Professional Clothing Care Tips

Caring for fine fabrics can be a bit of a science. You should always follow the care instructions on the label of the garment that you wish to clean or press. If there is no label, then you can use these general guidelines for ironing and cleaning your clothing with professional results. Use these rules as a guide only and don't take any chances on your favorite garments. Saving a couple of bucks and ruining your clothing is not a good trade-off. Remember, when in doubt, shell it out.

Wool is a natural fiber that is prone to mildew and infestation, so it does require special care. However, wool is very resistant to soils and stains. If you have a wool suit, simply brush it before and after it is worn to remove any moth larvae that may have found their way to it. Store wool in a cool dry place and use cedar to keep moisture and insects at bay. Use a steamer or an iron on a low setting with steam to remove wrinkles and freshen up the garment. Remember, heat shrinks wool.

If you shrink natural wool, you can restore its shape and size by washing it in a volumizing shampoo. Volumizing shampoo is generally free of conditioners and other additives that can build up on clothes. Shampoo is very gentle but surprisingly effective at removing stains. Do not put shampoo in your washing machine or you will regret it!

To starch or not to starch? Starch stiffens fabric and makes it resistant to stains. Some people really prefer the look of a starched and pressed shirt. An interesting thing to note about starch is that it actually wears out fabrics a lot faster. The starch crystals extend out when heated and dried. This creates a microscopic mesh of crystalline fibers that pierce and fray the strings of the fabric. So, clothing will initially look better, but will wear out sooner.

The main thing to remember when you decide to press something without following the manufacturer's directions is that most garments are made of many different materials. Linings, interfacings, shoulder inserts and zippers can all be made out of different fabrics. This is the main reason that many dress and professional attire pieces are dry clean only. Most fabrics wrinkle and shrink at different rates and temperatures in the wash. Some interfacings are actually glued in place and water will release the glue causing irreversible damage to the garment.

When your clothes are steamed, pressed, cleaned and ready to go, hang them on hangers that compliment their shape. Pants need a round bar to hang on so that they don't get a wrinkle across the knee. Crisp shirts hang best on metal hangers that fit directly on the seams of the shoulders. Taking care of your wardrobe can save you money and frustration. Just be careful and remember, when it doubt, shell it out.

Autor: Ellen Hamm Ellen Hamm
Level: Basic PLUS
About the Author: Ellen Hamm is on the staff of Everything Hangers, a leading online resource for metal hangers and cedar hangers....

About the Author: Ellen Hamm is on the staff of Everything Hangers, a leading online resource for metal hangers and cedar hangers. Find the highest quality metal hanger or cedar hanger at http://www.everythinghangers.com

Added: September 22, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Spring Cleaning to Do List

Spring cleaning comes at least once a year. Some people clean out after each season, but that depends on a person. When cleaning out your old stuff, there are always things to consider. Here is a spring cleaning to do list to help you decide what to do. These are not always necessary each time you clean out, but it is a good guide for you and for people that are thinking of cleaning.

1. Out with old. This does not mean that because it is old you should throw it out. It does mean look at what you have and if you are not using it and will not use it, it should probably go. There are ways to recycle and get rid of old items that will limit what goes into a landfill. Recycle centers, groups like freecycle, donation centers like Goodwill or the Salvation Army all exist as ways to get rid of items that other people could use. If you have time, you could always have a yard sale or garage sale to make a little extra money to go towards something you want or your family wants.

2. Bathrooms and furniture. A deep cleaning every once in a while is great for you and for your stuff. Steam cleaning carpets yourself or professionally helps clean them and get rid of dust and allergens that may not be picked up by a vacuum. Scrubbing toilets, floors, tubs, sinks, furniture thoroughly will disinfect and keep germs at a minimum. This does not mean you do not clean them more often. Regular maintenance and cleaning will minimize the amount of scrubbing and dusting that you need to do. Dusting furniture regularly minimizes allergens also.

3. Major appliances. Cleaning out the fridge by taking out old food, cleaning up spills, and defrosting the freezer will keep it functioning well and get rid of smells and sticky spots. Scrubbing out your oven or having the oven self-clean will get rid of spills that have accumulated. This will prevent the kitchen from getting smoky and smelling burnt. Even your dishwasher would benefit from a nice cleaning. If you ever look at your washer, there may be built up dirt and soap on the tops and insides. Scrub it away to prevent more build up.

Cleaning is on everyone's to do list. Once the cleaning is done, it is helpful to up keep and maintain. Easier said than done, but it will help out greatly when you decide to deep clean. If you are shopping, ask yourself if you really need it and will really use it. If the answer is maybe, you probably do not need to add it to the collection of items you already have at the house.

Autor: Billings Farnsworth

All City Cleaning (http://www.allcitycleaning.net/) offers a wide range of cleaning services for both residential and commercial or corporate clients in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens NYC. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Added: September 20, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Getting Organized - Unclutter That Garage Once and For All

We've all made half-hearted attempts at cleaning and organizing our garages, only to get overwhelmed and give up altogether or to have it return to a cluttered nightmare after just a few days. The key is to have the right tools to make organization easy and practical: everything should have a place. Here are some ways to unclutter that garage once and for all.

-- Throw Stuff Out!

This is the most basic rule of any organizational project, whether it is getting ready to move or just trying to get a handle on your bedroom closet: throw stuff out! America is a nation of pack rats, so you are in good company; but if you're ever going to get organized and fit in the stuff you need, you need to be brave and throw away the stuff you never use.

-- Hang it Up!

The garage walls as well as the ceiling are valuable square footage spaces that are poorly utilized in most cases. You may lean your tools against the wall, but that takes up valuable floor room. Get your tools, children's balls, skis, and even your bicycles off the floor and onto the walls and ceilings. There are a wide variety of online merchants who sell hooks, brackets, bags, and all kinds of other gizmos to help you get organized.

-- Get a Closet!

A closet in the garage? Well... yes! Open shelves can quickly become dusty, messy, and disorganized, so having closets in the garage instead makes perfect sense. You can get a pre-made, garage unit online that comes with a built-in workspace complete with pegboard, drawers, and cupboards that can hold virtually anything.

With all of the great products available on the market today, there's really no excuse for a messy, disorganized garage anymore: turning the garage into a truly useable room just takes a little elbow grease and a willingness to make it happen.

Autor: Ryan Coisson

Euro Design Center (http://www.eurodesigncenter.com/) best Closet Maryland Organizer, Home Office, Wardrobe Closet, or any other product in our versatile product line while satisfying your needs and providing the best. Ryan Coisson is a freelance writer.

Added: September 19, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/