• Wash and dry clean everything before storage. Some stains that are now invisible may darken with age. Dirt and food are also invitations to insects.
• Make all necessary repairs—sew sagging hemlines, replace missing buttons, and fix split seams— before cleaning and storing for the season.
• Store all items in a cool, well-ventilated area. Hot attics, damp basements, and garages are to be avoided.
• Store away from natural and artificial light. A cool, dark closet is a good location for storage.
• Store woolens in cedar chests or other airtight containers. Second choices for storage are cloth or canvas bags and cardboard boxes. If you store your garments in a closet, drape a cloth sheet over your clothes to protect them from dust and light. Do not store leathers, furs, and woolens in plastic. Plastic encourages moisture, which can create mildew.
• Pack airtight containers (other than cedar chests) with mothballs suspended above or separate from the clothes—never place mothballs directly on the clothes. Cedar blocks or chips also discourage moths.
• To decrease wrinkles in sweaters, fold them and wrap in white tissue paper before storing. If you hang your sweaters, fold over the cross bar to avoid shoulder stretches. Down, like all winter clothing, should be cleaned (either washed or dry cleaned according to the care label) before storage. Down should be stored loosely to allow for air circulation.
• Furs should be stored on a well-padded hanger in a cool, dark place, ideally with a professional fur storage company or a dry cleaner with fur storage capacity.
• If you do not have proper storage space, ask us about box storage. You can get your clothes cleaned and properly stored all at the same time.

Spring Cleaning Help!

Q. During my spring cleaning, I washed my couch cushion cover it is now too small, totally off color, and crumbly on the inside when I got it out of the laundry. What happened?

A. The fabric covering for stuffed furniture and cushions is known as upholstery. The covers on the cushions usually have a zipper, giving rise to the myth that the cushions can be taken out and the cover can be cleaned, much like a pillow case to a bed set. This is not true; in fact, the zipper was put on for the convenience of the manufacturer. Most manufacturers do not expect the cover to be removed from the cushion during use or cleaning.
One should never remove cushion covers for separate dry cleaning or washing. Any tumble cleaning method can destroy the back and shrink or otherwise damage the upholstery fabric. There are several different cleaning methods from spot cleaning to a light rub that can work on upholstery. Since each fabric is different and the correct method is not obviously apparent, the best thing to do is take the item to us with the cushion inside the casing. We will take care of the rest!

What is Perchloroethylene?

Perchloroethylene, also called perc, is a toxic chemical that is classified as a hazardous air and ground water contaminant; and must be handled as a hazardous waste. Further, it has been shown to be a potential carcinogen, as well as posing other health risks. It can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some people, and often leaves an unpleasant smell in fabrics. Unfortunately, it is also the most common chemical used by dry cleaners and laundry services for their dry cleaning process. Statistics reveal that over 65% of the dry cleaning establishments in the Chicago area still use perc. However, there are safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible alternatives to perc; namely; alternative hydrocarbon based dry cleaning solvents.

What are hydrocarbon dry cleaning solvents?

The early hydrocarbon solvents, from the 1940′s, were derived from petroleum or gasoline feedstock. The flash points of the early hydrocarbons were very low, meaning that the solvents did not have to be heated much before explosive vapors would form. Early hydrocarbons contained aromatics like benzene and toluene that we now know are hazardous and unpleasant to humans.

Today’s hydrocarbon dry cleaning solvents are vastly improved from the primitive ones years ago. Today’s alternative modifications are a synthetically manufactured product, which means that their high purity can be guaranteed. Further, their physical properties can also be carefully controlled, so they can be sold under tight specifications. They have a much higher flash point than those of the 1940′s, which translates into increased safety; since the chances that the solvent will form explosive vapors are virtually eliminated. Combined with the safety systems engineered into today’s more environmentally responsible dry cleaning machines, modern hydrocarbons (such as the DF 2000) are a safe choice as a dry cleaning solvent.

http://www.df2000.com/index_contentA.html

Are hydrocarbon solvents safe for the environment?

The hydrocarbon solvents used today, with their high purity, are completely safe for the environment, as well as for laundry service employees and customers. Bacteria in the soil will naturally degrade the hydrocarbons, and exposure tests in aquatic systems show no fish kills when hydrocarbon solvents are introduced.

The same hydrocarbons that are sold today for use in dry cleaning are also sold in the personal care market. They are used in makeup, hand cleaners, lotions, and dozens of other cosmetic products. In addition, they are approved for use in direct food contact applications, such as beet sugar manufacture and vegetable cleaning.

Why choose a dry cleaning service that uses hydrocarbons?

As stated above, hydrocarbon solvents have a clear advantage over perchloroethylene when it comes to being safe for the environment; as well as for your personal health and the health of your family. By choosing a dry cleaner or laundry service that uses hydrocarbon solvents, you are helping to reduce environmental pollution and are providing your family with clothes that are cleaned with a process that you can be certain will cause no health problems. In addition, your clothes will have a fresh, clean scent rather than the unpleasant chemical smell of clothing cleaned with perc or Stoddard C-class petroleum used by some major market names.

Why is Firbimatic different from the rest?

• Continuous filtration of fluids to remove micro particles of soil and contaminants; double lint filtration with an ecological spin filter; pre-programmed, automatic fluid distillation process.
• Vortex Vapor Induction Drying System greatly reduces drying times through the use of a specially designed drying chamber; with its unique fan placement, and condensing and heat pump coils. This technology increases the flow of both air and solvent vapor into the recovery chamber; with auto lockouts eliminating emissions and any escape of Freon gas.
• The COMBI computer allows a constant drying temperature, with a cool down feature improving quality and facilitating easier finishing.
• Constant monitoring of moisture and detergent charge to maintain cleaning fluid purity, clarity, and pH to eliminate shrinkage and change of appearance.
• Maintaining constant temperature of fluids to eliminate dye run or dye transfer in cleaning.
• Added textiles supplement “Enliven” for garment body and softness.

Laurens uses the finest cleaning agents available in the industry with a keen eye toward safety, comfort, and environmental responsibility.  A Class III A/B hydrocarbon cleaning fluid replaces the outmoded, expensive, and highly flammable petroleum solvent with its strong, telltale odor. Another solvent, PERC (perchloroethylene), is still used by 85% of the smaller operations in our area.  PERC is abrasive on clothing, harsh to your skin, and toxic to the environment, due to its identification by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen.  California has outlawed its use; and Illinois is considering following suit. It contaminates the groundwater and pollutes the air with harmful emissions. Laurens has never used it!  We are a TOTALLY GREEN COMPANY, using only natural, eco-friendly products; while recycling plastic bags and hangers (over 160K annually) to help reduce landfill waste. We do not charge environmental impact fees to our customers to pay to dispose of dirty solvent or spent cartridges as other competitors!

What sets Laurens Cleaners apart from our competition?

• One of the few who actually pre-spot garments and textiles for optimum quality.
• Full range of dry cleaning and laundry services including alterations, area rugs, bed pillows and linens, comforters, cushions, draperies (including take down/ rehang), heirlooming (wedding and christening gowns), leather and fur, reweaving, table linens, and upholstery.
• Laurens “Executive Shirt Service” shirt service is unequaled! We use a soil penetrant to reduce soil rings; and a state-of-the-art liquid injection system, which ensures whiter whites, more vivid colors.
  • “Personal Valet” shirt service includes:

1)      Replacing broken or missing buttons; whether they arrived like that, or stressed buttons which crack in process; matching existing ones, or replacing whole sets if no match is available.

2)      Replace or provide collar stays as needed.

3)      Use “butterflies” over top buttons to form collars as “fresh from the press”.

4)      Use cuff clips on French cuffs for ease in using cuff links.

• NO Environmental surcharges levied upon our customers to pay for disposal of dirty solvent or spent cartridges as required by law!
• NO Delivery fees.

Laurens Cleaners is a Professional Member of the Dry Cleaners and Launderers Institute (DLI) with educational, textile laboratory analysis, and technical training available to garment care professionals since 1883.

Firbimatic is distributed locally by Haiges Machinery in Huntley.