The Tips contained in this section are written by Bill Griggs and based on information and supporting documentation provided by the International Fabricare Institute, contributor to the improvement of the drycleaning industry for consumers.

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Is Your Cell Phone A Hazard To Your Clothes?

Why Is My Dress Unravelling?

When The Invisible Spot Becomes Visible

My Blouse Has See Thru Spots!

When Spots Pop Back Up

The 12 Stains Of Christmas

Why are my Whites turning Grey after washing or drycleaning?

What is Wedding Gown Preservation?

GET YOUR Fall Closet IN ORDER!

Extend The Life Of Your Wardrobe

Prevent Holiday Fashion Problems from Purchase to Care

Company's Coming! Clean Your Draperies & Bedspreads

Tablecloths, the Foundation of Beautiful Dining!

Holes In Your Oxford Cloth Shirt?

Is Your Wedding Gown Clean & Safely Stored?

Take Care of Your Winter Coats

Suede & Leather: Skins Need Care Too!

Have Your Clothes Lost Color?

Rainwear Care for April Showers!

Save your clothes from damage by
insects, heat, mildew and light exposure

Fly A Clean Flag This Year!

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Is Your Cell Phone A Hazard To Your Clothes? Q:  Is your cell phone putting a hole in your clothes? A:  Yes! Be very careful how you attach your cell phone or beeper to the waistband and pockets of your garments. The repetition of removing the clip from the fabric will abrade it. As the garment is cleaned the damaged fibers will become more noticeable and cannot be mended. Back To Top

Why Is My Dress Unravelling? Q:  I noticed that the lace trim on my dress has begun to unravel. Drycleaning did not help, in fact it became more noticeable. What happened? A:  This type of damage happens during wear and cleaning as the garment is rubbed. It occurs on trims that are not properly anchored or secured by the manufacturer. There is no way to avoid or remedy this situation except to replace the trim. Back To Top

When The Invisible Spot Becomes Visible Q:  When I picked up my blouse from the cleaner, I noticed some dark, splatter-type stains on and near the shoulder area. I do not remember spilling anything, yet the cleaner said the spots were from consumer use. Is that true? A:  Yes. These spots, which dryed invisible after contact, were caused by accidental contact with moisture solutions. Usually they are from hairsprays, hair products, or even rain which carries impurities. They evaporate, but leave residue which becomes evident after aging (oxidation) or when heat is applied. Some cannot be removed safely. The sooner the item is cleaned, the better your results will be. Back To Top

My Blouse Has See Thru Spots! Q:  When I received my silk blouse back from cleaning, there were thin areas in the underarms and across the back that were not visible before cleaning. What happened? A:  This condition is called "Yarn Slippage," which is not a breakage in the yarns, but actually a shifting or slipping of the yarns/fibers. The damage comes from local stress and strain of the fabric during wear. Example: Your back rubbing across a seat or fabric rubbing under your arm. The cleaning process further aggravates the consumer damage during normal agitation. Back To Top

When Spots Pop Back Up Q:  I spilled champagne on a party dress. At the time, I blotted the damp area with a napkin and the spot seemed gone. About three weeks ago, I pulled my dress out to wear it again and the spot had "magically" returned as a brown stain. What happened? A:  Many clear alcoholic beverages, such as champagne, don't appear to stain at the time of the spill. But the slightest residue will, over time, turn brown. Your best bet, after blotting (never rubbing) the spot, is to bring it to us. Dry cleaning will not remove this type of stain. But professional spotting and wet cleaning techniques will. Happy New Year from your friends at ViewCleaners.com! Back To Top

The 12 Stains Of Christmas "On everyday of Christmas, a stain came onto me, off to ViewCleaners.com I went with glee!" Stain 1: Water spots on velvet. (Have ViewCleaners.com waterproof velvet before wearing.) Stain 2: Red wine upon your dress.(Blot it, Do Not Rub!! Bring to ViewCleaners.com immediately for removal.) Stain 3: Alcoholic beverages spilled on my sequined dress. (Blot it, Do Not Rub!! The color will come off. To save, bring to ViewCleaners.com.) Stain 4: Underarm stains on my silk blouse. (Use alcohol free deodorants. Clean after each wearing to rinse out body salts.) Stain 5: Champagne on my white wool sweater, dried invisible! (It is still there and will turn brown. Bring to ViewCleaners.com for removal.) Stain 6: My Suede vest spotted in the rain. (Roll up in a terry cloth towel and brush the suede after spots have dried.) Stain 7: Red and green candle wax dripped on my white linen tablecloth. (Bring to ViewCleaners.com immediately after use. We can clean it away!!) Stain 8: Why did my gold lamé cocktail dress lose its finish? (The metallic finish is sensitive to body heat, acid & moisture.) Stain 9: Christmas tree sap on my carpet. (Apply a non-flammable solvent or amyl acetate directly to the stain & blot.) Stain 10: Candy has melted in the toe of my stocking!! (Simply bring it to ViewCleaners.com for special handling to save the ornamentation.) Stain 11: My family felt tree skirt is stained. (Bring to ViewCleaners.com for hand cleaning to prevent further damage.) Stain 12: Santa spilled milk on my lap blanket. (Blot it carefully, then bring to ViewCleaners.com for expert hand spotting.) May your clothes be merry and bright! Happy Holidays from the staff of ViewCleaners.com. Back To Top

Why are my Whites turning Grey after washing or drycleaning? I have seen many customers this year with new garments that are not performing well to the method of care as prescribed in the garment's care label. In the "old days" you would have guessed that the cleaning solvent was not pure, but old, turning the garments a dingy grey. Today cleaning machines use freshly filtered solvent on each load. So why is this problem occurring at the cleaners and at home in the washer? White garments are treated with fluorescent brightners or optical whiteners to make them brilliant white. The brightners decompose in the cleaning solvents and in your wash at home when you use chlorine bleach. The garments will become dingy grey or yellow or a slight grey-green color. (Be careful not to overload your washer at home so that the garment will get the best cleaning action. This will help soil to rinse out of the garments by avoiding soil redeposition). When you have the decomposition of a brightener by solvent or chlorine, and you have followed the instructions on the care label, the damage is considered a manufacturer's defect and should be returned to the retailer immediately. Any garment should perform well under its care label instructions. If it does not, the Federal Trade Commission requests that you return the garment to the retailer and/or manufacturer for a refund or settlement. Should the retailer not be cooperative, you can file a complaint with the FTC. You may reach them at www.ftc.gov. Most retailers and manufacturers stand behind their products. I have found that if you approach them with a gentle voice and a detailed analysis of the problem, they will take care of you to keep you as a customer. Please visit our lobby and pick up your copy of the Care Label Rule and a Care Label Guide so you can understand the labeling in the clothes that you purchase. Back To Top

GET YOUR Fall Closet IN ORDER! Don't spend money on new clothes, especially when you can make older garments look new again and keep your present garments in great shape. The International Fabricare Institute offers the following suggestions. 1. Donate any item in your closet that you have not worn in two years to a charity. It is tax deductible! 2. Have all of your Spring & Summer clothes cleaned. 3. All clothes should be stored in a temperature and moisture controlled area. 4. Do not store clothes without cleaning them first, even if you only wore the item once. Food stains which are currently invisible will surface, causing damage to the fabric and will not be visible until after cleaning if not removed now. 5. Do not store clothes in plastic of any type. 6. Check all of your clothes for needed repairs and alterations now before the Fall season begins. ViewCleaners.com's expert Tailoring Department can help you! 7. Shorten an older, longer skirt to make a new skirt! ViewCleaners.com's staff will fit you and hem your skirt. 8. Move all buttons and loosen or tighten seams for the best fit possible. You want to be comfortable. 9. Looking for a new suit for the new season? Be sure to inspect the care label and check the fabric for quality when shopping. ViewCleaners.com can help you with any questions regarding care and quality. Fabric is our business. 10. Mix and match your older garments for new combinations and keep fabric samples trimmed from their seams in your purse when shopping for new items. Back To Top

What is Wedding Gown Preservation? Preservation is a two part process, the cleaning and proper storing of an item. First, all the contaminants in the gown must be removed. After the gown is cleaned, it is pressed as if to wear and packaged in an "acid free" box for storage. These processes are done by hand and can vary in type and price depending upon the damage to the gown during consumer use. It is wise to have someone take care of your gown immediately after the wedding to prevent permanent damage. Follow these steps so your gown can be worn by your daughter or niece! 1. Get the gown to ViewCleaners.com within one week of the wedding. 2. Point out all stains to your drycleaner. Some may be invisible now, such as food, beverages and body oils. 3. Have any trims examined and tested for colorfastness. Some yellow due to poor quality dyes used by the manufacturer. 4. Read your care label! Follow the instructions. After the gown is cleaned: 1. Have it placed in an acid free box. 2. Store it in a cool, dry place. Not in the attic, nor in the basement. 3. Examine your gown on your anniversary date. Use cotton gloves when handling. Some invisible stains, not initially apparent, could appear later. 4. ViewCleaners.com offers a Lifetime Guarantee. Back To Top

Extend The Life Of Your Wardrobe Clothes are not inexpensive. To replace your wardrobe would cost a small fortune. To avoid unnecessary costs and the lost of your favorite items here is how to save your wardrobe. Remember that not all stains can be removed. The longer a stain remains in a garment, the more difficult it is to remove it without causing damage to the fabric. Many dyes used today are sensitive to stain removal procedures and most stains on drycleanable clothes will require water and other professional chemicals which mix with water to remove them. Stains must be brought to the drycleaner immediately or as soon as possible after the spillage occurs. Blotting the fabric will make the stain disappear, but will not remove the entire stain. Follow these simple rules when informing your drycleaner. 1. Know type of stain 2. Tell what was done to try to remove it 3. Tell how long the stain has been in the garment. For every week, you will loose a 10% chance of successful removal. 4. Invisible stains, those that have dried and are gone from view, are still present. Point the areas out. The heat used in finishing will make the stain reappear as a permanent yellow or brown stain. Chances of safe removal without damaging or altering the fabric will be slight. 5. Do not hang wet or damp clothes in the closet. 6. Do not store dirty clothes from the end of one season to the next. Stains will be set and colors will be affected. 7. Clean clothes frequently. Soiled clothes will be the perfect home for insects i.e. moth damage. 8. Store clothes away from heat and moisture. 9. Store clothes away from direct or indirect sun and artificial light. Back To Top

Prevent Holiday Fashion Problems from Purchase to Care Holiday fashions are beautiful, yet expensive. To ensure that you make a wise purchase, which can be cared for should you soil it, follow these simple suggestions. 1) Ask the retailer's return policy and have ViewCleaners.com perform a FREE INSPECTION of the item before wearing it to determine cleanability and colorfastness. 2) Luxurious fabrics such as velvet, taffeta, moire, satin, organza, metallic prints, and silk require care while wearing and in the cleaning process. CHECK YOUR CARE LABELS before buying. 3) Beaded garments, sequins, feathers, fancy buttons and rhinestones require professional care. Some may have to be hand cleaned or "professional spot clean only," ViewCleaners.com does this everyday. 4) Should you stain your garment, DO NOT RUB IT!!! Blot stains. Rubbing it will cause irreversible damage to yarns and dyes. 5) Shake spills from velvet and allow them to dry. DO NOT RUB OR BLOT. Pressure to velvet while damp will cause "white shiny" areas that cannot be corrected. ViewCleaners.com can help by WATERPROOFING VELVET before you wear it. 6) Wear underarm guards and eliminate any jewelry which will abrase the edges of sleeves or the sides of dresses. 7) DO NOT APPLY hairspray, deodorant, make-up or perfume while wearing the clothing. These items will act like a bleach and remove color from the garment. This is often not evident to the eye until after the item has been cleaned. 8) NEVER EVER PUT A GARMENT UP FOR THE SEASON WITHOUT HAVING IT CLEANED FIRST. You will lose a 10% chance for stain removal for every week the garment remains uncleaned. Back To Top

Company's Coming! Clean Your Draperies & Bedspreads Your inlaws and best friends are coming to spend the holidays with you. You want your house to look spotless and crisp. Here's how! 1) Clean your draperies. The life of a lined drape is 5 years. To lengthen the life of the drapery, vacuum it weekly and rotate windows to even out sun damage. The sun will actually bleach out the lining and fabric, as well as cause invisible dryrot. The gases in the air from cooking fumes, cigarettes and heat ducts will damage the color and the fabric. In many cases it can be corrected with minor shrinkage to the fabric. ViewCleaners.com is proud to offer Take Down & Rehang service at a nominal charge on an appointment only basis. 2) CLEAN YOUR BEDSPREADS. During the year, bedspreads get heavily damaged by sitting on the side of the bed, eating in bed, children playing on the bed and of course the dog and cat snoozing there while your at work! Sunlight from the nearby window will fade the bedspread if it is not protected or rotated. Since stains are difficult to get out after one week, we suggest that they be cleaned immediately. We can remove most stains, including pet urine. If you have drapes that match, you will want to clean them at the same time. Next month, "Tablecloths, the Foundation of Beautiful Dining!", just in time for holiday entertaining. Back To Top

Tablecloths, the Foundation of Beautiful Dining! Tablelinens are the background for holiday candlelight suppers! You can add years of life to your linens with a few simple steps. WATERPROOF YOUR LINENS before you use them. When you waterproof your linens, you are protecting them from damaging food stains which contain acids and dyes. Any tomato based food, as well as red wine will cause tremendous damage if it is not cleaned immediately. Waterproofing will help keep the stain from being absorbed into the fibers. You will blot the stain with a towel and cold water at the moment it happens. The next day, bring it in to us and tell us what happened. DO NOT USE home remedies or chlorine bleach. You will risk permanently damaging your linens. Tired of ironing the tablecloth that seats 10 to 20? ViewCleaners.com can clean and press your tablecloth, and so you won't have any creases to get out when you place it on the table, we can ROLL it on your own personal ROLLER. This makes storage of the cloth easy and prevents those terrible creases from appearing down the center and sides of the dining room table. Does your cloth need body? We can add sizing to your cloth which will give it body without damaging the fibers. Remember, your tablecloth needs to be cleaned immediately after use. ANY STAINS which remain in the cloth for more than three days will begin to breakdown the fibers and cause irreversible damage. We can restore most cloths by using our own color restoration process. Questions? Just give us a call! Back To Top

Holes In Your Oxford Cloth Shirt? Do you have small pinholes or broken yarns areas in your oxford weave shirt? This is a common problem. It will appear that yarns are missing or a small hole has appeared. Oxford cloth is woven with two thin warp yarns over one thicker yarn. The unbalance of the weave causes strain on the thin yarns which will break under the stress of agitation during wear and cleaning. Unfortunately, neither you nor your drycleaner can prevent this damage. Should the manufacturer use a heavier or higher twist-wisp yarn, the life of the fabric would be extended. If you have experienced this problem and the age of your shirt is under two years, return it to the manufacturer. The life of a shirt should be two years or 35 - 52 washings. Back To Top

Is Your Wedding Gown Clean & Safely Stored? Probably not. ViewCleaners.com can help. We can return a yellowed, stained gown back to its original brightness. You will find drinks spilt down your back on the train, cake icing at your knee from the little ringbearer, perspiration under the arms and bodice, abrasions, dirt, grass stains and grease around the hemline, makeup around the neckline and lipstick on the shoulder areas from the misguided kisses of your elderly aunts. For every week you leave these stains untouched, you will loose 10% chance of restoring your gown to its original look. Avoid letting the stains age, turning yellow and brown over the years in the heat of the attic. Here's how. 1) Have the gown taken to the drycleaner within days after the wedding. 2) Tell your drycleaner everything that the gown was exposed to. (Champagne stains are invisible to the eye and will not come out in drycleaning. The gown will need to be wetcleaned.) 3) After you have inspected your gown, have the drycleaner box it in acid neutral tissue and boxes. 4) Never put the gown in an attic or basement. It must stay away from heat and moisture at all times. Follow these simple steps and your great granddaughter will walk down the aisle in your gown! Back To Top

Take Care of Your Winter Coats During the winter, you will be wearing your favorite winter coat just about every day. You need to treat the garment with great care in order to preserve it for several seasons of wear. The best care method for your garment will vary according to the fiber content. Coats made of wool, leather and suede will require more care than other coats. Follow these steps to get the longest possible life from your coat. 1. Wear scarves to protect the neck from oily stains. 2. Clean the coat as soon as it becomes soiled. 3. Never store a soiled coat until the next season. 4. Know and follow the care label instructions. 5. Store your coat on a padded hanger. 6. Do not store your coat or any garment in a plastic bag. Plastic will promote light damage, mildew, and will dry out all leathers and furs. 7. Treat stains immediately. Blot with cold water. do not rub! 8. Dry wet coats at room temperature. Do not place near heat or in a dryer. Bundle up and enjoy the season! Back To Top

Suede & Leather: Skins Need Care Too! Leathers and Suedes are popular wardrobe items. Just like your silks, wools, rayons and other fabrics, they must be cleaned as well. However, cleaning animal skins is not like cleaning fabric. We do the cleaning and altering of leather garments with the newest technology available. To clean a leather takes about 14 different steps, much more than the cleaning of your pants or skirts. What is leather? It is the outside of the animal skin with all the hair removed. Suede is the underside of the same hide which has been buffed or treated to create the look and feel similar to velvet. Here are some tips to help you purchase and care for your leather garments. 1. Buy from a reputable retailer. 2. Read, save and use all of your care information that comes with item. 3. Note that all panels of the garment do not match perfectly. 4. Dark colors will bleed onto lighter colors in processing. 5. Pastel colors will fade from sunlight and gasses in the air. 6. Buy Large! Skins are often over streetched during tanning and will shrink when cleaned. 7. Wear a scarf to protect the collar from perspiratioon and body oils. 8. WATERPROOF the garment at ViewCleaners.com for extra protection against soil & spots. 9. If the leather gets wet, let it air-dry. Do not put it near heat! 10. Store in a cool, well ventilated area to avoid drying the skins and mildew. 11. Do not store in plastic bags! 12. Take it to ViewCleaners.com if it gets dirty. Do not try to clean it yourself...you'll be sorry! Back To Top

Have Your Clothes Lost Color? If so, you are not alone. Over 25% of the analyzed damaged apparel in the United States has color loss. Color loss can be caused by household cleaning agents, hair spray, hair preparations, perfume, and any substance which contains alcohol. The color loss may not be apparent until the item is washed or drycleaned, removing soils which cover the color loss. Some items will have unstable fugitive dyes. Not only can this be found in cotton, rayon and silk, but other fabrics as well. In such a case the manufacturerer failed to prepare the fabric to hold its dye during the cleaning process printed on the care label. Reduce the possibility of color loss in your clothes by following these steps: 1. Follow the Care Label instructions. 2. Wash similar colors together with cold water, short cycle. 3. Clean all pieces of a matching outfit at the same time. 4. Store garments away from natural and artificial light. 5. Blot all stains immediately. Do Not Rub! 6. Soft drink stains dry invisible and will surface afterwards. 7. Use caution when applying perfume, hairspray and other alcohol substances. 8. Avoid perspiration stains. Clean garments immediately after wearing. 9. Point out any stains, spills, etc., to ViewCleaners.com immediately. 10. Have ViewCleaners.com test your garments for colorfastness. Back To Top

Rainwear Care for April Showers! Looking for a new raincoat? Here are some things to consider before buying and after the purchase is made. Raincoats come in many different fabrics, colors, prints and combinations. Some will have a shorter life than others. Rainwear fabrics should be color fast, retain shape, and have trim that will perform well under the care procedure that is on the care label. If any part of the garment fails, it should be returned to the retailer. Consumers typically wear their rainwear far too long before cleaning them. Soils will become deeply embedded in the garment and stains will set with age. To get the best results and the longest life out of the garment, clean it often. Here are some fabrics and their care problems. 1. Brushed Cotton: Very soft, natural look. Abrases easily and shows wear at edges. Wear becomes more visible after cleaning. 2. Rubber: Rubberized rainwear does not respond well to drycleaning, but can be wet cleaned. Colorfastness must be checked before wetcleaning. 3. Urethane Coatings: Slick-like leather look does not respond well to drycleaning. Glues used in the fusion of the fabric to vinyl will separate and abrase easily. 4. Microfibers: A tightly woven fabric which is almost water repellent due to its construction. This type of fabric responds well to drycleaning procedures. 5. Vinyls: Softening agents used in this material by the manufacturer prevents it from being drycleaned...even if the care label says otherwise. ViewCleaners.com can test it before you buy! Back To Top

Save your clothes from damage by insects, heat, mildew and light exposure How often have you lost the use of a treasured garment due to storing it in the attic without drycleaning it first to protect against moths? How often have you pulled a white garment out at the beginning of the season to find that it is covered with yellow or brown stains that weren't there when you put it away? Both of these dilemmas can be cured by properly cleaning and storing your clothes at the end of each season. Follow these tips to protect your clothes for many years of use. 1. Clean or dryclean everything before storage, even if you wore it once. 2. Make all necessary repairs before storage. 3. Store in a well ventilated, cool area. 4. Store away from all forms of light. 5. Use Moth-Proof Bags available from ViewCleaners.com. 6. Use acid free tissue when folding sweaters. 7. Store woolens in airtight containers with acid free tissue. 8. Furs should be stored in ViewCleaners.com's Professional Fur Vault. Back To Top

Fly A Clean Flag This Year! The months of May, June and July are great for flag waving. Everyone places banners by their front door or displays a flag to celebrate. When the celebration is over, it is time to take care of the item in order to make your investment last. Remember that your flags and banners are exposed to the elements such as bleaching sun, acid rain, mildew and mold. They need to be cleaned properly before storing and then stored properly. You can help your flags and banners last longer by following these tips: 1. Most flags are washable, however, to be safe take it to a professional drycleaner so they can determine if special attention or procedures are needed to clean the flag safely. Remember that fiber content and dyes vary from one flag to another. 2. Before home washing or drycleaning all trims, painted designs, adhesive designs, and each color must be tested for colorfastness. 3. Test for colorfastness before using any stain removal or cleansing products. 4. Check each seam and look for abrasions or tears. Mend and repair before cleaning. Torn seams will fray further in the cleaning process if not repaired before hand. 5. If you are not sure how to take care of your flag or banner, bring it to ViewCleaners.com for cleaning. 6. After cleaning, roll the flag or baner in a tube or fold, and place it in a box or storage container. If you wrap it, never use plastic. Use unbleached muslin that has been completely washed and rinsed. 7. The storage box or container should be stored in an area free of insects, moisture, excessive heat, and cold. Back To Top