Being eco-friendly not only helps to sustain and protect the earth, but will also save you money. Here are some ways that you can be more eco friendly when doing your laundry.
Before we even had dryers, we had clotheslines. These are still an effective and eco-friendly way to dry your clothes! If you don’t have a clothes line, there are plenty of portable drying rack options!
There are certain laundry products that are terrible for the environment. Look into making your own detergent, or purchase products made with glass, cardboard or no packaging. If this is not an option, recycle your plastic detergent bottles.
If you are using a small load, use a small load setting versus a large one. This saves water and money.
This reflects the advice from number two. A great way to ensure that your laundry detergent is free of harsh chemicals is to simply make your own detergent.
If you are able to make your own laundry detergent, opt in for a glass container. A good idea for this is to use glass pitchers. These can easily be found at yard sales, stores, and thrift shops.
]]>May and June are the traditional wedding months, particularly in the United States. A wedding gown is much than just a dress, it is a treasure, a symbol of an important event in your life. Whether you are borrowing it from a relative or buying it new, your gown deserves your attention, both before and after the wedding.
Choosing a Gown
If you are buying a new dress, wedding consultants recommend shopping at least six months before the big day. This provides ample time to find the style, fabric, and accessories best suited for you. It also allows time for the manufacturing and shipping of a special-order gown. If you plan to wear a bridal veil, look for a veil that matches your gown.
If you are wearing an heirloom gown, allow plenty of time for professional cleaning as well as any necessary alterations. Many fabrics can yellow with age Check the gown carefully for discoloration. Often, yellowing can be corrected if the gown can be carefully wetcleaned.
After the Wedding
Brides often want to preserve their gown as a keepsake, particularly if the gown is an heirloom. We recommend having your gown cleaned as soon after the wedding as possible.
The gown may have invisible stains from food, beverages, and body oils. If these stains are not properly cleaned, they may become permanent. It is important to point out any stains or spills before cleaning. Most wedding gowns include decorative trim. It is important to inspect these trims with your cleaner prior to cleaning since some may not withstand the cleaning process. Often these trim pieces can be removed and cleaned separately, then reattached.
Storing Your Gown
Unfortunately, no process or storage method can guarantee against yellowing or possible deterioration of fabrics. There are, however, several steps you can take to protect your garment:
* Let us pack the gown in a special storage box that will help prevent contamination.
* Store your garment in a cool, dry place. Do not store it in a basement or attic. Basement dampness can cause mildew while attic heat promotes yellowing.
* If you are storing a long wedding gown on a hanger, sew straps to the waistline of the dress to relieve pressure on the shoulders from the weight of the dress. Wrap the dress in a protective white sheet or muslin covering.
* Whether the gown is hung or boxed, the bodice should be stuffed with white tissue paper to prevent wrinkles. It is a myth that blue tissue paper helps to preserve a wedding gown. It can add up to disaster if the gown ever gets wet. Blue dye can transfer onto the gown, making restoration very difficult, if not outright impossible. Use pure white tissue paper only.
* Never store headpieces, veils, shoes, bridal bouquet, or other accessories with your gown. Consult your florist about bridal bouquet storage.
* Inspect your gown from time to time during storage (your anniversary date is a good time to remember). Stains not initially apparent could appear later, and should be tended to immediately.
Preserving the quality of your wedding gown may be one of the finest gifts you can give yourself and a loved one.
Wedding day stains are fairly common, and almost anything you spill on your wedding gown will show. Here is a quick-fix guide to help you out if you find yourself in trouble. The most important thing is to have a good time and not worry about your gown after all, it is your wedding day, and there will be plenty of time to worry about your gown later. After the festivities are over, send your gown to a professional cleaner for cleaning and packaging for storage.
Makeup
Makeup stains can be cleaned with a dry cloth, or a cloth slightly dampened with a small amount of water. These stains are common because everyone is dressed to impress for your special day, and often others can pass makeup onto your gown. These stains are hardly visible, so you can make it through the entire day without too much trouble.
Champagne & Wine
Wine and champagne, regardless of color, contain considerable amounts of sugar as well as some dye or coloring. You can easily spill champagne on your wedding gown at the reception, or the best man can spill it on you if heís really nervous during his toast! Use a wet napkin to remove the stain and enjoy the rest of the day. Blot, donít rub, the stain. Rubbing can abrade the fibers and spread the stain.
Coffee & Tea
Itís still not safe after dinner. The most important thing is to keep hydrated as a bride, so if someone spills coffee and tea on you, blot the stain with seltzer water and keep on partying.
Wedding Cake
Wedding cake can get on your gown very easily, since itís traditional to smear your new spouse at the reception. Fortunately, most cake ingredients are water soluble and can be quickly removed with soda water, or with a quick blot. Some frosting contains dyes. Try to blot with a cloth or baby wipes.
FUN
Fun is one thing that wonít leave a mark on your gown. Donít sweat the small stuff and let it ruin your big day. Remember not to let this stuff bother you so much that you end up worrying too much to have a good time. This is your wedding day! If you get a stain on your gown, chances are your cleaner can take care of it. Stop stressing! Enjoy yourself! Wedding day stains are fairly common, and almost anything you spill on your wedding gown will show.
Survival Kit
When the drinks are on the bride and groom, there can be problems. Though it will hopefully be unnecessary, it may be a good idea to pack a quick clothing care emergency kit in case disaster happens.
The stains at left are only some of the things that can take the wind from the sails of your wedding day. Snags and snares, disappearing buttons, and unexpected tears can all be quickly mended with a few everyday items, provided you have them with you.
Keep the following items handy so you can treat stains, fix tears, or replace buttons in no time flat.
No we charge one flat rate for servicing gowns. Minor repairs are also included.
Are there additional charges for beading or embellishments?
No, we charge one flat rate for servicing gowns. Removing delicate embellishments and reinstalling them post cleaning is also included. This includes after market added accessories like beaded belts, etc.
Are the gowns insured during transit by FedEx or other carriers?
Yes, the gowns are fully insured during transit and during service.
I lost my paperwork for the gown order, can I get it replaced?
Yes, we can email or snail mail you the paperwork and shipping labels. We can resend the mailer kit also. Just email or call us.
There is no package for Clean and Press, how do I find that?
Our Clean Only service includes pressing. Since we have to ship the finished gown back in the box, we do not feel we can call it cleaning and pressing. It is likely that the dress will need some light pressing and steaming when removed from the package. So we do not offer clean and press for that reason. If you come into our store locally, then we will press the gown for the wedding.
How long does the service typically take?
Service times for cleaning and preservation take approximately 4-6 weeks.
Clean Only normally is two weeks from when received, faster by request and, if available.
Locally to our store, one week for clean and press, two weeks for clean and preserve. We have the ability to do next day pressing for those weddings in a hurry, but you must request the service and it is subject to availability.
I have different addresses for the mailer kit and the return package, what do I do?
This is a very common question. We can send the mailer kit to one address and the finished gown to another. You will receive a Gown Detail Form in your mailer kit. Please indicate this request on that form in the area for the address. We will update your account when we receive the gown. You can also email us this information and we will take it from there.
Can I send the garment bag the gown came in?
We ask that you keep those at home.
I have more than two accessories?
We can accommodate more than two accessories. We can also package additional accessories in a separate smaller preservation box for $99.00 additional, if you would like your accessories separated from the dress.
Will I get tracking emails for the shipments?
Every time there is a shipment, you will get a tracking email. We will not send the the finished gown back until you are notified by email. We do not want you to be on vacation or unavailable for the return shipment. There will be a signature required for the return shipment. We can change the return shipping address. We recommend a business address if it is available to you at work.
This is our wedding gown box.
The box measurements.
The wedding gown box comes in two sizes, 30x20x8 and 30x20x10. We are able to accommodate 99% of gowns in these two different size boxes. From time to time, we will come across a gown, such as a ball style gown, that may not fit in the largest box. There options for preserving the gown. Please inquire with us or send a picture.
Tracking Emails
Tracking emails will be sent by our primary carrier. We use FedEx for almost all of our shipments. Tracking emails generated from our website will come as well, but the most feature rich emails for tracking purposes are the FedEx emails.
Repairs to Wedding Gowns
We offer repairs for gowns. Minor repairs are included in the service, such as sewing on buttons, tacking loose items, fixing beads. We also will make repairs prior to cleaning, if we feel that something needs to be done prior to cleaning.
We also will remove embellishments that we feel may damage the gown or be damaged in cleaning. The items are photographed, measured and inventoried. Then we the gown is complete from cleaning, we reinstall the items. This insures that any embellishment will not be damaged in cleaning.
Do you offer a warranty? If the gown is found to be damaged after a certain number of years, does the company have a reimbursement option?