We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, the world of dry cleaning is shrouded in mystery and this leads to all kinds of misinformation on what goes into the process and what things need to be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is an absolute must for certain fabrics and highly recommended for others, but if you’re the type that enjoys doing your own laundry, then what can you handle at home?
Garments made from materials like polyester, nylon, spandex, acrylic, and acetate aren’t in danger from a domestic washer, though the dryer might cause problems if it’s too hot. Giving these clothes a long, low dry is the way to go if you can’t hang dry them.
Painted Fabrics
Whether it’s a hand crafted piece you bought from an artisan or that college intramural shirt you just can’t part with, caring for painted fabrics can be confusing. Because their designs are delicate, many think these garments must be dry cleaned. Similar to our advice on synthetic clothes, beware heat and hang dry whenever possible to preserve the painted designs.
Knit Fabrics
In addition to linens, knit fabrics common in sweaters are another fabrication that folks highly recommend taking the cleaners. Depending on the quality of the garment, though, your cozy sweater may be able to stay at home. They aren’t without their own special care and can’t be treated the same as your jeans or pajamas. Due to this extra care, many find it worth it to bring their sweaters to their local cleaners anyway.
You Should Dry Clean These Fabrics & Garments
Delicate or Speciality Fabric
These materials include things like silk, velvet, wool, and leather. Upscale fabrics— such as chiffon, velvet, and merino wool – should also be brought to a professional cleaning service to preserve their natural luster and form. These are perhaps the fabrics that make most people go, “uhhh…” so it’s just common sense to bring them to your local dry cleaner.
Anything you want to keep its form and color quality
Lastly, anything you want help in making it last should be brought to the cleaners. Expensive professional attire is just one example, but maybe you have a favorite casual shirt that you wear on repeat that we could help with. While everything we listed in that first section doesn’t need to be dry cleaned, it doesn’t mean it can’t be dry cleaned or that other laundry services at your local cleaners would be helpful to you. If you want the best possible care for your garment to increase its longevity, bring it in. Or, if the care instructions on the tag have you feeling overwhelmed, we’d be happy to handle the laundry.
As we continue to remain at home as much as possible these days, many of us are thinking of ways that we can make sure our houses are as clean and safe. While pulling out the disinfectant and thoroughly wiping down surfaces such as kitchen counters, bathrooms, and doorknobs is a great place to start, the coronavirus and other germs could be lurking in other places around the house as well. This includes your rugs and other textiles.
Health Benefits to Cleaning Your Rugs
Due to the way they are constructed, the fibers in rugs trap things like dirt, dust, bacteria, and other germs. While a vacuum or even a store-rented rug cleaner can remove some of these contaminants that are close to the surface, only a professional cleaner has the skills and expertise necessary to give your rug the very deep clean necessary to remove harmful particles, including the coronavirus. A CDC study has provided evidence that the virus that causes Covid-19 can live on the bottoms of shoes, so it could potentially be transferred to your rug where it could affect your family. The best way to prevent this is to refrain from wearing shoes inside the house, but a rug cleaning is a good idea if you are concerned.
There are other health benefits to cleaning your rug, as well! Particles trapped in your rugs, especially things like crumbs, have the potential to attract bugs and other pests, which could be dangerous. Furthermore, things like dust and other germs in the rug could harm you and your family too. All of these factors are good reasons to have your rugs professionally cleaned regularly!
Other Benefits
Even once the pandemic has gone away, or if it is not a primary concern in your area, it is still a good idea to have your rugs professionally cleaned on a regular basis. In order to maintain the soft, inviting texture of your rugs, it is important to have them cleaned regularly so that the fibers are not damaged, leading to a scratchy feel. In general, regularly cleaning your rugs is an important way to maintain them and make sure they remain in good condition for as long as possible. Finally, if you or a family member spills something on your favorite rug, it’s a good idea to seek professional help rather than trying to deal with it yourself, as home remedies could cause permanent discoloration or other damage.
In these cold winter months, there’s nothing better than snuggling up in your fluffy comforter when you go to bed at night. But when is the last time that you cleaned it? Considering the size of your duvet, it may seem impossible to wash, and you might be tempted to put it off until it has a noticeable stain or odor. However, cleaning your comforter relatively regularly can go a long way in prolonging its life and even be beneficial for your health by removing dust and other particles that build up over time. Here is our guide to washing a comforter.
How often should a comforter be washed?
While it’s a good idea to wash your sheets at least once a week, there’s no need to clean your comforter nearly as often. A good rule of thumb is to wash it every time the seasons change, so around two or three times every year. While you’re at it, you should clean your pillows about that often as well!
Can I put my comforter in the washing machine?
Most comforters can be put in a washing machine. Check the label — as long as there is no “dry clean only” warning, it should be fine to throw your comforter in the washing machine. However, many standard washing machines installed in homes are too small to safely wash a big, fluffy comforter. Unless you have a large capacity washing machine that has a special cycle for bulky items, you’ll need to find a laundromat or take your comforter to a dry cleaner.
Dry Cleaning Your Comforter
Even if your comforter can be machine washed, there are benefits to having it dry cleaned. Advanced systems used by dry cleaners can give your duvet a deep clean that will help prolong its life and preserve its best aspects, especially its fluffiness. Furthermore, sending your comforter to the dry cleaner can be far less hassle than taking it to a laundromat, where you’ll have to sit until it’s clean. With services like Crest Concierge Home Delivery, you could have your comforter picked up and returned to your home at no additional charge!
If your comforter needs a refresh, choose Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners for a hassle-free clean. Schedule pick up today!
Clean Your Comforters at Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners
Take a moment to think about where you spend the most time. Chances are, you’re picturing your office or job, or maybe even your family’s living room or kitchen. Did you think of your bedroom? Probably not, but the fact is: you spend nearly a third of your life sleeping. That’s a lot of time catching Zs. Your body needs that time to recover and recharge for the day ahead.
We all know that sleep is essential for optimal health, but a recent New York Times poll suggests that as many as four out of five people (over 80 percent of the population) say they wake up still feeling exhausted at least once a week. Are you one of those people? It’s time to clean your way to a better night’s sleep.
There’s a lot going on between the sheets.
They call it rest for a reason. Even though many of your body’s natural processes slow down while you sleep, they never actually stop. That means that while you’re dreaming of a tropical island getaway, your body is keeping up the housekeeping – regulating temperature and shedding dead skin cells. Most people lose a quarter to a half liter of moisture every night in their sleep, and all that perspiration must go somewhere.
Your sheets, comforter, pillows, and bed skirt trap this excess sweat and dead skin cells (even the cosmetics and lotions that rub off your skin), creating a perfect environment to nourish dust mites, allergens, and all manner of other things that go bump in the night. Eek! Your linens get dirtier every time you snuggle up underneath them, especially in the winter months when you pile on more blankets for warmth. As you can imagine, sleeping on a veritable Petri dish isn’t good for your health. You could be aggravating respiratory problems and allergies while irritating your skin. No wonder people aren’t getting the sleep they need!
Create a soothing sleep environment.
While it’s easy to toss your sheets into the laundry once a week, it’s not so easy to wash the bulkier bedroom linens: comforters, quilts, bedspreads, pillows, blankets, mattress pads, bed skirts, and even curtains. To stay on top of your clean routine, we recommend taking your bedroom fabrics to a professional cleaner like Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners once a season.
We know these items can be bulky, making it a hassle to pack the car and come to one of our convenient area locations. That’s why Crest is thrilled to offer free home pick-up and delivery! Simply fill your Crest garment bag and leave it for us on your next designated pick-up day. We’ll do the heavy lifting for you (and the expert cleaning, of course) and return your freshly pressed linens right to your door. Imagine how good it will feel to slip into the crisp, clean comfort of your cozy bed after a long day at work – especially knowing that Crest uses only safe, environmentally-friendly dry cleaning methods to protect you and your family. Breathe easier, get more rest, and clean your bedroom linens with Crest!