Autumn & Back to School Cleaning Tips

Choosing and Caring for Down Comforters

Although cleaning down items usually is not a problem, a comforter with poor construction and insufficient quilting can cause the down to shift, lose shape, or become matted. Inspect the comforter for these things before purchasing :

  • Make sure the comforter is well quilted. Quilting stitches should run both vertically and horizontally with quilting lines about 8–10 inches apart.

  • Check the strength of the stitching. Comforters with loose stitching can allow the down to shift.

  • Check for fullness in the quilted areas. Thicker filling will provide more insulation.

Comforter Care Tips

Comforters rarely become soiled as they rest atop the other blankets and coverings on a bed, but sooner or later they will acquire some kind of staining or collect enough dust to warrant a cleaning. Comforters left in direct sunlight can become discolored or faded due to the direct light on the dye. It is best to keep comforters and heirloom quilts out of direct light to prevent damage. Here are some comforter cleaning tips:

  • Follow the care instructions carefully.

  • Tailored and quilted bedspreads, as well as comforters that are too large for home machine washing, should be taken to your professional cleaner.

  • Clean or launder all matching or coordinated items (pillow shams, dust ruffles, curtains) together to ensure that any color loss will be uniform.

  • Before cleaning, inspect the comforter for cuts, tears, or weak areas. A quilted article becomes quite heavy when immersed in solvent or water and, during cleaning, these small rips, tears, and holes can enlarge.

  • Clean spots and stains quickly to prevent permanent damage to the textile and color.

  • Remember that light exposure, atmospheric conditions, and time alone can affect dyes and cleaning performance.

  • Zip-on covers can be purchased to help protect down comforters. These covers can easily be removed for regular cleaning and slipped back on.

  • If in doubt about cleaning a comforter, check with your professional cleaner. Through adequate testing and expert cleaning procedures, your cleaner can prevent many of the problems mentioned.

Fabric Glossary: Pilling

Whether you call them pills, fuzz balls, tangles, or knots they are a nuisance and can make a fairly new garment look old. Pills are created when the material is rubbed either against itself or another surface. The short fibers pull out of the fabric yarns during wear and tangle themselves with the ends of other fibers held in the yarn. They can only be removed by breaking the fibers that hold them. Pilling is more prevalent in fabrics of loosely twisted yarns made with short fibers. Some of the newer synthetic fibers are particularly prone to this problem. Because these fibers are stronger, the pills do not break off from the fabric as readily as they would on a natural fiber such as wool.

Care Label Facts: Polar Fleece

With autumn upon us and temperatures dropping, people are adding an extra layer of clothing in the morning as they prepare for their morning commutes—outerwear. A popular type of outerwear is polar fleece. Polar fleece fabrics are made of a knit construction with a brushed or napped finish.

Because of the nature of the fabric construction, garments made from this fabric have a tendency to pill during wear and handling. No matter what care procedure is recommended— dry cleaning or washing—clean polar fleece in a net bag to minimize further pilling. To smooth the nap and improve the appearance of the garment after cleaning, use a soft brush during finishing.

Cleaning Band Uniforms

We are well into the football season and while many fans may be cheering for the football players are you enjoying the half-time show? Here are some tips to keeping your musical star looking great. 

Band uniforms are very expensive and generally require professional cleaning. They are usually wool or a wool/synthetic blend, and are susceptible to damage from perspiration and rubbing under the armpits during marching. Wearing a t-shirt underneath helps absorb some of the perspiration. Other common band uniform stains are ink, food, sugar drinks, grass, and mud—which shouldn’t be terribly surprising considering all the pep rallies and football games band members must attend.

The uniforms should be cleaned as soon as possible after each use (usually between football games) in order to prevent any stains from setting and to avoid attracting insects, which especially prey on wool fibers. 

No matter what, follow the care label and remember that we’re here to help with difficult stains or any items that need professional attention.

Head Lice and Clothing

Kids love to share. And, that includes head lice. Yuck. But what to do? Head lice need the warmth, food, and moisture that a human scalp provides. Away from people, lice usually will die within three to 10 days. The following steps will help eliminate head lice:

  • Wash bed linens and washable clothing in hot water (140°F) for 20 minutes.

  • Heat dry clothing or other fabric items in clothes dryer.

  • Items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned should be stored for 30 days in sealed plastic bags.

  • Use only insecticides approved for use against lice. Read and follow the instructions.

Removing Paint Stains from Children's Clothing

Most paints children end up playing with are water soluble and will easily come out in regular washing. The acrylics and other types of paints are better left to professional cleaners who can get the garments clean and flush out all of the stain removal chemicals used to achieve that end. Any residual stain removal chemicals can harm your child's skin, so it's best to leave that kind of work to the pros - us.