Starch In My Dress Shirts

Found in vegetables like potatoes and corn, starch is a very versatile substance.
Anyone who has dropped off dress shirts at the Dry Cleaners like Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas knows a little bit about starch. They know there's the option of no starch, light starch, medium starch, heavy starch and extra heavy starch (Cowboy Starch). What kind of starch do you choose? There are both pros and cons to starching clothing, and not all clothing will react to being starched in the same way.
What is it?
Starch is a carbohydrate produced by all green plants as a source of energy. It is used in the Dry Cleaning industry as a stiffener for fabrics. There are three different types of starch that are used in a commercial laundry; corn starch, wheat starch, and synthetic starch.

	Corn Starch is a natural starch derived from the endosperm of the corn kernel. It's fine texture in powder form make a paste when mixed with water. This natural 'glue' sticks to the fibers of your shirt offering resistance against wrinkles when worn. It is a water soluble starch and will eventually wash out of your shirts. The drawback of corn starch is that the particles are rather small and a large percentage of starch added to the clothing is rinsed away in the rinse cycle.
	Wheat starch is also a natural starch that has a "glue-like" consistency. It is the starch of choice for most commercial cleaners who use natural starch since it sticks to fibers better than corn starch. Since the particles are larger microscopically, they are able to be caught and entwined in the fibers of the shirt with less being wasted in the rinse cycle.
	Synthetic Starch, also known as poly vinyl chloride or PVC is basically a plastic polymer. The particles are larger, like wheat, so they stick well to the fibers and less rinses away. During pressing of the shirt, heat is applied to the fabric which melts the PVC and bonds it semi-permanently to the fibers. This encases the fibers with a layer of plastic and keeps the individual fibers extremely rigid. This is fantastic for a crisp looking shirt that resists wrinkles well. It does wash out over time. Synthetic starches can also be made from a combination of difference natural starches with added plasticizers.

Here at Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas, we use the finest combination of natural and synthetic ingredients in our starch to make your shirt perfect every time. By combining, we are able to reap the benefits of both. Our starch features the consistency of natural starches with the staying power of synthetics.
Why Use it?
Starch is added in different amounts to different types of fabrics. Slight variances in fabric content, size of the individual strands, and even the type of weave can have an effect on how a particular shirt looks and feels after being starched. There are pros and cons to starch usage:
Pros:

• Leaves a crisp, clean appearance to dress shirts
• Makes ironing easier
• Helps resist stains

Cons:

• Some may find starched clothing itchy and scratchy
• May reduce the lifespan of clothing by stiffening fibers. When fibers come into contact with anything else, they offer more resistance and can fray or break.

Tips:

1. Know what type of starch is currently being used on your clothes.
2. Do not over starch shirts if you intend to keep them in usable condition for a while.
3. Starch of any kind will coat the individual strands of a shirt. Dark shirts do not respond well to starches and will begin to develop a "shine" if overly saturated.

If you have any questions regarding starch, take your shirts to a Professional Dry Cleaners.

Care and Cleaning of a Christmas Tree Skirt

Cleaning a Christmas Tree Skirt, regardless of the fabric composition, is a tricky process.  If done improperly, it can result in disaster.  The Professional Dry Cleaners here at Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas have been cleaning Christmas Tree Skirts for over ten years and have perfected methods based on what it's made of.  Felt cannot be cleaned the same way as silk, cotton cannot be laundered if it's on a skirt with embroidery thread, etc...  For the best possible results, we recommend taking all tree skirts to a Professional Dry Cleaners.
Common tree skirt stains include:

• Dirt, Dust
• Sap
• Animal messes
• Water Spots

As all materials are treated differently, there is no one way to clean a tree skirt.  We NEVER suggest cleaning one yourself. If you insist on trying, be sure to test out anything on a hidden area to avoid completely ruining the skirt.
Things to note:

• Felt is prone to shrinking and fading and must be handled carefully.
• Dyes are rich in tree skirts.  They can easily bleed onto other fabrics.
• Never attempt to clean a tree skirt that is lying on carpet.  The dye leakage could result in a permanent stain on your carpet.
• Do not agitate or rub
• Do not attempt to clean if there are both dark and light colors, like red and white.
• Always follow the care label.  Most will say Dry Clean Only.  If there is no care label, err on the side of caution and take it to a Professional Dry Cleaners who holds a Certification in Dry Cleaning and a Certification in Wet Cleaning.  This ensures that any cleaning will be properly handled.
• If you have pets, check you're skirt often. Animals seem to love using tree skirts as potties. 

We know all kitties love Christmas, but when they potty on a tree skirt it's time to pause the festivities and deal with the stain.  The ammonia in urine can cause the dyes of the fabric to run and stain anything underneath.  You also face the tree skirt itself being ruined.  Should you notice a spot, take to your dry cleaners immediately.

How To Remove Mold Smells and Stains From Clothes

Everyone at some point has left clothes in the washer for too long, or left smelly, sweaty stuff in a gym bag for a few days.  When this happens you may find yourself with mold stained clothes. Mold can and does occur often, no matter how careful you are. A wet and warm environment as well as stagnant air is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. If you find yourself dealing with a moldy situation, all is not lost. It's time to gather up some common household supplies and get to work restoring your clothes to their former, mold-free, fabulous selves.

Things you'll need:

1. Lemon

2. Salt

3. Water

4. Sponge

5. Perborate bleach

6. Chlorine bleach

7. Laundry Soap

 

	Take the moldy clothing outside and shake it lightly to remove any surface mold. Avoid doing this indoors so that your living space is not infected with the airborne mold spores which can cause allergies and illness.  Make every effort to avoid breathing in the spores and if it's a breezy day, be sure the mold doesn't fly back in your face.  If the clothing has molded in the washer, run a cleaning cycle with bleach and no clothes to kill any mold that may still be in the washer.
	Hand wash each item, one at a time, using lukewarm water and a laundry detergent. You may also choose to wash it in a washing machine, but do not add other clothing so that the mold doesn't spread to other clothing. Follow the garment care instructions on the clothing label by using the correct water temperature and detergent for the specific garment.
	Lay the garment outside in a sunny spot to dry, rather than drying in a dryer. The sun will lighten any mold stains and can entirely remove minor staining.  Keep in mind that the sun has a bleaching effect on clothing, so this may not be the best method if it's dark clothing that is affected.
	Apply lemon juice over the stain and cover with a layer of salt, if the sun alone did not remove the stain. Place the clothing back into the sun once you have treated it with lemon and salt so that it can dry, while the lemon, salt and sun remove the stain.  Again, do this only if the clothing is lighter in color.  The acidity of the lemon may also cause a slight bleaching of colors.  If you're unsure, test in an inconspicuous area first.
	Mix together perborate bleach and water, using a tablespoon of bleach to a pint of lukewarm water, according to the University of Georgia. Check the garment label to determine whether you should use lukewarm water or if the garment can handle hot water. Use a sponge to dab the bleach solution onto the mold stain and then rinse out. If the garment is delicate, test on an inconspicuous area before treating the stain.
	Soak the stain with a mixture of chlorine bleach and water as a last resort, if the stain persists. Mix together 1 or 2 tbsp. chlorine bleach in a quart of water and apply it to the stain with a sponge. Let the chlorine bleach work on the fabric for five to ten minutes before rinsing.  The combo of the lemon juice and bleach should remove any moldy or sour smells from the clothing.

Tips:

• If your garment is very delicate, dark, or especially meaningful to you, take it to a Professional Dry Cleaner and allow them to remove the mold and stain.

• Some people are sensitive to mold, so you may wish to cover your eyes and hands with protective eye wear and gloves while removing mold.

On Site Cleaning = Access To Professional Dry Cleaning Management At Comet Cleaners we do our dry cleaning and laundry on site. We have trained specialist in stain, mold and spot removal.