Sunscreen and Suntan Lotion Stains

Hot, sunny days require sunscreen and suntan lotion. While most people use these products to help protect their skin from the sun, others use them to enhance their skin tone.

Unfortunately, the components found in most sunscreens and suntan lotions can cause stains to fabrics. Most of these skin care products contain oils to make them moisture-resistant. They may also contain dyes to give them a certain color or to allow the skin to darken.

Initially, stains caused by these products may be invisible, but age and/or the heating of cleaning may cause them to become more apparent.

How do you prevent stains from sunscreen?
To prevent these stains, follow the directions provided by the manufacturer. The general rule of thumb is to allow the preparation to dry before it contacts a garment. Also wash your hands before handling garments to avoid possible staining. However, it is important to note that despite these precautions, some residue may still transfer to clothing through perspiration.

Can these stains be treated?
The oil component of skin care preparations may not be easily removed in normal washing or dry cleaning procedures, but appropriate stain removal techniques can be successful. For this reason, it is important to tell your cleaner if sunscreens or tanning lotions may have contacted the garment. The more information your cleaner knows about stains, the happier both of you will be when your garment is returned.]

At  Marky's Dry Cleaners in Denton Texas, we are a full service Dry Cleaners and would love to take on the task of cleaning your summer outfits
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On Site Cleaning = Access To Professional Dry Cleaning Management At Marky's Dry Cleaners we do our dry cleaning and laundry on site.  This gives you access to professional dry cleaning management and 60+ years in combined dry cleaning experience.

How to Remove Ink and Toner from Clothes

If you’ve ever had to change printer cartridges, chances are you’ve spilled toner or ink on yourself or your clothing.  When this happens there’s that sense of panic that sweeps over you.  What are you going to do now?  Did you ruin your clothes? Are you going to be able to get this stuff off?  Here are some tips from some pros to getting those toner or ink stains out of your clothes.

The first thing you will want to do before attempting to remove any stains is read the clothing label to determine the garment’s fiber content. This is usually listed on the tag on the garment. Test any chemicals in a small inconspicuous on a seam allowance or inside or the hem to be sure the material can handle it. Rayon, or acetate, for instance, are sensitive to rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover.

HOW TO REMOVE TONER ON YOUR CLOTHES:

1. Vacuum the affected area then take the garment off.
2. Vigorously shake the remaining toner out of your clothing.
3. Gently brush as much of the stain off the clothing as possible using a soft bristled brush.  DO NOT rub the stain.  This will only force the powder further down into the fabric making it more difficult to clean.
4. If you do not have a soft bristled brush, use a dry cloth, such as a towel, in a brushing motion on the stain.  (Please note that this cloth will most likely become stained, so use something you do not mind getting soiled.)
5. Dampen a dry, absorbent cloth with rubbing alcohol and then blog it on the toner stain.  (Please note that the toner will likely stain this cloth.)
6. Spray the stain with hairspray, blot with towels on BOTH sides of the fabric and wash in COLD water in the washing machine.   Make sure the stain is completely gone before placing the item in the dryer as it is the heat the fuses the toner dust and makes the stain permanent.

HOW TO REMOVE FRESH INK STAINS FROM YOUR CLOTHES:

1. Dab the stain with a clean, damp towel or sponge until no more ink will lift from the affected area.
2. Let the stain air dry.
3. Spray the stain with hairspray or dab with alcohol.
4. Put the stained fabric between two paper towels.
5. Blot the back side of the stained fabric.  This will force the stain out of the fabric and into the other paper towel.
6. As you continue to press, the stain will transfer to the other paper towel.  Move the paper towel so the clean segment of the towel lifts the stain.  Continue pressing and moving the paper towel so the stain does not re-transfer back into the fabric after you’ve gotten it into the towel.  If you need to use a new paper towel, do so.  When the stain is completely lifted, you are done.
   

   MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE DENTON'S BEST TO GIVE IT A TRY. CALL MARKY'S DRY CLEANERS  940-381-1182 OR STOP BY THE STORE AT 507 W. UNIVERSITY DR. DENTON, TX 76201

Dealing with Missing Buttons: What to Do When Your Shirts Come Back Without Buttons

Dress shirts sent for professional cleaning are typically water-washed with soap, starched, and then pressed on a 3-part (collar/cuffs, sleeves and body) shirt steam/pressing machine. Shirt buttons can break while cleaning, when pressing, or just when trying to button your dress shirt.  While not a catastrophic event, it can be bothersome if you happen to be on a business trip and your important meeting is in an hour.

So, what to do? Here are a few things you can try both before and after your button’s gone missing at the cleaners.

• There’s a possibility the button was missing before you dropped your shirts and blouses off at the dry cleaner. Take a quick look at your garments before leaving them at the cleaners and point this out to the attendant when dropping the off.  If you can't remember to do this, place a safety pin where the button belongs and that should get the dry cleaner's attention.
• Top-notch dry cleaning services (including Marky's Dry Cleaners here in the Denton, Texas area) will make the time to check for missing buttons before and after the dry cleaning process is completed, so only take your clothing to a reputable location. Though even the best service will occasionally miss one, you should use someone who makes the effort and replaces the missing buttons before returning the garment to you.
• You can request that your cotton and cotton-blend shirts and blouses be dry cleaned rather than laundered. This leaves a softer feel on your shirts and blouses and is especially appropriate for delicate items. Shirt creases are not as sharp.  Expect to pay more for this option, as it requires more labor.
• It’s possible the buttons come off because the thread is loose. Try sewing your buttons back on with professional grade thread or even dental floss, which is incredibly strong.  But make sure the thread color used is the same as for the rest of the buttons.

As for that button you need replaced for the meeting? Check the inside of the garment to make sure there isn’t a spare, usually on a side seam near the bottom of the shirt. Use your travel sewing kit or ask for one at the front desk. Those little kits usually include one or two buttons that will do in a pinch, and most people will not notice your buttons don’t match. You can also try taking a button from the part of the shirt that gets tucked in and move it to the visible location.

A good dry cleaning service will often replace your shirt buttons free of charge as part of their services. Some dry cleaners will even give you a discount on future dry cleaning services if you have to return for button replacement. Don’t be afraid to ask – reputable dry cleaners want to earn your trust and keep your business.

Your Clothes Matter

The way you dress does matter. In fact, by most accounts, it matters a lot.

According to Cynthia Nellis, a style expert at about.com, you have to always put forward your best image:  “If casual wear is acceptable at the job, it has to be freshly cleaned and neat to take it a notch above others that presume casual wear means sloppy. They will never make a good first impression.”

Just behind communication and presentation skills, how someone is dressed was the most important attribute in getting and keeping a job, according to a study by Total Executive, Inc. and Syracuse University.

We’re Not Casual About Casual Wear

Sure, you may be able to wash your casual clothing at home, but time spent doing that along with the most hated household chore — ironing—only takes away time from family and other pursuits.

We have the skills to make your clothes look and feel their best by creating a crispness that simply cannot be duplicated with home care.

No matter what the surroundings and circumstances, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

How You Can Help

• Stains and soil left too long can be impossible to remove. Studies by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute show that after aging for only one week, 20% of stains cannot be removed satisfactorily. After three weeks, this increases to 47%. If staining occurs, bring it to us as soon as possible.
• Don’t press stained or soiled clothes. Heat is another factor that makes stains more difficult to remove.
• Please point out spills such as those from white wine, fruit juices, or soft drinks, or other stains that may not be visible, when you bring in your cleaning. These invisible stains require special attention by us in order to prevent them from permanently discoloring your item.
• Perspiration can cause dyes in fabrics to change color so, if possible, protect your garments from excessive contact with perspiration.
• Always allow lotions, antiperspirants, perfume, and other toiletries to dry before you get dressed. These products can contain ingredients that cause color loss or color changes in your garments.
• Protect your garments from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or strong artificial lights. This too can affect the color in your items.
• Before putting clothes away for storage, have them cleaned to remove stains first. This prevents insects from causing holes in the fabric, and stains from ageing and discoloring.
• Clean all matching pieces together. Whether your work surroundings call for appropriate casual or traditional attire, we know that how you look does matter. That’s one of the reasons we work hard for you and all that you wear.