Caring for Neckties

I love neckties; that’s probably because I don’t have to wear them.  When shopping for myself at a department store, I always migrate to the men’s necktie display.  I love the range of colors and styles, and I especially love how simply changing a tie can give a suit a completely different look.

I’ve purchased several good-quality, super fun neckties for my husband over the years.  When it comes to neckties, you really do get what you pay for.  A good-quality necktie isn’t cheap, so if you are going to invest the money in a garment, then it’s likely you want to take good care of it.  But there’s more to taking good care of your ties than just having them cleaned when a spill occurs.  Here’s how A Cleaner World suggests you care for your neckties.

1. Use care when removing your tie.  Instead of pulling the thin end of the tie through the knot, take the time to remove your tie by following the tie-typing steps in reverse.  This will help your ties keep their original shape longer.
2. Properly store your tie.  As soon as you remove your tie, hang it over a coat hanger or a tie rack.  This will allow the creases and wrinkles to relax and fall out.
3. Pack with care.  Fold your ties in fours and place them inside your jacket pocket, then remove and hang as soon as you arrive at your destination.
4. Address stains and spills immediately.  If you spill something on your tie while out, gently scrape off the excess and blot with a clean, white cloth.  Then leave it alone.
5. We suggest you take ties to a professional to have them cleaned for several reasons, with the biggest being risk of dye bleeding.

If your neckties are in need of attention, drop them off at any one of our locations.  Our experienced drycleaners will evaluate each tie to determine the best cleaning method, check for colorfastness before cleaning, and use finishing touches to give your tie a like-new appearance.

Caring for Blankets

This time of year our blankets get lots of use.  Now, I’m not talking about the blankets we have on our beds; I’m talking about things like throws and afghans.  My husband is always hot and as a result, Gray and I walk around the house freezing; in fact, I have one wrapped around my shoulders as I write this.  Last month I shared tips on how to dress to stay warm during winter, and one thing I didn’t mention is my love of blankets.  I have blankets and afghans stashed in the living room, my office, our bedroom, and Gray’s room, and because our house is typically like a meat freezer, our blankets are dragged across not always perfectly clean floors usually with Macy either riding on top or using it as a tug-of-war rope.

Bottom line – blankets need to be cleaned too.  Here are some tips to help you care for your blankets.

• Non-electric blankets – While it is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning blankets, the Federal Trade Commission doesn’t require care labels on blankets.  Many times, however, instructions are provided on a permanent label or a temporary tag.  Most of the time, blankets can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in either cold or warm water and line dried or tumble dried on low.  Most blankets can also be dry cleaned.
• Wool blankets – Hot water and high drying temperatures can cause wool blankets to shrink.  If the care label suggests machine washing, wash only in cold water on gentle with a mild detergent and line dry.  Some wool blankets may still shrink even if you follow the directions on the care label.   The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute reports that industry standards for shrinkage in blankets allow as much as 6% after 5 washings. 

If you have blankets that need some special attention and you are uncertain where to begin, drop them off at any one of our locations where our super-sized industrial washers and trained staff will clean them and have them ready for you when promised.

Donating a Coat to Give A Kid A Coat

Have your heard of the Five Love Languages – Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch?  Do you know yours?  If I could add a sixth one for my mom it would be – Bargain Purchases.  Nothing trips her trigger more than a good buy.

At the end of July, we were shopping for new tennis shoes for Gray.  Of course while at the department store, she had to check the sale racks.  On one of the racks was a beautiful black winter coat with a fur collar in a size medium.  She picked it up to see that while the original price was $220, it was marked down 90% to $22 AND she had a 30% off coupon, which made the final price $15.40.  I decided to buy the coat for several reasons – first, I loved it; second, it was a good buy, and third, if I didn’t she would have insisted on buying it for me – I know merely for the fact that it was such a steal.

How lucky am I that I can purchase a winter coat that I really don’t need in July simply because it was a good buy?  So many adults in our community don’t have that luxury.  They put off getting winter coats – usually only getting them for their kids – until the last minute because there are more important bills to be paid.  And it seems that I’m not the only person at A Cleaner World thinking about winter coats in July.  On July 21st, the folks from The Salvation Army, 1075KZL, Fox8, and members of our staff met to start planning this year’s Give A Kid A Coat campaign, which kicked off last week.

Since that first planning meeting in July, I’ve been receiving details regarding this year’s kick off and campaign, and I am reminded of the fact that I purchased a coat that I didn’t need – just wanted.  So I will not let that coat become one of a collection, and I will follow my rule of one in, one out and donate a coat to this year’s Give A Kid A Coat campaign.  A Cleaner World will clean it; The Salvation Army will help it find a good home; and I will smile when I put on my new coat knowing that my beautiful, brown, only 2 year old winter coat will be cherished by someone that might not have had a coat if I had chosen not to make that impulse purchase.

I suspect I’m not the only person that has more coats than she needs.  For more information about Give A Kid A Coat, click here. 

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Attend This Year’s Give A Kid A Coat Kick Off

5. Free Food

4. Fun

3. SWAG

 2.  All the cool kids will be there

1.  Every coat donated matters

The 2017 Give A Kid A Coat campaign kicks off this Friday, January 6 at the A Cleaner World located at 2527 Eastchester Drive in High Point.  For more information about the 30th annual Give A Kid A Coat campaign, visit our website.