February 12, 2021
During the fall and winter, many of us depend on down comforters, sleeping bags, and apparel to keep warm and cut down on energy costs. Although down has superior insulating properties, it can present problems that require special care. Fine down and feathers can puncture and work through the shell fabric, causing holes or tears
January 12, 2021
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
December 11, 2020
If you suffer from allergies, your laundry could actually be making your symptoms worse. Here are some laundry tips you can use to ensure yours doesn’t cause flare-ups to happen. Wash in Hot Water A leading cause of allergies is dust mites, which can easily get into bed linens, towels, throw rugs and draperies. For
November 05, 2020
It gets a little chilly in the Fall in Boston, especially at night. While down comforters are a great option to keep warm in bed, many of us like to use electric blankets too. How do you keep an electric blanket in top condition? Before caring for your electric blanket, first read the care instructions
October 20, 2020
Traditional Halloween costumes— ghosts, goblins, and ghouls—are simple to clean, but what do you do with the more intricate costumes for both children and adults? Many of these garments are custom made with various fabrics and trims and have no care label. Careful examination and testing may help to predict the serviceability and practicality of
October 13, 2020
As the styles of sweaters change, so do the fibers of this wardrobe staple. Sweaters are made from a variety of fibers, ranging from cotton and wool to silk, rayon, acrylic and more. Natural fibers, such as angora, mohair, cashmere, and Shetland are especially popular. To add to the variety many sweaters contain special decorative
September 18, 2020
We're well into the Boston Red Sox Games season and your favorite player's cap may be looking a bit dingy. While most components of the baseball uniform, such as shirts, pants, and socks, are machine washable, what about baseball caps? Well, for baseball caps, the preferred method of care is to simply hand wash the
August 10, 2020
We lather up, jump in and enjoy during warm weather in Boston. With that come many products that can damage our clothing. Here are some quick tips to minimize that damage. Antiperspirant Potential Problem: Build-up from deodorant and antiperspirant products can cause fiber damage and yellowing. Blue and green on silk and wool are particularly
July 02, 2020
It happens to the best of us. You go to remove a load of laundry from the dryer, only to realize something has dyed all your clothes red. Or you sit down on your easy chair with a new pair of pants only to get up to muffled blue stains. It's easy to unknowingly throw a
June 04, 2020
Do you own modal clothing? Modal refers to a type of rayon fabric made from the fibers of Beech trees. Unlike other rayon fabrics that tend to shrink or stretch, modal clothes easily retain their shape and are machine washable and dryable. They do, however, need to be washed after each use except for model pants or jackets
