Will Dry Cleaning Make My Clothes Last Longer?

Many of us see dry cleaning as one of those simple facts of life. It’s taken for granted that this is something you’re supposed to do for your delicate garments. But is taking in your articles of clothing worth the extra effort? Will it really make them last longer?

To answer the question, we’ll first need to take a look at what’s actually going on when you send clothes in to be dry cleaned.

What Exactly Is Dry Cleaning?

Let’s start by clearing up any confusion about the name. What “dry cleaning” describes is simply a way of cleaning clothes or other textiles without using water. It’s a process that originated in 1885, and has been improving ever since.

But while dry cleaning doesn’t involve water, it does use a different liquid. Specifically, clothes are cleaned with a gentle petroleum-based solvent called polyethylene (or “perc” for short). Perc dissolves dirt and oils that may be clinging to your clothing, without damaging the underlying fabric.

When you drop off your clothes at the dry cleaners, they’ll be placed into a washing chamber along with a certain amount of this solvent. As the machine rotates, dirt and particles are lifted from the clothing and suspended in the solvent, before being filtered out entirely. Of course, if you have any particularly hardy stains (or any other type of garment damage), these will need a bit of individual special attention. Fortunately, this is a service that the best dry cleaners are fully capable of providing.

A Longer Lifespan For Your Clothing

Back to the initial question: will this process make clothes last longer? The simple answer is “yes” – and here’s why:

Dry Cleaning is Less Abrasive than Washing Machines

Some fabrics are particularly sensitive to water immersion, and/or to the heat and agitation that takes place inside most commercial washing machines. But because dry cleaning drums tumble more slowly and gently – and because the process does not use water – your delicate clothes experience less wear & tear. Why risk damaging that expensive suit, dress, or tablecloth?

Dry Cleaning Preserves Fabric Qualities

Tears and shrinkage are awful, but they aren’t the only way in which machine washing can harm your clothing. Using a gentle solvent like perc, rather than hot water and soapy detergent, will also better preserve the color and texture of your fabrics. If you’ve ever seen a frayed and blotchy wool sweater or silk dress, you’ve probably witnessed machine-induced damage.

Dry Cleaning Tackles Tough Stains

The solvent used in dry cleaning penetrates deeply, dissolving and removing the oils, odors, and tough stains that diminish the garment’s value. As a result, your clothing and linens will maintain that fresh and new look for a much longer period of time.

For over 25 years, Marky's Dry Cleaners has been Denton's dry cleaning provider of choice. Stop by our convenient Denton location today, or give us a call at (940)381-1182.
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Velvet: A Royal Fabric

Velvet is one of winter’s fashion favorites, especially crushed velvets and velvet garments with decorative trim. Many types of apparel are made of velvet, including pants, dresses, gowns, coats, capes, and jackets. Velvet is also popular for household items, such as furniture covers and drapes.

What is velvet?

Velvet has long been known as the fabric of royalty. At one time, blue velvet was reserved solely for use by the French king, his family, and favored subjects.

Velvets are made on a double action loom. Two layers of fabric are woven at the same time, and the space between them is interlaced with connecting yarns.

The two layers are then cut apart as they come off the loom, producing two pieces of fabric with an upright pile surface.

True velvet is usually made of rayon, acetate, silk, or a blend of these fibers and has a short, closely-woven pile. Velveteen is similar to velvet, but it is usually made of cotton or cotton/polyester blend and has a shorter pile. Finishes are often applied to velvets to keep the pile erect and resilient, to secure the pile, or to give the fabric body.

What types of problems can velvets experience?

Velvet can experience a variety of problems, including a loss of pile, flattening and matting, pilling and tufting, and shrinkage. Crushed velvets have a tendency to experience a loss of design and distortion from wear alone. Velvets made of acetate pose special problems: the pile can become permanently flattened with moisture, heat, or pressure. As a result, the pile on an acetate velvet dress is more likely to show the effects of wear. Even greater flattening develops if the velvet is brushed or if any pressure is put on it while wet.

How can you keep your velvets fit for royalty?

• Hang velvet garments in a well-ventilated closet after wearing.

• If a velvet garment gets wet, do not apply pressure, as this can flatten the pile.

• Do not iron velvets. Hang in the bathroom and steam the garment to remove any wrinkles.

• Clean velvet garments immediately after use.

• Shake excess spills from the fabric and allow to dry. Do not blot or apply any pressure in damp areas.

• If you do get a stain on a velvet garment, our stain removal experts can help. 

Life offers just a handful occasion to let it all loose and dress up in alluringly fascinating and glamorously chic attires. Prom night is high on the list of those days in your life when you dress to impress with your chic, contemporary yet elegant ensembles. Perfectly complementing accessories just add to the flavor of this event.

This year, try something unique and extraordinary to add a tasteful yet alluring kick to your overall look and rock your prom in ultimate swank and style.

A Little Black Leather Dress

Leather is timeless and, of course, you cannot go wrong with black. Every fashion addict knows well how to rock this combo. The best part is that there are countless ways to accessorize your enchanting LBD. We would suggest you to opt for sensuous complementing heels along with a sleek, straight mane. To add depth in your look, you can go for bold smoky eyes and nude lips.

Sleeveless Beaded Attire

We love spring because it allows us to experiment a lot with our look. A sleeveless mini or knee-length attire, embellished with beads is a perfect pick for your prom night. Keeping this attire simple and sweet will highlight your charisma. Bead-studded stilettos along with pastel makeup will ensure that you remain the center of attention.

A Formal Ruffled Prom Gown

Nothing can beat an elegantly crafted maxi dress for a prom night. The style is not only formal but also gives you a princess-like aura. Try to look for a maxi dress in trending colors. Our favorite for this spring is peach and burgundy; however, you can select a hue that complements your skin tone well. Whether you opt for an A-line silhouette with bare shoulders or a deep V-neck with ruffled or laced sleeves, the style will be a sure hit with everyone.

Allover Sequined Dress

To add a touch of glitz and glamour, opt for sequined dress this prom. You can select the length of the attire as per your own body type. Couple the dress with stylish pumps, some elegant jewelry and bronze makeup and voila! You are all set to look mesmerizing this prom.

A Little White Dress

We know for some of you white sounds absolutely dull and boring, however, believe us if complemented well, the white has all the power to give you an amazing look. A mini or midi white dress, embellished well with some beads or pearls and paired with high-heels will give you an enchanting yet exquisite look. You can also opt for some unique jewelry to go with your dress. To break the color, go for bold red lips along with full volume hair. After all white is always right!

Prom is certainly an ideal occasion to portray your fashion taste. Whatever styles you opt for, don’t forget to consider your physique as well as skin tone to select the perfect pieces for you. In addition, the way you carry that style also makes a huge difference. Take a cue from this post and rock your memorable event with ultimate allure and elegance.

Money Saving Tips

Money Saving Tips

Even the experts cannot agree on when the recession will ease, some say 9/09, others 10/09.  With up to a year and a half in front of us, try some of these suggestions to keep more money in your pocket:

Ø  Turn off lights and air conditioning when not in the room, in the house, or at work. This goes for the big corps too.  Even better, use smart, programmable units and save hundreds.

Ø  Switch to fluorescent lights, the savings is significant. Look for full-spectrum bulbs. If you really don’t like all fluorescent light, use incandescent bulbs in strategic places, like where you read. 

Ø  Stop buying new clothing every season; take better care of the clothes you already own.

Ø  Minimize convenience item purchases. Wherever possible, use dishcloths rather than paper towels, a sports bottle filled with filtered water rather than a new bottle of water,  etc.

Ø  Make your own greeting cards and your own gourmet coffee at home.

Ø  Check out movies at your library before buying or renting them.  It’s free!

Ø  Before you dial 411, use the phone book or the internet to look up the number.

Did Your Dry Cleaner Shrink Your Blouse?

So Why Did Your Blouse Shrink?
A customer recently asked us about a problem she had with one of her St. Johns blouses (the photo to the right is not a St. John's blouse).  St. Johns is a popular label and usually good quality.  She washed it at home and allowed it to air dry on a clean towel according to care label instructions.  So did she do something wrong or is a problem with the blouse?
My opinion is the fabric in the blouse was not pre-shrunk so when the blouse was washed, it shrank to a smaller size.  Garments should be made from fabric that is pre-shrunk and when this has not been done, it is a manufacturer’s defect.
Garment manufacturers stretch fabric as much as possible to get the maximum amount of fabric when making a garment.  When the garment is washed, it returns to its natural state.  When manufacturers use pre-shrunk fabric, that problem is solved.
If shrinkage occurs when you followed care label instructions, here’s how to handle the problem:

• Return it to the retailer.  Responsible retailers will replace the garment or refund your money.
• If you get no satisfaction from the retailer, contact the manufacturer.  Use the label information, including the Registered Number (“RN#”) and a quick Google search and you’re usually just a phone call away from a solution...depending on the customer friendly orientation of the retailer or manufacturer.

We have helped scores of customers resolve problems like this and have found that most manufacturers keep data bases on complaints on the different garments.  We’ve heard comments from customer service representatives like, “Yes, we are having a problem with this item.  May we ship you a replacement that should not shrink?”
If you have a garment that shrinks but has been cleaned according to care label instructions, it’s not the fault of the person cleaning the garment...you or your dry cleaner.  We can help you resolve this type of problem.

Comet Cleaners

507 W. University Drive

Denton, Texas 76205   940-381-1182

Hanger Recycling

Comet Cleaners has joined with the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute to  reduce the energy, raw material, landfill space needed for steel hangers and contribute to a greener planet.

Our Goal

30 Million Less Hangers in 2013!

2013 will see thirty million fewer hangers making their way to landfills thanks to cleaners participating in the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute's "DLI Cleaners Care Hanger Recycling Program." The new program spans the globe and encourages members to recycle hangers to reduce waste.

Guide: Care and Cleaning of Common Clothing Fabrics

You wouldn't clean your whites the same way as you would a black silk blouse, would you? Different fabrics will have different cleaning and care instructions.  At Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas, we check every care label to ensure that each garment is cleaned according to the manufactures instructions.  Here are some of the most common fibers and fabrics to help you with your laundry.







Acetate  Dry Clean Only synthetic fiber.

Acrylic  A synthetic fiber;  Woven fabrics can be Dry Cleaned, knits are to be machine washed in warm water on the gentle cycle.  To reduce the occurrence of pilling, wash inside out and lay flat to dry.

 Blends  Combined fibers, can be natural or synthetic.  As the care depends on the fibers in the blend, always follow care label instructions.

Canvas  Can be natural or synthetic; a firm, heavy, tightly woven fabric.  Machine wash cold and tumble dry.  Always test for colorfastness.  Dry clean if not colorfast.

Cashmere  Natural fiber; made from the undercoat hair of a cashmere goat.  Similar to wool.  Dry Clean only.

Chiffon  Usually silk or synthetic fibers; thin transparent fabric.  Hand wash only.

Chintz  Cotton with a glaze and usually has a bold print.  Unless label states otherwise, Dry Clean Only.

Corduroy Cotton, cotton/polyester blend, or rayon.  Ridge pile fabric.  Turn inside out and wash, and dry.  Remove from dryer while still damp and hang dry.  Smooth out pockets and seams with hands.

Cotton  Natural vegetable fiber that is very versatile.  Light weight fabrics such as batiste, organdy, and voile should be hand washed and hung to dry.  As cottons vary, always follow care label instructions.

Damask  A fabric woven jacquard style and may be comprised of almost any kind of fibers. Dry Clean Heavy weight fabrics, Hand wash light weight ones.

Denim  Usually cotton or cotton/synthetic blend, it is a strong, twill weave fabric that is prone to shrinkage.  As dyes often bleed, wash Denim pieces together on warm or cold, dry at low setting.  Can be ironed while damp.

Down  Natural under plumage of birds.  Can be machine washed or dry cleaned so be sure to check care label.  Always tumble dry, fluff and turn every few minutes.

Flannel  Plain or twill weave napped fabric.  If cotton or synthetic, machine wash.  Wool must be dry cleaned.

Gabardine  Worsted wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers.  Closely woven and firm plain or twill weave.  Follow care label, should be able to be dry cleaned.

Lace  Cotton, linen, or synthetic fiber.  Hand wash with mild detergent.  Do not rub.  Hand shape, air dry or dry flat.  If very delicate, pin lace to a cloth before washing.

Linen  Natural flax fiber.  Hand wash or Dry Clean.

Microfiber  Polyester yarns that are woven tightly.  Machine wash cold and air dry.

Mohair  Natural fiber from the angora goat.  Treat the same as wool.

Organdy  Plain weave cotton.  Hand wash and starch.  May be dry cleaned.

Polyester   Synthetic fiber used alone or blended.  Does not shrink or stretch. Machine wash warm and tumble dry.

Ramie From the ramie plant, a natural fiber similar to linen.  Used alone or blended with cotton.  Machine wash warm, tumble dry, remove while damp and hang to dry.

Rayon  Synthetic fiber, term is used interchangeably with viscose.  Dry Clean Only.

Satin  Fabric made of silk, acetate, or polyester.  Dry Clean silk and acetate.  Follow care instructions for polyester.

Seersucker   Cotton, nylon, polyester, or silk fabric with puckered stripes woven in during manufacturer.  See care label for specific fiber care instructions.  Drip dry.

Silk  Dry Clean Only.  Some silks state they can be washed but usually do not turn out properly.

Spandex  Stretch fibers often blended with other fibers to give material stretch.  Machine wash on warm water and dry flat.

Terry Cloth  Cotton or cotton/polyester blend.  Machine wash and tumble dry.

Velour   Can be multiple fabrics.  Napped and usually Dry Clean Only.

Velvet  Cotton, rayon, or silk soft pile fabric.  Dry Clean Only.

Wool  Natural fiber made from sheep's fleece.  Hand wash or Dry Clean.


Note:  If you choose to clean any of the above items at home, always check for colorfastness.
Or you can leave it to us at Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas.  We know how to keep your clothes looking great.

Are there any good Dry Cleaners in Denton, Texas

Are There Any Good Dry Cleaners I Denton, Texas 76201?

Yes, there are good dry cleaners in Denton, Texas 76201. I’m one of them. I have been in the Dry Cleaning business for over 23 years.

Try me out. If you like, continue. If you don’t, stop. It’s that simple.
So call me at 940-381-1182 and I’ll answer any questions you might have.

Mark Kerr
Comet Cleaners
comet.denton1@verizon.net

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 Champion Cleaners in Denton Texas knows a little bit about starch. They know there's the option of no starch, light starch, medium starch, and heavy 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 Champion 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

Restoring Clothes After Flood, Fire, and Other Disasters

Should you replace or restore clothing that has fallen victim to a flood, fire, or other natural disaster?

I would suggest restoring it. Instead of replacing your entire wardrobe and household fabrics, you can often restore them to the same condition or nearly the same as before the disaster for a fraction of the price.
Some people have contacted us after having spent days washing and rewashing clothing at home.  Clothes that have molded due to the moistness of post-flood conditions and smoke damaged items will not give up their stains and smells easily.




 We provide expert dry cleaning and restoration services in Texas  for clothing and other textiles damaged by smoke, water and mold.  We work with the following groups to restore garments and other textile products to their pre-loss condition:

1. Insurance Companies
2. Restoration Building Contractors
3. Victims of Disasters 

Our services include odor remediation, soot removal from smoke and fire disasters, and mold remediation from prolonged wet conditions.

The types of items we can restore after a disaster include:

• Clothing
• Wedding gowns
• Uniforms
• Bulk laundry items
• Household textiles, including bed linens, sheets, comforters, and bedspreads
• Towels
• Draperies
• Rugs and carpet
• Furniture
• Vintage and heirloom garments

We also clean and restore these items to achieve their pre-loss condition:

• Leather and suede garments
• Shoes and boots, from high fashion shoes, to work boots and sneakers
• Purses
• Belts
• Hats

Fuzz Balls on Your Sweaters?

 

 

  Ever get those teeny balls of fuzz all over your sweater?  Want to stop looking fuzzy? Here’s how!

 

 

 

 

 

This phenomenon is called “pilling,” and it results from short or broken fibers on the surface of the fabric getting tangled together and forming a ball called a pill.  

 

Why Pilling?

 

This happens simply from the natural abrasion of the fabric against objects and itself during normal use and wear. Pilling frequently shows up around the arm pits, the sleeves, and the front of the sweater where abrasion is most common. 

 

It can be minimized...and here’s how

 

• Turn it inside out before washing, and

• Wash it using a shorter wash cycle, and

• Remove it from the dryer as soon as it is no longer damp.

 

To "repair" a sweater with a Pilling problem try this.

 

Spread the item (usually a sweater) tightly over a flat surface. Now get a razor. Yes, even just a cheap one will work!  Now, shave the sweater.  Sounds crazy, but it won’t damage the fabric itself and it will scrape off those annoying pills.  You can also cut them off gently with scissors, but it will take longer and you’re more likely to cut a hole in the fabric that way.  You can also get a sweater stone which does a good job.  But use the razor to get the stubborn pills.
  
Electric Pill Removers

If you want to get a bit fancy there are battery operated pill removers that work like  an electric razor, but these don’t necessarily work better than elbow grease.  We use these on your sweaters.  Of course, once the pills are removed they are likely to come back, so you’ll have to give your sweater some loving attention every now and then.  If you’re gentle with it and don’t wash it too much, you can keep your sweaters looking fresh and pill-free for a long time.

Here is a link to a You Tube video showing the process with a razor.

 

 

 

 

Why Preserve Your Wedding Dress

The decision to clean and preserve your wedding dress is very important.  Whether you’re hoping your dress becomes a family heirloom or you expect to wear it again yourself one day, understanding the delicate nature of your special garment may help make the decision a bit easier. 

In normal wearing, skin oils and perspiration are absorbed into the fabric – wine, champagne or other sugary beverages may have even spilled on your dress; these organic compounds will undoubtedly damage the fabric if they are not neutralized or properly removed.

Here at Comet Cleaners, we uphold the importance of having your bridal gown professionally cleaned before being stored long-term.  In fact, in addition to cleaning, proper storage is vital to the overall safety and security of such a special garment.  Scientific research proves that archival materials can protect delicate fabric from age and decay.  For these reasons, we strongly advise against having gown vacuum-sealed as plastics are used.  Instead, the preservation process must ensure that your gown be wrapped in acid-free materials before being placed in an acid-free textile storage box.
The box should be stored in an area where temperature and humidity levels are as constant as possible, preferably in a closet that is located on an interior wall; attics or basements are not appropriate locations for storage – in fact, spaces that are in close proximity to heating or air conditioning vents, pipes and even spaces that are exposed to direct sunlight should be carefully avoided.

Upon storage, about every 2-3 years your box should be opened and your gown inspected.  But brides remember, always wash your hands with a small amount of baking soda and warm water before handling this precious garment or wear cotton gloves.
At Comet Cleaners of Denton Texas we follow the guidelines recommenced by the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC. This is just the final detail that protects all of your wedding day memories and guarantees your gown’s perfect preservation for years to come!

What does Spot Clean Only mean?

So that beautiful dress you found at that trendy little boutique fit perfect and looked amazing on you! Yay! It’s definitely a keeper, so now it’s time to clean it and have it ready for your next fancy shin-dig. Looking at the care label, you realize it says Spot Clean Only… Well what does that mean? Should you do it at home or take it to the cleaners?

Unfortunately this is a situation I see daily.  Clothing manufacturers are required by law to attach care labels to indicate the best way to clean a piece of clothing.  If any part of the garment is too delicate to be machine washed, dry cleaned, or even hand washed, then it may be labeled Spot Clean Only.

In theory, to spot clean something means to only clean a stain and not immerse the entire garment for cleaning.  Realistically, this is quite difficult or impossible. To treat most any stain or spot, water or chemical formula must be used. Even if the stain is removed, the water may leave a ring or the chemicals may leave a stain of their own requiring immersing in water or dry cleaning solutions. The chemicals must be flushed out as long term effects are uncertain. They may bleach, erode, or completely eat away at the fabric. The chemicals can also give you a nasty allergic reaction. When pressed, ironed, or steamed, the chemicals may also oxidize into an ugly yellow stain that is sometimes impossible to remove. So how does one go about removing this new hassle?

Well, that’s where knowledge and expertise come into play. For most garments, there’s no real way to “Spot Clean Only.” Usually the entire garment will have to be immersed or cleaned in some way to avoid water rings or residual chemicals. A Certified Professional Dry Cleaner will be able to determine the best method based on the garment. If she feels there is a risk to the garment, she should let you know in advance and have you make the decision as to whether or not you feel comfortable. Sometimes, especially with high value items, they may ask you to sign a waiver releasing them of responsibility in case the garment doesn’t come out as planned.

But why are some garments labeled as “Spot Clean Only?”  Usually it is because of the combination of fabrics in a garment that require different and mutually exclusive cleaning methods, the presence of embellishments like beads and rhinestones that cannot hold up to immersing, or fabric that does not hold dyes when cleaned.  Unfortunately, the care labels don’t have to say why it cannot be cleaned using traditional dry cleaning or wet cleaning methods.

 At left is the ruined hem of a Spot Clean Only Debutante’s gown. The hem was poorly sewn with raw edging under the skirt. The dress would have shredded it it were cleaned. The only issue was with the hem so the best result could be obtained by making it shorter an wearing it as a party dress.

 It might happen that a Dry Cleaner will not clean a Spot Clean Only item. It may mean that they know that any cleaning will ruin the item or that it is already beyond salvaging. It’s unfortunate but this does happen. Creative alterations can sometimes solve the problem.


Finding out an item is Spot Clean Only after it’s been worn is a real bummer. Here are a few tips to avoiding a blunder:

• Always check care labels when shopping. If something is spot clean only, you can then decide if you love it enough to be worth potentially only being able to wear it once.
• If you wear a spot clean only item, take precautions. Avoid getting things like hairspray and perfume on the garment. Don’t use spray tan. Be extra careful to keep it clean.
• If you do happen to get a stain or spot on the garment, take it to a dry cleaners immediately.

If you happen to see that a garment is labeled Spot Clean Only, take it to a Professional Dry Cleaner immediately. Attempting cleaning at home will more often than not lead to a ruined item.
 

Let’s Prevent Insect Damage to wool clothing

Few things are more disappointing than donning an expensive wool sweater, only to find that moths have been snacking on the threads for weeks. Reweaving is costly and patching is almost impossible.

Although we imagine that it is the winged creatures that have done the damage it is actually the larvae that feed on the wool, hair or feathers. What ever they can get access to.

In truth the larvae can"t live on pure wool.  They need proteins, mineral salts and vitamin B complex to complete their life cycle.  Sweat, food crumbs or beverage stains provide just what a healthy moth larvae needs. That why having your wool clothing cleaned regularly.  At Comet Dry Cleaners of Denton, Texas we know just exactly how to starve these guys.

If your planning to store your sweaters or other items away for the warmer months we have moth proof cedar lined bags available for storage. Remember, mothballs and moth flakes must be used in a tightly close container (not a closet) to be effective. Extreme caution should be used before breathing their vapors. Regular cleaning and tightly closed bags and chest are the best ways to deal with clothes moths.

How to Clean A Handmade Quilt - Advice From A Dry Cleaner

Quilts are perfect in the winter; they add warmth to the bed as a blanket or warmth to the walls as decor.  Cleaning a Quilt is a little more difficult than cleaning a standard blanket.   A quilt that is mass produced and purchased from a commercial retailer can be cleaned as directed on the care label.  Hand and machine artisan quilts (home-made) are quite different and require a more hands-on approach.  Antique and heirloom quilts are the most delicate of the three types.

How often should my hand-made quilt be cleaned?

Artisan quilts should be cleaned once per year, two or three times if a pet sleeps in the bed at night or your quilt happens to be a stain magnet.  Antique and heirloom quilts should be cleaned even less often due to their delicate nature.
As always, the best way to care for any quilt is to take it to a Professional Dry Cleaners like Comet Dry Cleaners in Denton, Texas.
You can do it yourself so here is our DIY Advice For Cleaning Your Quilt.  Be aware that many dry cleaners will not clean hand-made quilts or any quilt without a care label so don't be surprised if you get a rejection from your dry cleaner.  Not having a care label is an automatic rejection due to the liability the dry cleaner may incur with something a valued as a family heirloom.

So how do I clean a quilt at home?

1. Test for color-fastness. Take white fabric and moisten it.  Rub on all the colored parts of the quilt.  If any color shows on the white fabric, then the colors will run if washed traditionally.  Take this quilt to a Professional Dry Cleaners.
2. If the white fabric stays clean, fill a large sink or clean bathtub with cold water.  Use a gentle laundry detergent, preferably with no dyes or fragrances.
3. Agitate gently and allow to soak for 10 minutes, longer for heavy soil.
4. Drain tub and refill with clean water; repeat until water is clear and no longer suds.
5. When the water is clear, drain the tub and fashion a sling from a clean white sheet.
6. Carefully drape quilt over a sling and allow to drain.  Lay out towels on the floor, Lay quilt flat on top of towels and cover with an additional layer of towels.
7. Roll towels and quilt together to squeeze out water.  Repeat till fairly dry.
8. Place yet another layer of towels down and again lay the quilt flat.  Allow to sit until completely dry.  Note:  A quilt feels dry on the outside may not actually be fully dry.  The batting on the inside of the quilt can still be moist.  Placing a fan in the room can help speed up drying time.  This process may require several days to completely dry.  You may also need to turn the quilt over to allow it to thoroughly dry.
9. Another option is to dry the quilt outside.  Place a clean sheet on the ground and lay the quilt on top.  Cover with an additional clean sheet.  Allow to lay flat until dry.  Note:  Never hang a quilt to dry.  The quilt will be very heavy when wet and hanging can and will cause stitches to pull or break and the piecing will become misshapen.

Never machine wash a handmade quilt.  The agitation, even on the gentle cycle is far too rough for a quilt.

That's a lot of work!

It really is.  There are a lot of areas that Home Quilt Cleaning can go wrong.  For this reason, we always suggest taking any quilt, or garment of value, to your Local, Professional Dry Cleaners for Expert Care and Cleaning.