A Cleaner World Blog

coats

Purchasing and Caring for Your Winter Coat

Last year for Christmas I asked for a puffy coat. You know, one of those coats that looks like it is quilted and is filled with either down or synthetic fibers. I told my mom to try it on, and if she was hot wearing it, then it was perfect for me. I also asked her to purchase a size larger than what I normally wear because it was going to be my everyday coat, and I would wear it with sweatshirts and heavy sweaters. …

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folded Sweater

Pulling Your Winter Clothes Out of Storage

It is time to start transitioning your closet from shorts, t-shirts, and sleeveless dresses to pants, long-sleeve shirts, and sweaters. If you stored your winter clothes properly at the beginning of spring, you should be able to pull them out, place them in your closet …

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Tie

How to Purchase a Quality Necktie

When my husband wore a suit every day, I frequently purchased neckties. I based my purchase on two criteria – would he wear it and did I consider it ‘fun’. Like so many folks purchasing neckties, I didn’t know what to look for. I simply purchased what I liked, not thinking about quality. …

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Bow Tie

How to Tie a Bow Tie

According to thebowtie.com, Croatian soldiers of the Thirty Years War, which occurred in the 17th century, were the first folks documented to wear tied fabric around their necks to keep their shirt collars together. After the war, French soldiers shared the look and in the 1700’s the necktie was born. Fast forward to 1886 when Pierre Lorillard designed and wore a black bow tie tuxedo to a formal ball held at the Tuxedo Club. It quickly became a hit, being known as black tie attire. …

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sleeping bags

Caring for your Sleeping Bag

Matt and I have different definitions of the word camping. He and Gray frequently go on Scout camping trips where they are quite rugged, sometimes requiring them to sleep outside, and eat what I call questionable food. My definition of camping involves an RV. Now …

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shopping

How to Shop for Quality Clothes

Stores these days are full of fast fashion pieces that only offer a few wearings before they start to fray and fade. As a result, shopping can be a challenge, especially when you are looking for timeless classic pieces that will last you for years. In this article you will learn what to Look for When Shopping for Quality Garments …

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clothing shrinkage

What Causes Clothes to Shrink?

The fit was perfect when you first purchased it, and now it is not. What gives? It does not matter the garment – sweater, t-shirt, trousers – all fabric is stretched as items are made. Then when clothes are washed, they are exposed to heat, agitation, and moisture; and therefore, the fibers shorten, leaving your perfectly fitting garment smaller than it was before. The good news is that by following the garment’s care label and knowing a little bit about fabric, you can avoid the shrinkage issue. …

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Curtains

Caring for Curtains and Drapes

It’s important to regularly clean your curtains so you don't reduce air quality in your home. A Cleaner World shares tips on how to get more life out of your drapes and what to keep in mind if you’re shopping for new ones. …

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sewing machine alterations

Why Tailoring and Alterations are Great Options

Before donating a clothing item or replacing it because there’s a rip or it needs hemming, consider getting it altered or tailored at a Cleaning World. Read why tailoring and altering is a better option and what services we offer. …

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poison ivy

Removing Poison Ivy from Clothing

Just a few weeks ago, I had a run in with poison ivy, which surprised me because thanks to Gray and Boy Scouts, I am really good at identifying it. But we live in the country, have several acres to maintain, have a Beagle that likes to roam and roll, and I am obsessed with keeping the landscaped areas pristine. The odds are stacked against me. …

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recycling

Can You Recycle Fabric?

You’ve cleaned out your closet, and you have three piles – keep, donate, and trash. You know what trash garments are; they are the items that are so far gone that you are too embarrassed to even donate them. My husband once had a pair of shorts that he wore entirely too long; there were way more holes than continuous fabric. One day he decided that they had served their purpose, and like so many other Americans, he threw them in the trash. …

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Shopping

How to be an Ethical Shopper

In June, we talked about Fast Fashion, and earlier this month, we discussed Repurposing Old Clothes. Next week, we will be talking about recycling textiles. We’ve also learned about a movement called “Slow Fashion” where manufacturers focus on using natural fibers and creating quality garments by workers being paid fair wages. Why focus on these topics? We should be concerned about the environmental impact we are making while trying to look good. After all, consumers have the power to guide the fashion industry away from “Fast Fashion” and waste by changing our purchasing habits. …

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perfume

Can Perfume Have a Negative Impact on your Clothing?

Perfume dates back to 1370, and I suspect was created to help mask the fact that folks didn’t bathe daily, but today perfume is so much more than a potion for masking odor. Scents seem to invoke memories of people or places more so than …

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faded clothing

How to Restore Faded Clothing

I take such good care of my clothes, so it bothers me when I put on a pair of black pants only to notice that they look faded. When this happens, I typically run through all the usual culprits like redeposition and proper care, but truthfully, black garments, even if you do everything right, can be difficult to care for, especially when it comes to black docker-type pants. One option to bring a faded garment back to life is to dye it. …

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shirt

Repurposing Old Clothes

My solution, when I no longer want or need a garment, is to donate it to a local charity like The Salvation Army. In fact, A Cleaner World accepts donations at our Triad locations for The Salvation Army through our Donate Goods, Do Good project. As I was researching for last week’s blog post on Fast Fashion, I sadly discovered that many organizations that sell used clothing are unable to sell every item. Sometimes they can ship items overseas to other countries that have a need, but sometimes those garments end up in landfills. …

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