Ask the Experts

A. Bleach has often been the gold standard for getting white clothes back to pristine condition. That's because, when used properly, bleach does a great job at removing stains and grime from white clothing.

While baking soda is more often known for its odor control qualities, it does have natural whitening capabilities that are used by people who would rather not turn to bleach.

The best thing about baking soda in the laundry is its ability to act as a natural boosting agent for bleach. In my laundry I use 1/2 a cup of bleach and 1/2 cup of baking soda for my white loads, instead of a full cup of bleach. The baking soda masks some of the bleach smell and makes the bleach even more effective.

A. It's a personal preference of course, but we see most of our customers like some starch in their shirts. Here are a few things about starch:

• starch is only added to laundered items, never dry cleaned garments
• starch is used to add body to clothing and make the job of ironing/pressing a much easier task
• starch can also improve clothing resistance to dirt and make it easier for detergent to remove dirt during the wash cycle.

We offer 4 levels of starch for all our customers - none, light, medium and heavy. Check the tag on your laundry bag to see the "starch level" we use for your laundered shirts! (And if you wish to change it, just let us know and we'll be happy to!).

A: Dry cleaning has been shown to keep your clothes fresh and extends their life.

Everyone knows that dry cleaning will keep your garments looking new, fresh and crips. So how is it that dry cleaning allows you the get the maximum useful life from your clothes?

First, spots and stains on your clothes will gradually oxidize all by themselves, eventually turning into permanent brown spots. Professional dry cleaners are equipped to deal with these stains, and if anyone can safely remove them, we can.

Second, stains containing sugar, such as soda, coffee or tea are a tasty treat for moths and other insects. If you store your clothes with stains on them, you almost guaranteed to find some discoloration from oxidization, as well as thin spots or even holes where moths have attacked and eaten the fibers.

Third, dry cleaning will remove perspiration and body oil that build up in garments. Not only do you not want these in clothes since they contribute to staining and fabric degradation, but body oils and perspiration will eventually produce a lingering odor in your garments.

Finally, in 100 years of textile research and testing, the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute
has never seen any indication of dry cleaning processes "wearing out" fibers or fabrics. Failure to have something cleaned professionally as needed, on the other hand, can result in a ruined garment due to staining, holes, odors, or fabric distortion. 

A. There is no guaranteed way to unshrink a sweater, but we have a few ideas for you to try.

1. Soak the sweater in hair conditioner and water solution, and pull gently to reshape, lay flat to dry.

2. Dissolve one ounce of borax in a couple of tablespoons of hot water, add the mixture to a gallon of warm water, immerse the garment. Pull the sweater gently into shape, and rinse in a gallon of warm water to which you have added 2 tablespoons of vinegar.

3. Dissolve two cups of non-iodized salt in enough hot water to cover the garment. Let cool, and leave the sweater to soak in it for three hours. Wash it in mild suds, rinse three times, roll the sweater in towels, then reshape and let dry.

And of course, we can professionally clean and "reblock" (i.e. the professional process for resizing) your favorite sweaters anytime!

A. Sure, we have a few things you should keep in mind if you get any stains or spills on your clothes ….

1. Never put a garment away with spills or stains on it. The warmth of the closet and exposure to natural or artificial light and to the atmosphere can contribute to the setting of a stain.
2. Get a stained garment cleaned as soon as possible, preferably within a few days, to prevent the stain from setting.
3. Do not iron stained or soiled clothes; this will set stains and drive the soil deeper into the fabric. Always have soiled clothes cleaned before ironing.
4. Do not attempt home stain removal with either water or a cleaning fluid without testing first for colorfastness. Wet an exposed area, such as an inside seam, and blot with a paper towel to make sure the color is fast.
5. Never rub a stain, especially when attempting to remove the stain from silk. Blot stained area. This will help remove the straining substance without spreading the stain and will avoid damaging the fabric.
6. If the stains are no longer visible, always inform us of the location of the stain and any procedures you have used to remove them