Our parents, and theirs, celebrated the family gathering with blessings, centerpieces, games and recipes that turn a sumptuous meal into a treasured family tradition. Real Simple shares seven favorites ranging from a vegan organic tofu pumpkin pie to Garrison Keillor shares tips to prevent “crying in the cranberries” and concentrating on the thankfulness. If you think traditions are not vital to the “proper” celebration,try switching from turkey to ham, from Parker House to potato rolls. Brothers, sisters, in-laws and children will let you know what’s required.

Every hostess knows better than crying over spilt milk, red wine or giblet gravy. Spills happen. People can be clumsy and kids get excited. That’s part of the life we’re celebrating next week. The best plan is spill prevention. Set the kids’ table with wipe-clean placemats. Use non-drip candles. A table runner can help contain the inevitable drips and drops from green bean casseroles and cranberry chutneys. Be prepared with a small stack of clean, white kitchen towels to blot spills when they happen. Not rub, wipe nor scrub. Take a deep breath; refresh your optimistic smile and blot. When the feast is over and the guests have gone home, bring us the stains and we’ll do our magic.

Preparations for the holiday season should include a survey and sniff test in the linen closet. Guest room or sofa, airbed or pullout, your guests should enjoy a good night’s rest on fresh, crisp linen under warm quilts, blankets or comforters. We clean it all – even summer’s sleeping bags may do holiday duty. With two weeks to Thanksgiving, now’s the time to put us to work on your guest bedding.

Before the silver polishing and piebaking begin, take a little time to make a plan for your tabletop. The Internet is jammed with great ideas, starting with Martha Stewart’s 39 Thanksgiving Tables with tricks for memorable centerpieces, place cards and even napkin rings made from recycled wishbones or fresh Brussels sprouts and sage. Seriously. We can help set the perfect table with professionally finished table clothes, runners, placemats and napkins. There’s nothing like crisp, fresh table linens to set the stage for a memorable feast. We’ll clean and press to perfection, just like always. We can even remove musty botton-of-the-buffet-drawer smells.

We are 100% in favor of dressing up, for dinner, for work and for trick or treating. And after the scary fun, we are experts at removing grease paint, glitter and other reminders of the masquerade. Our expert cleaners can remove almost any stain, and w...

According to the GQ Guide for Shirting, your dress shirt should be a solid color with a straight collar and long sleeves. Patterns, button-downs and short sleeves are just too informal. Wearing a tie adds professionalism, select diagonal “rep” stripes, solids or a tiny pattern. Pants and jacket? Never wrinkled, always clean — that’s our job, and we’re happy to help. Take some time and polish your best shoes, choose dark solid color socks and fill your mind with positive, optimistic thoughts. Good luck!

Wearing the right color to an interview can influence your chances at a new job. In a recent Fast Company article, your appearance can say more about you than what you say. For instance, navy sends a message of being enterprising, trustworthy, honest and credible, ideal for law or finance. But wrong for a creative position – wear purple to look artistic, yellow to signify optimism and creativity. The worst choice? Orange. Whatever color you choose, you’ll always look your best with our help.

Hand washing may not always be the answer — “dry clean only” may seem like a scare tactic, but the manufacturer has tested the fabric, patterns and styles prior to production; hand washing may cause colors to bleed, styles to alter or the fabric to break down. Ask us to recommend professional dry or wet cleaning to extend the life and looks of your garment.

Quality clothing does cost more, but with the right care, the cost-per-wear is lower than cheaper choices. Dry cleaning prolongs the life by removing stains before they oxidize. Soil and dust actually grind into the fabric, acting as an abrasive on the fibers. Our expert finishing team gently presses your garment for a crisp, new look – without danger of glazing from overpressing. Bring us your best and we’ll keep you looking your best.

After summer’s hot and sweaty nights, it’s time to freshen your nighttime environment. Begin by stripping the bed down to the mattress. If you use a mattress pad, launder (or bring to us) and dry thoroughly, hanging on the line, if you have one. Flip and rotate the mattress. Is it time to replace your pillows? Unless they are very high quality down, it’s usually less expensive to buy new than clean old. Sniff test the winter comforter, blankets or quilts. We can clean them to like-new freshness – even king size is no problem for our machines. Be ready to snuggle up when winter chills arrive.