Posts Tagged ‘cleaning’

Outdoor Living: Summer Cleaning

Summer is the time for entertaining. You’ve worked hard on designing your patio, now make sure that it is spotless for your guests. Here are some of the ways you can tidy up your patio space for the ultimate summer gathering:

Wood Furniture – Wood furniture is lovely to look at and creates a homey/rustic feel. Unfortunately, after hours of scrubbing on your hands and knees it seems the stains and wear and tear are still left. With just 2 tbsp. of powdered oxygen bleach and one gallon of water to scrub on the wood using a brush. Make sure to scrub only in the direction of the wood grain – especially when working on soft woods. Allow the wood to dry completely in the sun before using the furniture. If the wood seems rough you can use a medium-grit sandpaper either by hand or a palm sander. Again, make sure you sand in the direction of the grain. After sanding you will need to seal your furniture – using either resin-based pigmented sealer (to maintain the original wood color) or a clear sealer (to obtain a rustic grey faded color).

Patio Cushions – Most patio fabrics have been treated with special coating to protect from UV rays and water – please check tags before using any home cleaning techniques. Patio Cushions are far too valuable to take a chance of color loss, or setting the stain by a home remedy method.  Bleach can be dangerous! Send your patio cushions to a professional dry cleaner.  Even if they do not zip out, the dry cleaner has a seamstress who will remove the padding, send the fabric to be cleaned, and finally sew the cushion back into place.

Grill – The BBQ cannot happen without a good cleaning first! Here is a list of materials to use to get the grease and grit off before you put the chicken on the grill:

• Stiff-bristle Wire Brush
• Toothbrush
• Scour Pad (scratch pad)
• PROXI dish soap concentrate
• PROXI multi-purpose disinfectant cleaner
• Baking Soda
• Microfiber Cloth
• Spray Bottle of Water

Heat the grill up by closing the lid and turning the gas on for about 5 min. This will soften the build-up. Use the wire brush and scrape away as much as possible. Wait for the grill to cool down and move on to soaking your grates and flame guards in a sink full of PROXI dish soap, using the hottest water possible. Scrub the grates as they soak using the metal brush and scour pad. When it comes to the grease build up, make a paste with baking soda, water and a small amount of PROXI dish soap. Rub this on the inside of the grill lid and allow it to dry and then wipe it clean. Happy Grilling!

If you have no luck with your cushions or outdoor patio pillows and blankets make sure to Contact Us for the ultimate cleaning! Enjoy your summer days on the patio as much as possible.

Taking the Stress out of Holiday Dress

Tis the Season for holiday parties! But what exactly does that “festive attire” mean on your invitation? Be prepared for any festive occasion with our Holiday Party Dress Code Guide.

• Office Party- Sure, the office party is a great event to have some fun but it’s a good idea to keep in mind those attending the party with you. Keep your attire festive, but still professional. Throw in a little sparkle or bright holiday color without going overboard.

• Black Tie- This is your chance to pull out the most glamorous look in your closet! Grab your formal attire but don’t forget to add a festive touch. Whether you add a little extra sparkle with cuff-links or a statement necklace, maybe a festive tie, or even some holly in your hair, keep some seasonal color in your outfit.

• Ugly Sweater- The only rules at these parties is to have the most outrageous attire possible. Bells, sequins, and decorative glitter will let you take home the cake for the ugliest sweater in the house.

• Causal- Casual may mean different things to different people, but this party is probably not the time to step out in your active wear. A great pair of jeans with a casual sweater will keep your outfit seasonal and stylish.

As always, when you need a professional after-party clean for your favorite festive garments, send them over to us. Happy Holidays and enjoy the parties!

Experts in Coat and Rainwear Cleaning

As the saying goes, “Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about dancing in the rain.” Although this quote may have a more metaphorical message, we think everyone SHOULD take an opportunity to literally dance in the rain. This means, you may need to pull out that raincoat from the back of the closet to be cleaned.

Even if your coat only sees the outdoors on rainy days, it should still have the same level of cleaning care as your favorite items. Gone are the days of drab raincoats, now there are an endless variety of bright styles in an array of fabrics, allowing your raincoat to play a more stylish role in your wardrobe. Here are a few of the fabric trends in outwear from the past few years and the specialized care they require:

• Brushed Cotton: This type of fabric is used to create softer, less bulky looks for outerwear. While it contributes to a more stylish look, it can also show wear quickly. Washing brushed cotton in a traditional washing machine can speed wear and tear and make your outerwear garments look older more quickly.

• Water Repellant Finishes: Most rainwear has varying degrees of water repellant finish to keep you dry and cozy in wet weather. When exposed to traditional washing techniques this finish can break down and crack, making your trusty rain jacket less reliable.

• Decorative Trims: As rainwear has become more stylish, designers have begun adding decorative trims to garments. It can be difficult to achieve a full cleaning of your outerwear pieces without damaging the trim in a washing machine. Save yourself the time of hand washing your rain jacket and drop it by the dry cleaners.

Dry cleaning will keep your raincoat looking spotless during both the rain and shine. Our specialized processes keep the unique fabric of your jacket in its best condition while providing the highest quality clean possible. So stay dry during rainy days and keep your rain jackets looking like new for years to come.