Q. What’s the best way to sew a button? A. Sewing on buttons is not difficult, but requires care and patience. Since buttons do come loose or fall off, it’s a very useful skill. It’s best to use the original button if you have it, if not check for extras that may have come with the garment. (It’s a good practice to have a common place for extra buttons that often come with new garments, if they’re not sewn into... View Article
What should I know about storing my clothes for the season? A. Be sure clothes are clean before putting them away. Invisible stains, such as coffee and soft drinks, can oxidize over time and appear as yellow. The longer the stain sets, the more difficult it is to remove. Insects such as moths, crickets and silverfish also love to feast on food, perfume, body oil and perspiration stains doing irreparable damage to the fabric. Store in a dry, well ventilated... View Article
How can I prevent mildew on clothes? A. Mildew commonly develops in the humid summer weather. Here are a few tips from our resident expert, Arthur Anton, Jr., on keeping your clothes free from mildew: Keep closets, dresser drawers, and storage areas as clean as possible. Keep fabrics dry. Do not put clothing or shoes that are damp (including wet from rain or perspiration) in the closet. Be sure clothing is clean before putting away in the closet. Even though... View Article
“My comforter is soiled and needs to be cleaned. The care instructions say the preferred method is wet cleaning. What does this mean?” A. Wet cleaning is a process used by the few professional drycleaners who have the state-of-the-art computer-controlled equipment that monitors water level, temperature, agitation and soap dispensing. It’s environmentally safe as water is the solvent. The controls can be programmed for many variables, including how fast the drum inside the washing machine rotates, the temperature and amount... View Article
5 Tips to Removing Common BBQ Stains A. Chances are that you’ve already broken out your entire summer wardrobe and you’re going to a cookout in the near future. We’ve all experienced the unhappiness of noticing a ketchup or mustard stain on that brand new polo shirt. Here are 5 Tips to remove common BBQ stains: Mustard – We list this one first because it’s one of the most challenging to remove. Make sure to carefully wipe off as much... View Article