America’s favorite work-casual pants, chinos look even better when they fit properly. First, they should not need a belt to stay up. Avoid pleats — unless you want to look like your stomach is bigger. The legs should be comfortably close, without pinching or causing resistance when you move. Choose a length so there’s a single break. That’s the crease at the bottom of the pants where fabric meets shoes. If you’re wearing slim chinos without socks, you probably want no breaks. If fit and finish on your chinos is important, talk to us. Our alterations specialists can custom fit any garment. Read the complete How Clothes Should Fit here.
Zapping a cranky zipper.
When you’re trapped in a stuck zipper, Windex can save the day. First, test a hidden part of the fabric to make sure it won’t be damaged by the Windex. Then soak the zipper and slowly, slowly pull it to unzip. Go a little bit each time, resoak, and gently keep pulling. Be sure to keep the fabric from bunching into the zipper mechanism. No Windex handy? You can use pencil graphite, lip balm, Vaseline or bar soap to lubricate the stubborn mechanism. See a quick how-to video at http://youtu.be/seDQuPlKi9I
Add performance to your ski wear.
Carefully check every item for salt, grit or food spills après ski. Don’t forget to check your gloves. Close zippers and release tension on drawstrings or elastics, dry thoroughly before storing. Specifically follow care instruction tags: high tech fabrics need special attention, sometimes more sophisticated than the home washing machine. Remember, we’re your garment cleaning and care experts—even for technical sportswear.
Tissue in the pocket?
Cold season leaves tissues pushed into pockets and run through the washer. How to remove the tiny shreds and lint? Pick out the biggest pieces before putting in dryer where the lint trap will do most of the work. Remove while damp and shake out the remaining scraps. Use a clothes brush on napped fabric, a lint roller on smooth finishes. If you have a major lint event, put the garment back in the washer and rinse with ½ cup distilled white vinegar. Then throw in the dryer with a couple of microfiber cloths. Use a lint roller on the slightly damp garment before air drying. Next time? Consider the old-fashioned virtures of the handkerchief.
When is dry cleaning the smart choice?
When to throw it in the washer and when to give it to us? Convenience and quality aside, there are situations when dry cleaning simply is the best choice: Acetate, rayon or silk, leather or fur garments or trim, tricky to iron, structured or tailored with interfacing, specially finished, stiffened garments. The number one reason – your garment is expensive, fragile or special and you want the very best result. We do it all, from dungarees to designer.
Natural stain removers.
Why buy expensive special-purpose stain products when you already have solutions at hand. Baking soda reduces odors, boosts laundry detergent cleaning and naturally softens fabrics. Distilled white vinegar’s low level of acetic acid removes yellow underarm stains, brightens laundry, removes mildew stains and even cleans the inside of your washing machine. Hydrogen peroxide is milder than chlorine bleach and removes stains from curry and red wine. Lemon juice bleaches too. You can use table salt to absorb spilled red wine or scrub away rust stains. Cornstarch or baby powder can absorb grease and oil. When you need serious, professional stain removal, bring your accident to us before you try home remedies.
Beanie or stocking cap, there’s nothing warmer.
Pull on a snug knitted cap to keep out the cold and add some style to your bundled-up look. Knit or crocheted hats made of natural fibers should be handwashed in cool water. Soak for twenty minutes in a mild detergent, agitate gently and never squeeze or wring. Rinse in cool water, lay flat and air dry. Synthetics can be machine washed in cool water, gentle cycle. Air dry to prevent shrinking. Or bring your beanie to the experts. We’ll clean and block your cap to like-new freshness.
Sort for success.
Laundry experts take sorting to a new level when they recommend sorting not only by color but also by fabric type. We always separate linty laundry like towels and sweatshirts from corduroys, permanent press and smooth fabrics that can pill. Separate l...
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When red wine spills.
Removing red wine stains from garments, table linens or upholstery can be tricky. Red is one of the most difficult colors to remove and the sugars in red wine only add to the problem. Take action as soon as possible by blotting the stain with a clean white cloth. Avoid rubbing, it only weakens the stained fabric and may force the wine even deeper into the weave. Cover the stain with table salt. The French use this trick and it works, absorbing the wine and usually leaving just a pink residue after about 10 minutes. Now rinse with cool water and blot dry. If there’s still a stain, try blotting with half white distilled vinegar/half water. Then rinse and launder. If the item is not washable, bring it to us right away and let our stain removal experts use their expertise.
