Handwashing vs. Dry Cleaning

We all have at least one garment that needs to be cared for a little differently than your average wash and wear clothing item. We spend time and money picking out and purchasing the right clothing. Your garments are investments you want to care for properly for as...

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Preparing Your Clothes For The Cleaners

Spill on your favorite sweater? Coffee stain on your work pants? Or just looking to have your clothes cleaned by the dry cleaning experts at Afendoulis? Whatever the situation may be, here are some tips for preparing your precious clothing for a trip to the dry...

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Top Reasons You Should Be Dry Cleaning Your Clothes

Most often you purchase clothes that you love and plan to wear for years to come. After purchasing your favorite clothing items, you likely have two main goals, to wear and preserve them. How well you care for your clothing will determine the longevity of let's say,...

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Choosing the Right Tuxedo Style for You

You were invited to a black-tie affair, but you have nothing to wear.  Have no fear; here is the essential information you need when choosing the style of your tuxedo. Before we begin, it's crucial to answer a very common question regarding men's formal wear. That is,...

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The Dangers of Dry Cleaning with PERC Solvent

(And Why We Don’t Use It) If you have ever received your clothes after they were dry cleaned with a strong chemical smell, then they were not cleaned properly. The dirt and stains may have been removed, but instead, a residue of chemicals coats your garments. What...

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Why You Shouldn’t Ignore That “Dry Clean Only” Label

Many people question the importance of following directions on those “Dry Clean Only” labels. Fact is, it is beneficial for both you and your clothing to use a professional dry cleaner like Afendoulis. Dry clean only tags are most commonly found on silk, wool,...

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What is Dry Cleaning Anyway?

Well it’s simple really, it’s called DRY cleaning because there is no water in the process (and you thought it was magic dry particles shooting through your clothes in a special sparkly machine?).  Don’t feel badly, most peeps are unaware that clothes go into a dry...

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Protect Your Investment, Read Care Labels!

Protect your investment!  Clothing and household textiles are an investment, so be a smart shopper!  ALWAYS read care labels before making a purchase and if you buy custom made items ask for fabric details and some form of a cleaning instruction.   Especially window...

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Such a stain

Yup, we feel your pain.  Best thing to do is leave the spots to the professionals.  Many people damage fabric and set the stains by rubbing or applying the wrong home remedies to items with stains.  If you can, resist the temptation to play chemist!  It is all...

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To bleach or not to bleach!

That is a great question.  Bleach is wonderful for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, but is risky business for most washable clothing items.  Chlorine bleach can corrode fabrics and weaken them, eventually leaving things looking like Swiss cheese (not the best look...

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Mystery stains

Hey, that stain was not there when I brought it to the cleaners!  We assure you, no cleaner puts stains on your clothes.  However, there is something called an invisible stain that our cleaning will make visible!  (We are kind of like reverse superheroes!) Sadly lots...

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Beware the Wrinkle Free Shirt!

Did you know that wrinkle free or easy iron garments are NOT made for professional cleaning?  They are designed to be washed and dried at home and don’t need extra starch applied to the fibers.  If you prefer your local cleaner to wash and iron your shirts over doing...

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Woman’s Blouses with Freedom

Love that blouse with stretch?  Want that stretch to last?  Read the care label!  Remember that if you want to protect heat sensitive elastic threads and maintain the great shape and fit of your blouse, tell you cleaner NOT to press and starch it!  Most garments with...

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To Starch or not to Starch?

That is a good question!  Starch builds up on fibers like little coatings of primer.  Eventually with subsequent cleanings the starch will continue to build up putting weight and stress on the fibers of your items.  Shirts with excess starch get weak in areas were...

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Lousy Lapels

Do the lapels of your blazer or suit coat look like a tiny rollercoaster at the edge?  Ripples are fine in the ocean but not front and center of your favorite jacket!  As garments get older the components used to hold them together age as well.  When two pieces of...

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It’s the pits!

HELP…My Armpits are changing color!!  Of course we are talking about the fabric, NOT skin.  So here’s the deal, perspiration can cause lots of problem stains, especially on wool and silk stuff.  If you don’t clean sweaty silks, the fibers of the silk can actually...

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Ring Around the Collar!

Most of us like to smell good and keep our skin silky smooth, but it can come at a cost to our wardrobes!  Solutions containing alcohol like perfume, cologne, after-shave lotion, skin fresheners, hair products and lotions are the culprits. Quite often the dye damage...

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Lace me up!

Lots of fashions today have braided, twisted lace type trim.  It’s pretty and let’s face it, you bought it for that reason!  Unfortunately, after cleaning they appear unraveled, stringy or ragged.  It will occur on relatively new garments IF the trim is not properly...

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It’s personal

While thinking of useful information to blog about it occurred to me that quite often, it’s personal. As we consider ourselves textile experts, we also take pride in being people persons. Clothing is important, but it is most certainly the people who fill those...

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Flower Power!

Runway collections often show decorative flowers, especially on dresses and gowns.  If you purchase anything thing with feather flowers or added floral trim be sure to check the attachment method.  If they are glued on and the care label says “exclusive of trim”...

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