Care and Fashion Tips

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…

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…

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…

We’ll be closed Monday to celebrate the end of summer with our families. It’s a time to remember the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” We’ve built our business by providing “painstaking excellence” from our…

Delicious on a hot dog. Horrible on your shirt. Removing picnic stains promptly is the first remedy. Remove as much mustard or ketchup from the fabric, then rinse in cold water and blot with white vinegar. Pretreat with stain remover or diluted laundry detergent before laundering.  Or bring the whole mess to us. We’re ready to remove…

Most loads in your washing machine can be effectively cleaned with cold water. The only time you really need to use hot water (or 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 just adds onto your utility…

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. Add a half cup to your next load and see the difference on your summer laundry.

Choosing a garment that’s flattering and fits body and budget is not enough. Some fabrics actually irritate or harm skin. Bamboo, for instance, is often treated with harsh chemicals during manufacture. Synthetics are the worst. Polyster, for instance, doesn’t breathe, traps odors, feeds bacteria and releases irritating chemicals The latest wrinkle-resistant fabrics are treated with…

Every time you wash a garment you shorten its life, and use water, energy and time. Now there are garments designed to be odor-resistant. Merino wool products promise days or weeks of no-wash wear. Adding anti-microbial nanosilver particles help prevent odor from bacteria that thrive on perspiration. No-wash clothing does come with a healthy price,…

Make a local, sustainable choice that supports your community by patronizing neighborhood merchants. Born and raised in your hometown, local businesses create jobs and contribute to our community in many ways. The numbers are impressive: three-quarters of every dollar stays here in your community compared to about 40% when shopping at a large chain company.