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Two ways to ruin a sports bra.
Real Simpleoffers expert tips to extend the life of technical undergarments. Start by laundering in a mesh lingerie bag – that prevents unnecessary wear and tear – and lay flat on a clean towel to dry or hand on a drying rack or clothesline. Absolutely avoid fabric softeners. Most workout clothes are made with synthetic…
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Seasonal storage.
Before you stash winter clothing for the season, be sure everything’s clean. Even the slightest splash or dribble can oxidize and darken over time. Body oils, perspiration and food or beverage stains can permanently soak in, even attract insect damage. Protect your investment by cleaning everything before hanging on wooden or plastic hangers, storing in breathable…
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Spring spruce up
Take a few minutes and review your table linen collection. Stains set over time, so it may be too late for some remainders of parties past, but our specialists have a lot of tricks that go beyond home remedies. Bring in your tablecloths, runners, napkins and placemats for professional laundering and tip-top finishing. Your table will…
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Grandma’s laundry secret.
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 of distilled white vinegar to your next load — you’ll see the difference.
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Step up to silk.
Top-quality silk, from lingerie to neckwear, is an investment in luxury. But natural-fiber silk is delicate: simply rubbing a spot can fade color or dull the fabric’s luster. Water or club soda bleeds color dyes and abrades fibers. When gravy spots your power tie or champagne bubbles over the crêpe de chine, stay calm and…
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Prepare for clean.
A few minutes prepping laundry before throwing it into the machine saves grief and adds 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 together so…
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The 1600 B.C. Cleaners.
A historic clay tablet, held at the British Museum, documents a conversation between a professional Mesopotamian cleaner and his particular client. After specifying the source of water for washing, the type of drying wind, and the sort of stones to press the luxury garment, the full-service cleaner answered, “I’ll show you a washing place and you…
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Saggy sweater blues.
When a favorite knitted warmer starts growing, don’t despair. We can help bring it back to shape. Let us know and we can block it the right size and shape when we clean it. We’ll even keep measurements on file for special garments – remember, we’re customer service specialists. May we serve your sweater’s special…
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Luck of the Irish.
The Irish laundryman jokingly ask, “Why should you never iron a 4-leaf clover? You don’t want to press your luck.” Whether you’re celebrating all things green and orange this Sunday or not, remember there are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were.
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Colors of Spring.
There’s a fresh new color palette in fashion this season to brighten your wardrobe and it’s pretty and exciting. Yellow verbena is a cheerful variation, turmeric orange pairs easily with browns, greens and blues. Pistachio green, aka sage, mint or seafoam, looks elegant paired with white jeans. Fiesta red always grabs attention and looks gorgeous.…