Archives for: Westbank Dry Cleaning

Cleaning Leather & Suede Garments

Leather and Suede garment tips

One of this season’s must have fashion items is a leather jacket. Finding a leather coat that is stylish and flattering is a fashion find that will last for seasons to come with just a little TLC. Suede and leather cleaning is a very specialized process and must be handled by trained professionals.

All suede & leather is dyed in manufacturing. Some manufaturers use less than satisfactory dyeing methods which can result in greater colourloss in cleaning – something we cannot predict!. However our process ensures that it is kept to a minimum and can generally be restored in finishing.

Cleaning leather and suede takes longer than normal garments and the solvents and oils used to clean these items are more costly and require special handling.

Ten Tips for keeping leather looking luxurious

  1.   Wear a scarf around your neck to keep the collar from being soiled by the oil in your skin.
  2.   If a leather garment gets wet, blot with a white cloth and dry it out in a cool, dry place on a broad padded hanger.
  3.   Don’t carry heavy objects like keys or a cell phone in the pockets as this will stretch out the skin.
  4.   Avoid spraying perfumes or hair spray while wearing.
  5.   Don’t apply pins or adhesive name badges on leather.
  6.  Saddle soap is best used on saddles. It shouldn’t be used on leather clothing since it may cause streaking and staining.
  7.  If an item is wrinkled you can press it using the coolest setting on your iron, BUT NEVER USE STEAM. Use a heavy brown craft paper as your pressing pad and always do a test spot on an inconspicuous section.
  8.  DO NOT store leathers in a plastic bag.
  9.  Clean matching garments at the same time since some variation in color may occur.
  10.  If staining occurs it needs to be cleaned ASAP by Westbank Dry Cleaning. While a leather coat may not look dirty, it’s best not to wait more than two seasons to have it professionally cleaned.

Copyright Westbank Dry Cleaning 2012

How to Store Your Winter Clothes

Knowing how to store your winter clothes can mean the difference between a well-preserved wardrobe and a mildewed, moth-ridden mess.  Here are a few tips to prolong the lifespan of your garments:

Keep it Clean

The most important thing you can do when putting away garments for seasonal storage is to make sure they are clean. That means either a trip to the dry cleaner or a spin in the home washer.  Insects are attracted to body oils and dirt and putting a garment away dirty gives them an instant meal.  Also keep in mind that invisible stains, such as clear sodas, perfume and white wine can oxidize over time and appear yellow the next time you pull the garment out to wear it.  The longer the stain sets, the harder it is to remove it without damage to the fabric.

To Hang or Not to Hang?

Store delicate items like knits and sweaters folded and flat to prevent stretching and distortion. It’s also recommended to store sweaters in sealed storage containers or enclosed in breathable sweater bags.

Heavy coats and jackets should be hung on sturdy hangers, not wire hangers, which are weak and not suited for heavy items. It’s also better to hang furs in a cloth garment bag because they’re a natural fiber. It should be sealed up. And make sure it’s in the coolest part of your closet.  When possible, store dark and light colors separately.  This prevents any dye transfer.

Clothing storage bag, $8.75 theclothingdoctor.com
Sweater box, $5.39 containerstore.com

Just Say “No” to Plastic

Don’t store any clothing in poly bags from the dry cleaner or the retailer.  Over time these bags can promote moisture in extremely humid environments.  Closets are often located off of bathrooms which tend to be very humid.  Plus, plastic doesn’t breathe and garments need air.  Use breathable fabric bags to store clothing long term.

TLC for your Closet

The best overall strategy for keeping your clothing looking good is to have a clean, organized closet.  From time to time, it’s a good idea to take everything off the floor of your closet and vacuum thoroughly, dust off shelves and purge your closet of clothing you no longer wear.  If you have a cedar closet in your home, renew the cedar every few years.  Cedar must be re-sanded or fresh cedar oil applied to retain its effectiveness. Lavender sachets are also a nice way to keep sweaters smelling fresh and ready to wear.  Finally, avoid mothballs.  They are a pesticide and are toxic to pets and children and the odor is very difficult to remove even with dry cleaning.

Sonoma lavender sachets by the yard, $19.95; amazon.com 

 

 

 

 

Prom Rack 2012 Mission Accomplished

Tulle, sequins, silk, high heels, embellishment……and teenage girls.  That pretty much sums up last Saturday’s Prom Rack dress giveaway.  Over a thousand new and donated dresses lined the room at Mount Sinai Baptist church in Austin.  Hundreds of shoes where sized and displayed along with handbags and lots and lots of sparkly  jewelry.  It’s a teenage girl’s paradise and we were so happy to be right smack in the middle of it.

This is the third year we’ve partnered with the Prom Rack and we are honored to be part of such a great event.  The powerhouse behind this event is Austinite Gigi Edwards Bryant, supported by her Write to Me Foundation.  This group serves youth in the foster care system, which is an underserved at-risk group to start with.  Gigi has opened up her prom dress giveaway day to include girls in the community who might need a prom dress.  Bryant reached out to school counselors and ministers in the community to get the word out.  Nearly 200 girls walked away with 2 and sometimes 3 prom dresses, shoes and jewelry.

All the girls were welcomed by a volunteer who assisted them as their own personal shopper.  They were delighted see the many separate racks of dresses containing retro dresses and the highly coveted “princess” rack, a selection of dresses with voluminous tulle skirts and elaborately beaded satin bodices.  There were short dresses and plus-size dresses….something for everyone.  The Austin chapter of the National Charity League has partnered with the Prom Rack the past two years and they are a welcome addition to the event.  There was also a makeup artist who provided the girls with skincare advice and makeup tips for the big night.

 

Prom Dresses

Over a thousand dresses were available to choose from.

Thank you to all of our customers who donated a dress for this year’s giveaway.  You definitely helped make a young girl’s prom dream come true.

 

A happy shopper

A happy shopper leaves with two beautiful dresses.

Thank you to all of our customers who donated a dress for this year’s giveaway.  You definitely helped make a young girl’s prom dream come true.

Customer Recommended