Ever wonder what those funny symbols mean on the care label?

What do those crazy symbols mean?

 

Many of today’s garments have care labels with symbols that may appear to be hieroglyphics to some.  These labels give the consumer and the Professional Dry Cleaner invaluable information about the care required to keep your garment in like new condition for as long as possible.  Some labels have only these symbols.  Other will have a combination of symbols and text to help you understand what is the best way to care for your clothes.

An industry standard for these symbols is available on line at http://www.textileaffairs.com/lguide.htm. The first page of this guide just categorizes the labels. Click on the individual cleaning methods for more detailed symbols.

At Comet Cleaners we are always looking for ways to make your clothing care easier and more affordable.  Let me here from you if you’ve got questions about how to care for any item.

Comet Cleaners 507 W., University Drive Denton, Texas 76201  940-323-2200

Serving Denton Texas. 76205, 76209 & 76208 zip codes

Summer 2013 Officewear Trends for Women From Your Dry Cleaner

Staying stylish at work is of upmost importance to appear "with it" and relevant.   Keeping tabs on new ideas for work appropriate attire is a great way to spice up your wardrobe and keep your style fresh.  As Professional Dry Cleaners in Denton Texas, we see on a daily basis new and interesting garments.  I thought it would be a great time to share some of these styles with you.

This is one of my favorite looks, classy and chic, and a great look for summer office wear.  I find the traditional long sleeved, heavy suit jackets are not only confining, but are usually far too hot and uncomfortable.  This is esspecially true if you deal with very hot and humid summers like we do in the south. By getting rid of the sleeves, you've just upped your comfort factor many times over.  A look like this also maintains it's office appropriateness by remaining structured and modest, while remaining cool and stylish.  The belt accentuates the waist perfectly.  This is a versitile piece that can be worn as shown, layered with a sleeveless blouse, or can be paired with any color slacks.

This look dresses up a pair of bermuda shorts to keep you looking professional and oh so comfortable!  Pairing a tailored short with a breezy white safari shirt and adding matching accessories make this whole look work. The belt works to dress up this casual shirt and accentuate the waist.  The bag is a neutral color that compliments the entire outfit.  Shoes are heels to keep the whole look office appropriate. For casual looks, you can wear a sensible pair of flats if your workplace allows, or dress it up with heels as shown. This look and photo is courtesy of nyandcompany.

Lastly, here we have the belted tunic.  This look is a great look for many reasons; it's cool enough for those super hot days, shorter tunics can be paired with nice shorts, a complimentary skirt, or skinny slacks. Again, the belt acsecuates the waist.  Heels are shown in the example and can be switched out for a cute pair of sandals in more casual environments.

Summer fabrics are going to be light and airy by design.  This means that most wont last too long if you were to just throw them in a washing machine.  Pay special attention to care labels and if it says Dry Clean only, be sure to bring it to you Dry Cleaner!

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

Best of Denton - 2013

A great big thank you to all our customers who voted for us this year for best Dry Cleaners in Denton Texas.  We believe that our customers are our business and do what ever it takes to ensure they get the best service possible.

Visit our website, www.dentondrycleaners.com to find information and discounts for you next visit.  We hope to continue to provide the best Dry Cleaning service possible.  Let us know how we can better serve you by sending an email to comet.denton1@verizon.net or contact us at our website using this link.  Contact Comet Cleaners of Denton Texas.

Comet Cleaners   507 W. University Drive Denton, TX 76201   940-381-1182

we serve customers in the 76205, 76201, 76208, 76209 zip codes

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.

The Problem With Custom-Made Comforters Is...

Custom-made things, whether suits, shirts, quilts or comforters, are beautiful and usually fit just right.  After all, why shouldn’t they?  You pick out the colors, the fabric, the style, the trim and you measure for the exact fit.  So how could there be a problem with anything custom made, especially comforters?
One thing that can go wrong is shrinkage.  When the fabric used in a comforter is not pre-shrunk the comforter may shrink and no longer fit the bed as you intended.
Most tailors get it right for custom-made clothes.  But we occasionally see comforters, quilts,slip covers and bedspreads that will shrink with the first cleaning.  Sometimes custom-made comforters are made with different fabrics and trims.  Its not uncommon to see these items shrink more than you might think possible after cleaning.
Imagine a custom-made comforter made with three different fabrics - one fabric shrinks a lot, one just a little and one none at all.  This is a mess!  But it can happen.
Custom-made comforters will not have a care label so you should ask the maker if the fabric has been pre-shrunk and what fabric was used in the comforter.  And don’t forget about the filling that could be polyester batting, wool, silk or down feathers.

 

So what should you do if that custom-made comforter is suddenly 4 inches shorter or tightens up in the stitching after cleaning? 

Take it back to the maker...and we can explain what you should do! 

Professional Comforter and Bedspread Cleaning In Denton, Texas Comet Cleaners voted Best of Denton 507 W. University Drive Denton, Texas 940-381-1182

Get Rid of Moths In Your Clothes and Closet - Cleaning Required!

A customer recently brought us three sweaters and each had one or two holes is them. What could have caused this problem?  We don’t have equipment here that punches holes in clothes so we sent one of the sweaters to a garment testing lab to learn why this happened.

The report said moths had caused the holes and if you look carefully at the photo to the right, you can see the holes and the uneven pattern made by moths eating the wool.

When moths lay their eggs, the larvae hatch and begin to hunt for food.  The larvae won’t touch cotton, silk or synthetics.  They prefer fabrics made from animals like wool, fur and feathers, especially when they are soiled by perspiration, pet hairs and food.  The larvae tend to stay away from well-cleaned clothes (yes, this is true!)

If you find that you have a moth problem, here is what you need to do:

1. Remove all clothes from the closet and launder or dry clean all of them.

2. Vacuum the closet thoroughly, getting into all of the corners and cracks.

3. Place moth repellent, cedar blocks, lavender or tansy inside the closet.  Moth balls can be used but should not contact the fabric.  Place moth balls from a hanger on the inside or garments bags because the fumes are typically heavier then air and tend to move to the bottom of the closet.  Follow safety instructions on repellents carefully.

4. Check for signs of moths regularly and replace the repellents when the odor fades.

5. Clean the inside of closets regularly to prevent the build up of dust and debris that might attract moths.

Most dry cleaners (including Comet Cleaners of Denton) have moth bags available for a small charge that can help with this.

Here is a link to Wiki.Answers.com for their view on getting rid of moths.

We Can Improve Improve the Water Repellency of Your Rain Coat, Sleeping Bag, Jacket or Hat. Comet Cleaners in Denton Texas at 507 W. University Dr.