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Happy Valentine’s Day
What a wonderful holiday: celebrate the love in your life. If you didn’t plan ahead with a restaurant reservation, there’s nothing stopping a just-the-two-of-you candlelit celebration. Dress up a little, turn down the lights and set the mood. A crisp white tablecloth and napkins, fresh flowers, champagne, a favorite entree and a chocolate desert should…
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Getting the most from your cleaner.
Our expert service starts when we tag and inspect your laundry – we look for stains, tears, broken buttons, snagged zippers. You can help by telling us (or marking with masking tape) trouble spots and stains. Our stain removal expertise is always enhanced when we know what caused the problem so we can use the…
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Wet shoes.
Downpour, puddle or snowstorm, soaking your good shoes is more than uncomfortable, it’s a good way to ruin your investment in quality footwear. First, stuff the shoes with crumpled up newspaper and slowly dry away from direct heat which can crack the leather. When they’re almost dry, replace the paper with cedar shoe trees to…
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The brush off.
Brush your good clothes before putting them back in the closet to remove dust, grime and surface soil before it can penetrate. Use short, quick strokes against the grain, then finish with long smooth strokes in the opposite direction. A bonus benefit, you’ll be able to spot stains, tears or damage that need cleaning or…
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Save the memories.
Wedding gowns are not the only heirlooms that deserve special treatment. Careful cleaning, mending and archival storage can benefit any textile. Grandmother’s lace tablecloth, Dad’s letter jacket or uniform, antique tapestries or christening gowns. We’ve seen it all and can recommend the right procedures and products to preserve your treasure.
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Best fitting chinos.
America’s favorite work-casual pants, chinos look even better when they fit properly. First, they should not need a belt to stay up. Avoid pleats — unless you want to look like your stomach is bigger. The legs should be comfortably close, without pinching or causing resistance when you move. Choose a length so there’s a…
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Hand-washable in the machine?
Most washing machines have a Delicate setting, some go so far as to label it Hand Washables. When the care label calls for hand washing, it’s calling for gentle squeezing rather than machine agitation to minimize stretching and mis-shaping. If the label says delicate or gentle machine washing, the garment will stand up to longer,…
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Fluff gone?
Lost your fluff? When towels, robes and washcloths lose their fluffy absorbency, they may just need a good washing. Detergent residue and softeners can build up in the fibers, diminish softness and block the thirsty drying qualities of cotton. Run everything through the washer with a cup of white vinegar and an extra rinse cycle.…