience and quality aside, there are situations when dry cleaning simply is the best choice: Acetate, rayon or silk, leather or fur garments or trim, tricky to iron, structured or tailored with interfacing, specially finished, stiffened garments. The number one reason…
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Give thanks.
We all have so much, and tomorrow the luckiest of us are blessed with family and friends, enjoying the bounties of love, of sharing laughter and a memorable meal. We’re reminded of the Estonian proverb, “Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.” No matter your Thanksgiving traditions, from holding hands during…
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Thanksgiving traditions.
Our parents, and theirs, celebrated the family gathering with blessings, centerpieces, games and recipes that turn a sumptuous meal into a treasured family tradition. Real Simple shares seven favorites ranging from a vegan organic tofu pumpkin pie to Garrison Keillor shares tips to prevent “crying in the cranberries” and concentrating on the thankfulness. If you…
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Salt and slush.
For some of the lucky ones, that might be a margarita order. For the rest of us, winter isn’t so kind. If you slogged through winter snowbanks or slushy curbs your cuffs, coats and hems picked up more than frosty dew. Urban winter brings a special mix of grime, salt, road dirt and grit that can…
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Guests coming?
Preparations for the holiday season should include a survey and sniff test in the linen closet. Guest room or sofa, airbed or pullout, your guests should enjoy a good night’s rest on fresh, crisp linen under warm quilts, blankets or comforters. We clean it all – even summer’s sleeping bags may do holiday duty. With two…