Comforters & Quilts

Most of us wash our sheets and blankets fairly regularly, but the other stuff—comforters, quilts, and pillows—often don’t fit in our washers, or are made of materials we don’t know what to do with. Professional dry cleaners know the best ways to treat these items to make sure they are fresh, clean, and stay in good condition. But if you know exactly what your items are made from, here are some guidelines for at-home care.

Damage – Fire

The treatment of a fire-damaged garment or fabric depends on the kind of fire it was in. Wood, plastics, and other materials leave different chemicals in their soot and odors, and may react differently to cleaning treatments. It is best to contact a professional fire restorer or dry cleaner to find out if items can be safely restored, and let the experts handle it. They have special chemicals that remove smoke and soot particles that are not available for home use. There are a few things you can do at home to help restore your garments, but be careful—an item can be ruined by improper cleaning methods.

Damage – Water

Water damage, whether from fire-fighting, flooding, burst pipes or other mishaps, can ruin clothing and other fabrics. Water damage is not always immediately visible, but can worsen in a short amount of time. Bacteria, mold, and mildew can begin growing in wet or damp items, so it is important to begin restoration as soon as possible. The success of restoration efforts depends on what kind of water affected the items and how long ago the damage occurred. Waiting more than 72 hours significantly reduces the likelihood that the items can be restored. If you do not have time to wash soiled clothing right away, or if your washing machine / laundry room was also affected and cannot be used, take the items to a professional dry cleaner. Dry clean only items that have been water damaged can usually be restored by a regular dry cleaning as well.

Drapes & Rugs

Drapes and area rugs are difficult to clean at home. Most are too delicate—and too large—to go in a regular washing machine. Professional dry cleaners know how to handle these items. To keep them in good condition in between cleanings, follow these tips.

Fur Care

Whether you have a large fur coat or a handbag with fur trim, all furs need special care and storage to preserve their natural shine and softness.

Greener Home Laundry

Drapes and area rugs are difficult to clean at home. Most are too delicate—and too large—to go in a regular washing machine. Professional dry cleaners know how to handle these items. To keep them in good condition in between cleanings, follow these tips.

Handbags & Purses

Your grandmother’s wedding dress, that gorgeous vintage coat, the antique handbag you found at a thrift store—these kinds of items are special and irreplaceable. Cleaning and storing these delicate items properly is essential to preserving them in the best condition possible.

Heirloom & Antique Fabrics

Your grandmother’s wedding dress, that gorgeous vintage coat, the antique handbag you found at a thrift store—these kinds of items are special and irreplaceable. Cleaning and storing these delicate items properly is essential to preserving them in the best condition possible.

Keeping Clothes Like New

No one likes it when colors fade, fabric wears out, and hems come undone. To keep your clothes looking as good as new, follow these tips to preserve washable and dry clean only garments. Your clothes will last longer with regular cleaning and care.

Leather care

Protect your investments in fine quality leathers and suede. From cleaning to dye and finish restoration to repairs of rips, tears and replacement of linings, mindful care will extend the life of your leathers and suede.

Allergens

Seasonal allergies are bad enough, but there may also be allergens in your home year-round. Dust, dust mites, bacteria, and mildew all contribute to allergy symptoms. To keep allergens from affecting you and your family, don’t wait for spring cleaning. As with most cleaning methods, prevention is the best solution. Simple routine care can keep your home fresh and clean all year.

Pillows

Cleaning and Laundering How a pillow should be washed depends on its stuffing. Always check care labels to see what the manufacturer recommends, but if the tag is long gone, here are some basic guidelines.

Protect Your Home

These preventative steps will help stop allergens from accumulating in your home.

Shoes

Before cleaning or conditioning shoes, make sure you have the right products. Identify the material you are working with (located on the tag inside the shoe, sometimes under the tongue) before attempting to clean. If you’re not sure, take the shoes to a professional.

Stain Removal

With the right tools and methods, most stains can be removed from washable clothes. When a spill or stain happens, blot—do not rub—with a clean towel right away. If the garment is dry clean-only, then take it to a dry cleaner—do make sure you point the stain out to your cleaner and tell them what it is so they can treat it properly. For machine-washable items, try treating the stain yourself, but always use caution. If a stain is severe or you are afraid of ruining the item, take it to a cleaner.

Suede Care

Sustainable Fashion

Sustainable fashion is increasingly popular today. More and more, garments are being created, produced and cared for with consideration to the environmental and social impact they may have throughout their total life span. Ethical and sustainable sourcing of materials have been an important focus in the sustainable fashion movement to date, but one of the biggest opportunities we have to improve fashion’s eco-footprint is in the way that we care for garments. Between 50 and 80% of the total energy consumed during the life of a garment is during the use phase – e.g. how we clean and care for our clothes. Many people are surprised to learn that dry cleaning actually has a lower carbon footprint than home laundering. GreenEarth, with its positive environmental profile, offers the optimal solution for sustainable garment care. Finding a dry cleaner that uses the GreenEarth method will not only reduce your carbon footprint for each cleaning, it will also help your garments last longer, reducing their footprint over time without doing any damage to the planet. GreenEarth is a safe, non-toxic, biodegradable solution that will keep your garments soft and enhance their sustainability.

Sweater care

Keep your sweaters looking good and lasting longer with these care tips.

Wedding Gowns

For many women, a wedding gown is the most important clothing purchase of their lifetime. It is an investment that should be preserved with the best cleaning and storing methods available. No one wants to take chances with something as precious as a wedding gown. These are our expert tips on how to care for your gown so that it stays in perfect condition for years to come.