VICK'S CLEANERS - Professional Dry Cleaning Services Since 1899!
252-522-1843 |CONTACT US
    • Tag -
  • dry cleaners near me kinston nc

Tag - dry cleaners near me kinston nc

cry cleaning Kinston | Vick's Cleaners
28 Jan

How To Prevent Shrinkage When Doing Your Laundry

We all have gone to pull one of our favorite articles of clothing out from the dryer, to realize that it has shrunk to the size of a small toddler’s top. While this is an extremely upsetting time, it is typically avoidable! Don’t continue to shrink all of your valuable garments, keep reading this blog from dry cleaning Kinston service, Vick’s Cleaners for everything you need to know about what causes laundry shrinkage and how to prevent it. 

Fabric Labels

If you want to keep your clothes from shrinking, a great place to start is the source–the fabric. Take a look at the clothing labels before purchasing, and go for articles that are labeled “pre-shrunk” or, learn which type of fabrics are more prone to shrinking, and stay away from them. When purchasing something that will require more time and attention when washing, are you able to take care of that piece of clothing? Are you willing to take that blouse or blazer to the dry cleaner every time it needs to be washed? If not, opt for something that’s a better fit for your lifestyle! 

Care Labels

If you want to know how to prevent specific clothes from shrinking, it’s probably best to read the fabric label and recommended care instructions. Pay close attention to the recommended water temperature, laundry cycle and drying instructions. Not all fabrics can be treated as equal, for example, rayon and linen tend to shrink more than nylon or polyester. Reading the fabric care labels can be a bit tough to decipher, so if you are still confused about how to care and clean your clothing, bring it into Vick’s Cleaners and we will handle it for you!

Heat

Whether you use hot water when cleaning your clothes or a hot air temperature when drying your clothes, heat is not your fabric’s friend and should not be used if you are trying to avoid shrinking your clothes. Clothing articles made out of cotton should be washed on a warm to cool temperature and then tumble dried or even hung to dry to prevent discoloration. Animal fabrics such as wool, mohair, and cashmere shrink when agitated (like in a washing machine or dryer) which is why dry cleaning Kinston service, Vick’s Cleaners, suggest getting those fabrics dry cleaned. 

Vick’s Cleaners Kinston NC

If you find your variety of clothing starting to get smaller because you are shrinking all of your clothing, it might be time to stop by and visit dry cleaning Kinston services, Vick’s Cleaners. While we can’t save already shrunk clothing, we can help you take care of your correct size articles and keep them wearable for many seasons to come. Don’t throw out your shrunken clothes though, they are still useful! Many people use shrunk and old cotton t-shirts as dust towels and for other reusable cleaning methods. If you have a whole stack of shrunken shirts and you know how to sew, you can turn them into a blanket! Professional cleaning by Vick’s Cleaners will prevent you from having to replace your favorite clothing items when they are washed improperly. If you don’t have time to swing by, Vick’s Cleaners offers pick-up and drop-off services. Contact us today!

By Articles , , , , , , , Comments Off on How To Prevent Shrinkage When Doing Your Laundry Read more...
02 Dec

Successful Stain Removal

Successful removal of stains requires prompt treatment, but it can not always be done by hand washing. Many turn to the option of dry cleaning to get rid of those tough stains. For the stains to be removed successfully, one must consider the type of fabric, the nature of the stain, and the colorfastness of the dye. Colorfastness refers to the material’s color’s resistance to fading or running. 

Fabric & Colorfastness

Not all stains can be removed, even after trying every trick in the book. Dry cleaning can only safeguard against damage for some items due to the nature of the fabric. If the dyes in the fabric are prone to bleeding, the dye may bleed off with the stain. Some stains get oxidized and absorb into the fabric, making them near impossible to remove. Stains can not be removed through dry cleaning if the stain is stronger than the dye of the fabric, if the dye is soluble, or if the stains are old and have become oxidized. 

Invisible Stains

The nature of the stain can affect its possibility of removal. Foods, drinks, and oily substances can sometimes become invisible after they dry into fabric. However, they can turn brown or yellow after being exposed to air due to the caramelization or oxidation of the sugars in the substances. Inform your dry cleaner of invisible stains so the proper methods can be used for removal prior to dry cleaning.

Body Oil/Perspiration Stains

Perspiration can leave stubborn stains, especially on silk and wool. If a clothing item is continuously exposed to body oil or perspiration, it can permanently discolor the item or leave it with an odor. These stains react with the garment’s dyes, so clothing that is often exposed to perspiration should be dry cleaned frequently.

Dealing with Stains

Stained clothes should be taken to a professional dry cleaner as soon as possible. Inform the dry cleaner of the nature of the stain to increase the chances of successful removal. Do not pile stained clothes together or place them back in the closet. Exposure to atmosphere and warmth of the closet will set the stain and make it more difficult to remove. Never use common household bleaching agents to try to remove stains. Most bleach solution remove stains through oxidation, so if the stain removal fails, it will complete the oxidation process and further set the stain, making it impossible to remove. 

Vick’s Cleaners

Vick’s Cleaners has been proudly serving Kinston and surrounding areas in North Carolina for more than 100 years by providing quality dry cleaning and garment cleaning services, excellent customer service, and unmatched convenience. We currently have 3 locations for your convenience in Kinston and Snow Hill as well as pickup and delivery in New Bern. Contact us today!

 

By Uncategorized , , , , , , , Comments Off on Successful Stain Removal Read more...
26 Jul

Questions to Ask Your Dry Cleaner

Your clothes are very important to you, and keeping them in pristine condition is a priority. When taking your clothing to a dry cleaner’s, you want to be sure that they will take good care of your garments. To get informed, consider asking these questions on your next trip to the dry cleaner’s:

Where Is The Cleaning Done?

Some dry cleaning shops are just drop-off locations, and the clothes are transported to another location for the cleaning. You may want to know how many other stores deliver clothing to this central plant. It may include other dry cleaning chains in the area, so your clothes may not be getting individualized attention. You want the best results for your clothing, so being informed of the care they will be receiving is helpful.

What Happens If My Garments Get Damaged?

Mistakes may happen, but it is nice to know how the mistake will be handled if so. Ask in advance who will be responsible for damaged or lost items so you can be prepared.

What Equipment Is Used For Pressing?

Your dry cleaning service may either press your garments by hand or by machine. Most machine pressers blow steam through garments to remove wrinkles. Hand pressing is best for delicate fabrics or items with embellishments.

What Is The Average Cost?

Ask about prices for dresses, suits, slacks, and sweaters. This will give you an idea of what to expect when bringing in garments in the future.

What Kind of Dry Cleaning Solvent Is Used?

There are different kinds of cleaning solvents, and some are more environmentally friendly than others. Also, ask if they use freshly purified/distilled fluids with each run. 

Vick’s Cleaners

Asking these questions will give you peace of mind in knowing what happens to your clothing after you drop them off at the dry cleaner’s. For excellent dry cleaning services with free pickup and delivery, contact Vick’s Cleaners! 

By Uncategorized , , , , , Comments Off on Questions to Ask Your Dry Cleaner Read more...
Winter Clothes Storage - Vick's Cleaners
30 May

Tips For Storing Winter Clothes

It is officially Summer! That means you can pack away your coats and boots and bring out the shorts and sandals. You may not have enough closet space for all of your clothes, so this may require you to store the winter clothes away for a few seasons. The first step to clothing storage is making sure everything is clean. You’ll want to run everything through the washer and dryer before putting them away in storage. You want your clothes to stay clean and dry so it is important to store them correctly. There are plenty of storage options, but which one is the best for each type of clothing?

Delicates

These items are called delicates for a reason, so they require some extra care. You’ll want to fold these items and place them in non-acidic tissue paper. Once wrapped up, these items should be placed in a cotton garment bag. Unlike plastic garment bags, the cotton will allow the fabrics to breathe properly.

Non-Delicates

Plastic bins are perfect for these items. Jeans, sweatshirts and everything else should be folded and placed in the bin with the heaviest items on the bottom. Although plastic bins do take up space, they allow for the fabrics to breathe. Vacuum seal bags can distort the shape of your clothing and don’t allow the fabric to breathe. To keep your clothes smelling fresh and keep pests out you can throw a lavender sachet or cedar ball in the bin.

Shoes

Winter shoes come in contact with harsh salt and snow throughout the season, so it’s important to clean them thoroughly before placed in storage. Shoes can easily lose their shape if they are not stored correctly. Tall boots should have boot trees placed inside, and smaller shoes such as ankle boots and loafers can be stuffed with tissue paper. Shoes can be stood up in the back of the closet, or if you need to save space they can be placed in a plastic storage bin. The largest shoes should be laid down at the bottom of the bin and a cotton t-shirt or shoe bag should be placed in between each pair.

What Should Be Folded, and What Should Be Hung

Hangers are not ideal for sweaters and bulky coats. When a piece of clothing is hung for months at a time it can become misshapen. These items can also be placed in a plastic bin, with the heaviest items on the bottom. With these items it is important not to over stuff the bin. Compressing these items can lead to a distorted shape. Dresses and fur coats are the only winter items that should stay hung up in your closet. They should be placed in a cotton garment bag, in the back of the closet, away from light.

Once all of your winter clothing is packed and stored away you’ll want to store them in the right place. Your bags and bins should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Before hitting storage, Vick’s Cleaners can help prepare every piece of clothing by cleaning it right. With three dry cleaning locations and two laundromats we can help anywhere in the Kinston area.

 

By Articles, News , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off on Tips For Storing Winter Clothes Read more...
29 Apr

How True is “Dry Clean Only”?

The care labels on the inside of your clothing can tell you a lot of information about the product and how it was made. The main purpose of the care label is the care instructions, which will tell you if your garment is machine washable or is better off being dry cleaned. Many clothes today will have a “dry clean only” instruction, but how true is this?

When You Should Definitely Dry Clean

  • Silk, wool, velvet, taffeta, leather and suede must all be dry cleaned
  • Special finish such as beading, embroidery or lace
  • If the garment has structure such as a suit jacket
  • If the garment is lined-Each fabric will have a different shrinkage rate
  • Does the color run when it is wet? Test a wet cotton swab on the fabric
  • Is the garment expensive? You may want to play it safe and have it dry cleaned
  • The fabric is made of acetate, triacetate or rayon- these fabrics can be carefully hand washed but would be better of dry cleaned as they easily shrink and get misshapen in water

When You Can Wash “Dry Clean Only”

  • Use cold water and a gentle detergent
  • Wash the garment alone so it does not mix with others
  • If you decide to machine wash, use the gentle cycle
  • Never put the garment in the dryer, hang to dry or lay it flat if it is a knit garment

How Can Vick’s Cleaners Help?

Vick’s Cleaners is your go-to for your professional dry cleaning and laundry services. We offer free pick up and delivery so you never have to worry! We have three convenient dry cleaning services in the Kinston area, as well as two laundromat locations with wash and fold service. We understand how important your clothing is to you, so we want to ensure that you can trust our services. To get started you can visit us online to schedule your free pickup, or drop off at one of our locations today!

 

By Articles, News , , , , , , , , , Comments Off on How True is “Dry Clean Only”? Read more...
20 Dec

What is Dry Cleaning?

Not completely dry, dry cleaning is a fabric cleansing method which uses liquids other than water to cleanse soiled clothing or articles. As a traditional washing machine can be extremely rough on delicate clothes and add-ons such as buttons, lace or zippers, dry cleaning is a more gentle way of removing stains and freshening fabric. Dry cleaning is beneficial to fabrics and materials which can not be cleaned in water as they will shrink, or tarnish, such as silk, wool, and leather.

Historic Techniques

Dry cleaning is an ancient technique which has been found in the ruins of Pompeii. There has been evidence of the use of chemicals and other materials to clean fabric besides water. Ammonia found in urine, lye, and Fuller’s’ Earth Clay are some of the original cleansing materials. From there on commercial laundry services have come about, originally in Paris, use of liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, turpentine spirits, petroleum-based fluids, and camphor oil has been found. As some of these solutions were dangerous, working in unsafe facilities crossed with high heat.

Improved Technology

The dry cleaning services today now use new liquids and technology to safely remove stains and dirt. Almost any type of fabric can be dry cleaned, as they get sorted and some pre-treated before being placed into the proper machine load. Most dry cleaner services today are full scale and have a wide variety of services, in addition to dry cleaning. Wash and fold, alterations, shoe repairs, leather, and rug cleaning, are what makes dry cleaners your one stop for all things apparel and home furnishings.

 

If you are in need of dry cleaning or repair services, call Vick’s Cleaners at 252-522-1843 to find a location near you. Free pickup and delivery services are available for your home or office.

By Uncategorized , , , , , Comments Off on What is Dry Cleaning? Read more...