You’re not the first to ask this question, and you won’t be the last. With unfamiliar machinery and a process that shrouded behind other people’s laundry, it’s hard to guess at how dry cleaning works. While it might be mysterious, the process is actually very simple.
1. Your clothes get tagged.
When you first drop your clothes off (or have them picked up), the dry cleaners tag and inspect them. The tags help ensure your clothes stay and are washed together. It also helps in retrieving your clothes once they’re ready for pick up/drop off.
Tagging allows the dry cleaning staff to clear your pockets of anything you wouldn’t want washed (Hello, missing airpods!) and note any pre-existing damage such as missing buttons. We take it a step further at Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners to note specific details about the garment, such as the clothing brand and color, which is packed into a barcode unique to that item.
2. Your clothes are pretreated.
If, during the inspection, the cleaner notices any stains, this is when they will be pretreated. It’s best if you alert your cleaner to the stain and, if possible, let them know the cause so they know how best to treat it.
3. Your clothes are washed.
This is where we tell you the “dry” part of “dry cleaning” isn’t entirely true. Clothes do become wet at the dry cleaners, but it is due to a cleaning solvent, not water. This solvent can differ from place to place, like how Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners use GreenEarth, a solvent free of “perc” or perchloroethylene, a human carcinogen.
To clean your clothes, dry cleaners load your garments into their washing machine and rinse it through with their solvent. This gentle cleaner will remove surface stains as well as prevent any stretching or shrinking like a domestic washing machine might cause.
4. Your clothes are checked.
While the washing process is gentler than the machine found in most homes, there is still a chance of a button getting lost or a thread being snagged. After they come out of the machine, clothes are inspected for such damage, but also any remaining stains.
5. Your clothes are pressed.
Once they pass quality control, your clothes are pressed to remove wrinkles. Sometimes this is simple ironing, but other times, special forms are used to help important garments keep their shape.
These general steps aren’t specific to Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners. Most dry cleaners will stick with this process to best care for your clothes. However, if you have special care instructions for your garments, it’s worth investigating what makes your local dry cleaner unique.
There’s nothing like pulling your favorite shirt from the dryer only to discover that it’s a few sizes smaller than when it went in. Not only is this frustrating, but it can end up costing you money because it won’t be long before you replace all of these shrunken pieces of clothes. Whether your spouse is notorious for shrinking garments, or you try to prevent this common laundry faux pas from happening with no luck, there is an easier solution. Here we explore a few ways that dry cleaning can prevent your clothes from shrinking (once and for all!).
Dry cleaners are skilled at cleaning a variety of fabrics
While there are a few different factors that can result in clothing to shrink after the cleaning process, one essential aspect is how you handle the different fabrics. Even when you’re diligent about reading labels and following the directions to the letter, when the fabric is mishandled, it can lead to shrinkage. A dry cleaner is skilled at treating the many unique fibers and weaves of clothing material with care to ensure the integrity stays intact throughout the washing and drying process.
Your clothes are handled with the utmost care
There’s a good chance your favorite clothes react to the at-home temperatures they’re cleaned at. One misstep or wrong cycle setting can cause the fabric to shrink. Dry cleaners use the latest techniques to ensure that each piece of your laundry is washed with attention to detail.
Specific items need to avoid going into machines altogether because water is a primary culprit in causing fabrics to shrink. Rather than water, dry cleaners use particular solvents to clean and remove stains from the garment. The experts are diligent at separating clothing by material and colors to ensure each piece gets the attention it deserves.
Don’t take any more chances!
If you want to prevent your favorite wardrobe pieces from shrinking (and to extend their life), enlist a reputable dry cleaning service. At Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners, our specialists use eco-friendly cleaning solutions that keep clothes from shrinking and leaves the colors vibrant. Contact us for more information!
A beautifully organized closet!
Enlist a reputable dry-cleaning company for seasonal closet items
When you look at your closet, you may notice a lot of seasonal items that are just taking up space. Make a list of those items, and when the season is over, take them to the dry cleaner to have them cleaned and preserved until the weather shifts again. Coats, comforters, spring dresses or light suits, and other items all fall into this category.
Have a designated area in your closet for the seasonal swap of closet items, so they always have an organized place to go. If you want to be sure that you’re prepared in case the weather makes a sudden shift, keep one item handy like an all-purpose coat.
Go through your closet and donate (or sell) what you don’t wear
Now comes the hard part. Go through your closet and decide what you wear and what you don’t. You can donate these items to charity or sell them at consignment shops or online. As you’re going through each piece of clothing ask yourself questions like, does it fit? Do I want to wear it again? And so on. Also, if there are pieces in your closet that you want to keep but won’t be wearing again such as a wedding dress, take these to the dry cleaners and have them preserved for safe keeping.
Make the most of your space
We’ve already discussed having a designated space for swapping out seasonal items, and now it’s time to find a home for all pieces that remain in the closet throughout the year. Before you get started, make sure you remove everything from the closet. Measure your closet space if you’re trying to fit shelving in it, and tailor all bins, shelving, and baskets to fit your specific area and needs. Fold and hang everything in a way that takes up the least amount of space, but also leaves them accessible.
Consider signing up for home delivery for special care items
There are certain clothes that you don’t mind fading and wearing out faster than other pieces. And then there is clothing like professional attire, formal wear, and special care items that demand more attention to ensure the integrity stays intact. Make this the year that you sign up for home delivery dry cleaning service, so these don’t take up any extra time. All you need to do is have your clothes picked up, professionally cleaned, and delivered, then you can quickly put them away in your organized closet when they arrive at your doorstep!
Want a little help organizing your closet (and keeping it that way)? Let the experts at Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners help! Call today at 1-888-714-0070 or fill out our quick contact form to learn more.
For most new business owners, finding the right work space is essential. In order to move ahead in the world of business, you will need to look the part and have a professional office space. When it comes to looking the part, let the team at Crest Cleaners help you out. We can help to ensure your business attire stays clean and stain-free. Selecting the right shared work spaces will require a good bit of time and research. Below are some of the options you have when it comes to shared work spaces in the greater Washington DC area.
CoWork Cafe
Are you looking for shared workspace that features a convenient location and functionality? The CoWork Café in Arlington has the open space and creative environment you are looking for. They have everything from food and drink to a variety of different work areas.
Cove
When first starting out as a business owner, you probably won’t have a lot of capital to work with. The Cove is a co-working provider that offers great pricing on the spaces they have. Monthly plans at this Washington, D.C. co-working facility include meeting room access, mail service and a dedicated locker where you can keep all of your things.
Pc: Cove
IG: @coveHQ
Metro Office
For Reston, VA business owners, Metro Office is a great option for co-working space. The spaces this business offer are designed to foster creativity and promote healthy work habits. The Unified Communications platform will help to increase your productivity levels and enhance collaboration at the same time.
Pc: Metro Office
Refraction
One of the most dynamic co-working spaces in all of Northern Virginia is Refraction. This Reston-based office space provider aims to provide technology moguls, entrepreneurs and philanthropists the space they need to succeed.
CoWork Springfield
Are you a Springfield, VA- based business owner in need of some quality workspace? The professionals at CoWork Springfield have the space and amenities you need to succeed. Each of the co-working spaces provided by CoWork Springfield features internet access and the ability to rent conference room space when needed.
Pc: CoWork Springfiend
Launch Workplaces
Finding the workspace you need in Gaithersburg, MD is easy when selecting Launch Workplaces. Choosing the workspace provider will allow you take advantage of a number of amenities. You will be able to access your workspace 24 hours a day and you can get a prestigious mailing address.
Pc: @launchworkplaces via Instagram
AdvantEdge
Join a community of like-minded professionals and get top-notch co-working space when choosing AdvantEdge in Chevy Chase, MD. The AdvantEdge team offers everything from logo design services to technical help. This all-inclusive style co-working space is excellent for business owners just starting out.
Pc: AdvantEdgee
Pioneer Office Suites
Having a professional and technologically advanced co-working space is a real possibility with Pioneer Office Suites. For years, this workspace provider has been providing startups with the space and amenities they need. Located in Rockville, MD, this coworking supplier is passionate about the workspace solutions they offer.
Nonprofit Village
Starting a nonprofit business can be a bit difficult due to the lack of working capital. Selecting Nonprofit Village is a great option for these types of businesses and charities. The goal of this Bethesda-based company is to provide shared workspace and essential services to businesses looking to make a difference.
Pc: Nonprofit Village
With the help of a great co-working space and the professionals at Crest Cleaners, achieving small business success will be easy.
Many woman today try to maintain a regimen that involves staying physically and emotionally fit, managing work life, managing kids’ busy school and sports schedules, attending special events, and making sure the house stays functioning. It is no question if you fall within this organization of individuals that you struggle to maximize your time. The key to this is ensuring that you focus on your time, not your work time or your children’s time, but specifically your individual and limited time for yourself. After some searching we have found a few influential tips from women in the same boat on best practices for maximizing one’s time.
One can easily follow a step-by-step guide on how to manage their time better, but this will do no good until you are able to view time as something you own rather than something that owns you. No matter how busy your life may seem, it is important to remember that you are in control. Designer and entrepreneur, Lauren Conrad, stresses the importance of making time for yourself. This involves setting measurable goals, and keeping a to-do list by your bed to maintain the most efficient and happy you.
After feeling in control of your time and maximizing the easiest way to manage it, then you can find ways to tend to yourself. Creating routines that are self fulfilling may be the best way to ensure that you actually take the time to do this. Designate time right before bed to look after your health and beauty. This can include a relaxing bath with candles and your favorite book to wind down accompanied with a face mask and moisturizing cycle. Do not worry if your day gets a bit crazy and you see this designated time for yourself shrinking. Always make sure, at the very least, to wash your face thoroughly before bed to end the day right. This small treat will send you off to bed well.
The last, and maybe most important tip, is to give into what makes you happy. Maybe this is going to Starbucks every morning for a latte instead of drinking your own homemade brew. This could also be cutting your workout 5 minutes short to go enjoy some time in the sauna. Whatever it may be, actress and mother, Blake Lively, swears to starting and ending her day with the same treat: chocolate. She states that it is good for her morale and is the extra step she takes to love and live her life to the fullest.
No matter how organized and self loving you may be, it can still feel as if you are being pulled in a million different directions. Waking everyone up, getting breakfast on the table, getting yourself ready, dropping everyone off at school and work, getting through your own work day, going to the gym, picking up everyone from school and work, getting supper ready, tidying the house, and making time for yourself before bed is a lot to deal with. Why make it harder by adding your weekly dry cleaner trip to the mix? Sign up for our home delivery program and Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners will be in your neighborhood at your convenience on Mondays and Thursdays or Tuesdays and Fridays between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. We want your to make the most of your time by letting us take one more item off your to-do list.
Why choose Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners?
