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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!

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Laundry in Washing Machine - Vick's Cleaners
19 Dec

Why You Must Separate Your Laundry

Did you learn the hard way that washing your colors with your whites in hot water can turn all your white clothes into pastels? Even if you wash all your clothes in cold water, it is very important to sort your clothes by color. Keeping your clothing in good shape requires thought and care. Here’s what to do:

Wash When Dirty

Your clothes do not need to be washed each and every time you wear them. If you did not spill anything on your clothing, sweat in your clothing, or make them dirty in any other way, it is not absolutely necessary to wash after wearing them. Of course, you should use your best judgment. If you decide the item does not need washing, fold it or hang it back up so it will not become wrinkled. Jeans, suits, sweaters, and flannels are items that do not need to be cleaned often. 

Sort Darks & Lights

When it is time to wash your clothes, you must sort the darks and whites. Sure, washing them all together in cold water may not have dyed any of your clothes just yet, but it will still cause your darks to fade and whites to look dingy over time. It may not be noticeable after one wash, but it will become noticeable over time. Sort your clothes and when washing your darks, turn dark clothes and heavier items, such as sweaters and jeans, inside out. This provides protection and preserves the color.

Home Remedies

If you can’t make it to the dry cleaner’s and need to freshen up your clothes, add a teaspoon of baking soda into your washing machine along with your detergent. This will also help keep the colors bright. If you end up forgetting about that load of laundry you threw in the wash 4 hours ago, don’t put them directly into the dryer. If they smell a little funny from being left in the wash for hours, wash them again with a cup of white vinegar and water, which will kill the mildew. 

Clean Your Washer & Dryer

Some high-end washers and dryers may come with a self-cleaning option, but if not, make sure to check on yours to ensure they are clean. Make sure there are no items, liquids, or anything inside the washer or dryer. Always check the lint filter as well.

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. 

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, including New Bern. Contact us today!

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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!

 

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06 Nov

Wedding Dress Alteration Tips

Your wedding day should be nothing short of perfect, and it all begins with the perfect dress. You want to feel comfortable and beautiful in the dress that will be shown off in photos for the rest of your life, so it is important to make sure it fits as it should. This is why alterations are so important. Here’s what you should know about wedding dress alterations:

Possibility

Always keep alterations in mind when picking your wedding dress. You may find the perfect dress, but no matter what size you try on, it just doesn’t fit quite right. A simple cinched waist may do the trick, but you must first ask the salesperson what alterations are possible. If you need to change more than just taking in the dress and shortening the hem, you may want to keep searching. 

Size

Never purchase a too-small dress as motivation. It is much easier to take in a larger dress than it is to let a smaller one out. Some dresses even have built-in corsets that can be tightened or loosened easily. 

Schedule

All alterations should be scheduled with adequate time before your wedding date. Three appointments are usually sufficient. Consider having your first fitting three months ahead of the wedding date and the final fitting about two weeks out.

Speak Up

Make sure that your preferences are clear when it comes to your wedding dress alterations. Describe how you would like the dress to look on you. If something doesn’t feel right after the first alteration, let the seamstress know.

Undergarments

You should bring all undergarments that you plan to wear on your wedding day to your first alteration. This can include a bra, a bustier, Spanx, etc. You should also have your wedding shoes on hand as they are essential in marking the hem properly. 

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!

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01 Oct

Which Fabrics Must Be Dry Cleaned?

Everyone knows that feeling of buying a new piece of clothing that you just can’t wait to wear. But when you take it off and see that “Dry Clean Only” label, you might let out a groan or two. Vick’s Cleaners provides quality dry cleaning services for those pieces that must be dry cleaned, but which ones can you actually wash on your own?

Wash-At-Home Fabrics

Cotton typically does not need to be dry cleaned, but you should machine wash cold or warm with like colors. If your cotton clothing has been preshrunk, drying in a machine is suitable. Synthetic fabrics like polyester, spandex, nylon, acrylic, and acetate won’t shrink, so it is safe to wash them in warm water. They should hang dry or be dried on low because they can be permanently wrinkled in a hot dryer. 

Fabrics for the Dry Cleaners

Linen is made from flax fibers, which are cool and breathable in hot weather. If your linen clothing is washed incorrectly, it can lose its crispness. Take it to the dry cleaners for best results. Rayon is made from purified cellulose fiber and its dyes can bleed when washed. It can also shrink or lose its shape if washed in warm water. It is usually safest to dry clean this fabric. 

The dyes in silk also tend to bleed, so dry cleaning this fabric is the safest option. Proper care will keep it from losing its soft and silky qualities. Wool will shrink in any warm or hot water, so dry clean this sturdy fabric to keep it long-lasting.

Think It Can Be Hand-Washed?

Some fabrics can avoid the trip to the dry cleaners with a gentle hand wash along with being air-dried. However, there is still the risk of something going wrong and your clothes may be ruined for good. If you have a few favorite articles of clothing, consider taking them to the dry cleaners to ensure that they stay in good shape. If your washing machine is on the older side or if you typically take your clothes to the laundromat, dry clean your clothing more often to prevent ruining an item of clothing due to a bad machine. 

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. Contact us today!

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