Posts Tagged ‘dry cleaning’
Summer Suiting for Women
Business women need to worry about their suits, too! However, in the summertime, women are expected to dress it up a little more and add pops of color and sparkle. Last month we talked all about men’s fashion, now it’s time for the ladies:
Colors
Navy: Show of your confidence with this bold and definite color. Accent with the traditional pearl necklace or show off your summer style with some yellow earrings.
Charcoal: This color is safe and muted to allow you to show off your true self without the help of clothing. Keep it sleek with white pumps.
Black: As a woman we all feel comfortable in our forgiving black clothing. Add your favorite color (hot pink, bright yellow, lime green or baby blue) to truly own your black suit this summer.
Underneath
Sleeves: Although it is summer, it never hurts to stick with the practical sleeve.
Short-Sleeved: Find your favorite short-sleeved silk shirt and put it on under the jacket. This way, later when you are having lunch at your favorite outdoor patio spot you can ditch the jacket and look professional and like a ray of summer sun.
Prints
Long story short, prints can be fun to play with but the safest way to go is with a solid color that flatters your skin tone. Should you decide to go with a print we highly recommend sticking to something classic like plaid, stripes or polka dots and save that fun pink flamingo print for your next backyard bbq.
Skirt or Pantsuit
As long as it is sunny and 70 degrees out, wear the skirt suit! Feel comfortable and as girly as you can in the office.
Accessories may be the one thing that turns your normal suit into the ultimate summer get up!
Purse/Bag: Maybe ditch the larger bag and consolidate your items to a cute clutch for your summer days and nights. This will save time when getting off work and heading to the lakeside for a refreshing drink.
Earrings: As mentioned before, use this as an opportunity to pop some bright summer color into your wardrobe without being too overwhelming and unprofessional.
Whatever you decide to wear, remember to enjoy the summer days with lunch on the patio at your favorite spot and drinks at the lake on your Friday after a long week!
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.
What Your Suit Says About You
Men’s fashion has expanded in the past couple years to allow men to explore different styles, cuts and colors in their formal-wear. Men have the opportunity to put more of their personality into their suits. Take a look at what your preferred formal-wear says about you!
The Primary Suit Colors and Accents:
Blue: Darker shades of blue, especially navy, convey a person who is in control. Blue produces feeling of calmness, stability, trust, truth, confidence and security.
Grey: This color is not distracting which allows people you interact with to be more focused on what you have to say. Grey symbolizes sophistication.
Black: Black is stark, commanding and represents authority. If you are looking to feel above all and on top of the party, black is the way to go.
Red: This is all about power. Red is thought alongside energy, passion, desire and power. To show you have intense passion for something, wear red.
White: The color white sends the message of simplicity, cleanliness, precision and goodness. White is a safe option for a day to day option.
Studying Suit Styles:
The Precious Metal: If you are wanting to feel like James Bond, then the precious metal style is the way to go. Super-luxurious fabric, white-gold stitching and the rarest fibers in the world should ensure you feel like the only man in the room.
The Godfather: Ermenegildo Zegna’s suit brand has built a global reputation as one of the most innovative menswear companies around the world. With heat and cold resistant suiting, stain-resistant materials and crease-repelling fabrics, this suit is able to withstand the true man’s man.
The Sexiest Suit Alive: This suit defines modern day gentleman’s attire. If the goal is to feel captivating, provocative, stylish and intelligent at the same time, Tom Ford nailed it with the sexiest suit alive.
The Cool Italian: With impeccable cuts and three-dimensional structures, these elements give the garments purposeful movement. Honestly, nothing screams cool like this style.
The Romantic Suit: The Romantic style is supportive yet lightweight and radiates function and beauty as well as the importance of a garment feeling like your second skin.
It’s not a science, but it is a practice to harness the right suite for you!
Office Fashion Trends for 2016
We all know that wearing the right outfit can drastically increase your confidence but it can also improve your productivity! The way you dress can put you in the proper work mindset and allow you to focus better. Trends in work fashion change every year. Take a look at these 2016 trends to make it your best (and most fashionable) work year yet!
For the Ladies:
Mix it up with light fabrics and pops of color. As is the trend with spring, pastels and floral prints are always a great choice, but don’t be afraid to go a bit bolder with color and pattern. A brightly patterned blouse or dress paired with a structured neutral jacket, skirt, or trouser will be a great look for spring. And don’t forget the shoes! Step out in a bright heel with a neutral dress or choose a classic flat with gold metallic finishes for a brighter outfit.
For the Men:
While the last few years have seen a trend in close cut suits, look for them to loosen up a bit. Styles will still be tailored and cut close to the body but the looser fit will show a little less ankle and will be a bit more conservative. The cut of the suit may be a bit more traditional, but this season will be the time for colorful and patterned suits to shine. Look for the trendy “new navy”, a shade of blue a bit brighter than the classic navy shade. Besides color, subtly patterned suits will be making a comeback as well.
Stay stylish throughout 2016 and trust us with your delicate care pieces. We guarantee professional and quick results every time, keeping your favorite items looking runway ready.
The Ultimate Fabric Care Guide
Every type of fabric requires a personalized care routine, which can make cleaning and laundry very complicated. Here is a list of some of the most common fabrics, their qualities, and how to care for them.
Polyester-Chances are, you have quite a bit of polyester in your closet. It’s one of the most used synthetic fibers in clothing due to its wrinkle and shrink resistant qualities. Polyester can be washed in your machine at home with no issue.
Linen- Due to its breathable texture and lightweight feel, linen is a favorite for warm days. While some linen blends can be washed in your machine at home, it is particularly difficult to press, even with professional machinery. If you want to keep the original look and feel of linen, it should be dry-cleaned.
Silk- Luxurious as it may be, silk items take a little extra care. Some silk items have already been treated and pre-shrunk but it’s best to check the label before tossing it in the washing machine. For best results, your silk items should be dry-cleaned.
Cotton- This versatile fabric typically doesn’t call for specialized care. Because it’s one of the most popular fabrics used for clothing, most all cotton items have been pre-treated and shrunk and are ready to be washed in your washing machine.
Rayon- Similar to cotton and linen, rayon is a comfortable fabric that seems to get even more cozy with wear. Since it’s made from natural fibers and prone to shrinking, rayon should be dry-cleaned or carefully hand washed.
Take the worry out of laundry day by dropping off your delicate care items with us. We guarantee a professional and timely cleaning for the most beloved pieces in your wardrobe.
3 Tips to Make Your Suit Last
Oscar Wilde so wisely said, “A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.”
We believe an expertly cleaned suit is an even greater step to a professional appearance and elevated career mojo. The suit demands and portrays respect. A well cleaned suit could make a great first impression or seal the deal in an important meeting. But suits don’t only apply to business. For any special occasion like a wedding or charity gala, your suit can set the tone for a great event.
That being said, caring for your suit properly, in between cleanings, is essential. We will do everything we can do make your suit look it’s best, but with these three tips you can extend the lifetime of your suit and prevent irreparable damage in the long run.
Tip 1: Don’t Treat Stains. If you stain your suit, your first action should be to take it straight to a professional. Do not try to treat a stain yourself. You may cause more damage or make a stain permanent. Read here for the full list of DON’T’s when it comes to stain treatment.
Tip 2: Hang Your Suits. Do not fold your suit or lay on a surface. Hanging the suit, allows the fabric to recover from being worn and the pull of gravity can take out most wrinkles. Make sure the pockets are empty to avoid odd shapes in the suit.
Tip 3: Cover Your Suit. Use a cloth cover to prevent stains and allow the air to circulate through the suit even when it’s stored.
Follow these tips and your suit will provide many years of use. Don’t forget to professionally clean your suits with . Sir Galloway. We are Miami’s experts in suit cleaning and will do our very best to keep you looking sharp for your business and personal events.
Stains…The First Biggest Mistake
Stop! Put down the stain remover. Before you try to fix another stain, let’s talk about how you could be making matters worse, plus the BEST action you can take to treat a stain.
The first biggest mistake most people make when it comes to stains, is trying to treat the issue without knowing the proper way to handle it. Every stain and every garment is different, which means the way to treat them is different as well. What may work for one stained garment could ruin another.
Here are 5 mistakes you should avoid to save your garment from stains:
- Don’t Wait. The longer you let the stain set, the more difficult it is to get out.
- Don’t Scrub: Your precious garments should be handled with care.
- Don’t Heat: Hot water can bond the stain to the fabric.
- Don’t Mix: Using several different chemicals and soaps can create a concoction of disaster for your garment.
- Don’t Test: Testing a new stain removal product on your garment is always too risky.
So what should you do? Our recommendation is to take the garment straight to an expert as soon as you possibly can. At Crest, our dry cleaning staff has the knowledge and experience to treat your garment stains correctly and quickly. Although we cannot promise to fix every stain, we can guarantee that we will do our best to help your garment look new again!
Area Rugs
Your huge, decorative area rug is the centerpiece of the living room and it gets a lot of traffic. Your rug will last much longer if you take care of it and clean it regularly. Here are some tips for keeping your beautiful rug looking new for years to come.
Hold the rug down
When a rug slips and slides on a hard surface, it can lead to additional wear and sometimes rips. A non-slip rug pad or gripper tape will hold the rug firmly in place. Make sure you do your research into the right type of material for your floor as some can stain or discolor the floor underneath.
Clean it constantly
Vacuum the top surface of the rug at least once a week and the underside of it every other month. Rest the rug on a clean surface and don’t forget that dirt can pile up under the rug as well. Make sure you remove the rug from the area and clean all of the hidden grime underneath.
When all else fails, call us
For those times when your rugs need a little extra attention, come to us!
Our pickup & delivery area keeps growing
We’re thrilled to announce that our complimentary pickup & delivery area has expanded with the addition of a dedicated Condo route, extending our reach all the way to Aventura.
Understanding garment care labels
You’re probably familiar with the tags or labels on most of your clothes that are filled with little symbols indicating the type of care that should be taken to clean and preserve your garments… but do you know what all those symbols actually mean?