Dry Cleaning Tips

Extreme example of salt burned shearling.

If you wore your shearling over the winter and it was splashed with slush or snow it should be checked for salt damage.

Salt can burn the skins of a shearling making it difficult or impossible to correct during cleaning.

Areas of shearling burned by salt will appear dark and will become stiff or hard. The texture of the shearling will change from buttery soft to card-board like in burned areas.

If your shearling is black, navy or other dark color the burned areas may be difficult to see. You should feel the bottom of your coat near the hem for damaged areas.

Consult an expert in shearling cleaning for any garment you suspect was burned by salt.

During cleaning, oils can be hand applied to the salt burned areas in some cases the issue can be helped, but usually the only way to completely correct the damaged area is to remove or replace the damaged skin. The coat to the right needed to be shortened 12 inches to remove the salt damaged area.

Your man Jeeves’ cleaning method keeps shearling looking fabulous and maintains the “soft as butter” feel, and is considered an expert in shearling cleaning.

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

New Yorkers did not suffer this past winter, in fact the only significant winter weather episode occurred on Halloween. Despite the lack of snow, we did have some cold weather and winter wardrobes were worn.

With temperatures hovering in the mid 70′s last week in New York City, shorts and flip-flops were spied on on the Upper East Side. What should you do with your winter clothes before you switch over to spring and summer? How about sending your winter wardrobe on a spring break?

Your man Jeeves advice is simple, anything that was worn should be cleaned before being put away. This advice is not unique to Jeeves, all wardrobe experts will advise you of the same.

Moths love left over bits of food and perfumes left on your woolens. These areas will be feasted on leaving you with holes and tears in the fall.

Stains that may be invisible now can become almost “impossible to remove” yellow areas after fermenting in the heat of summer. (Champagne and white wine are stains that will oxidized over time.)

Any fabric garments stored for an extended period of time should be put away in a dark, cool and dry environment. Storing fur, leather and suede requires addition attention.

High value garments should be stored under precise temperature and humidity. Jeeves’ cold storage vault has a highly sophisticated controls for the ideal high security environment for furs, leather and suede. The Jeeves fur vault will keep the skins of your garments soft and supple for years to come.

Taking care of your winter wardrobe is easy, ring your man Jeeves, and our staff can make arrangements for cleaning and storage of anything that you wore this past winter.

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

As the weather alludes to a change in seasons, from an imperceptible winter to spring, we New Yorkers begin to think, our closets should shadow the change. If there is one thing Jeeves knows about New Yorkers, it’s how limited our closets are in space. He understands that there is only enough room to work with the present season’s wardrobe.

So, as you debate making the change from winter garments to summer garments more permanent, Jeeves will ask you to take into consideration these vital tips for storing your winter wardrobe:

#1 – It’s imperative that you clean your winter garments prior to storing them.

Despite our mild winter, you’re winter garments should all be cleaned before they are stored away for the next two seasons. Moths like to feed on perfumes and perspiration, so cleaning prevents a feast.

Not to mention, if your garments have any stains, including stains that are not visible to the naked eye, these will oxidize (turn yellow) with time and become almost impossible to remove, even by Jeeves.

#2 – Store all furs, leathers and suedes in a temperature humidity controlled area, away from the sun.

Just as Jeeves’ storage is, all storage locations for furs, leathers and suedes should be temperature controlled and humidity controlled, in order to keep your garments looking pristine for the next fall and winter seasons.

#3 – If you would prefer a professional to clean and store your furs, leathers and suedes, Jeeves would be happy to assist you in doing so.

He has even made his complimentary pick-up and delivery service available to you, in order to help ease the process of moving the garments. All you have to do is ring the Jeeves shop, and they’ll dispatch the driver for you.

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

Your man, Jeeves, would like to extend his most heartfelt congratulations to one of his clients, Christopher Plummer. Mr. Plummer won an Oscar last Sunday, for Best Supporting Actor for “Beginners.”

Unbelievably, this is his first Academy Award. However, he has amazingly left his mark on the acting world by setting the bar high with many other unforgettable roles.

Watch as he accepts his first award, by clicking the link below:

http://perezhilton.com/2012-02-26-oscars-2012-christopher-plummer-acceptance-speech/?feat=yes#.T1FTB47HiV8

Congratulations again, Christopher. You are truly a one-of-a-kind!

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

This week your man Jeeves got a call from the Metropolitan Opera House with an emergency request. We needed to clean, in 24 hours, the kimono worn for the lead female role.

The robe was in desperate need of cleaning as it was stained with makeup, soil and perspiration. The lads at the Jeeves workshop worked late into the night as the kimono was very fragile, covered with silk embellishments.

After much hand-cleaning and extensive hand-steaming the kimono was rushed back to the Met in time for the evening performance in perfect condition.

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

Every girl has a pair of super black jeans that fit to perfection. What do you do when the inevitable fading occurs after months of washing?

If the “faded to gray” look isn’t working for you what are your options? The easiest is to buy a new pair, but what if you just can find the perfect pair again? Jean makers constantly change the styles and consequently the fit may suffer. Maybe the perfect fit is your faded black pair.

An option is to have your jeans re-dyed back to super black. We at Jeeves recently dyed two of our client’s favorite True Religion black jeans back to super black. Gone was the gray and back was the black; the the fit, of course, was perfect.

She was so happy that she sent in a third pair a week later.

Figure on about one week to ten days to have your jeans properly dyed by Jeeves, but the wait will be worth it.

Jeeves has also dyed pink bridesmaids dresses black, dyed blouses to fix faded underarms and dyed trousers horribly stained with bleach.

Not everything can be dyed successfully, but Jeeves’ client service representatives will be more than happy to discuss your options. Dying starts at $100 per garment.

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

Dry Cleaning Tips

Two wedding dresses, that were once beautiful and vibrant, were recently shipped to Jeeves with mold issues.

Both dresses were sent from a different, devastated bride in a quandary. Initially, they both thought that restoration of their dress was impossible, given the amount of mold that had infected each one.

 For each dress, the mold issue could have been avoided, had it not been placed in a plastic bag whilst damp for transportation after the wedding.
The first dress, took a dip in the Caribbean, along with the bride and groom, as the photographer choreographed a sunset portrait. When the dress emerged from the sea, only the hem was wet. The dress was then zipped up inside the plastic garment bag, sealing the moisture in, where it sat in St. Maarten for a week. When the bride arrived home, to New York, the hem of the dress was covered in black mold.

The problem with the second dress, started innocently enough. A smudge of cake frosting on the front was washed away, with bottled water, after the reception. The bodice was more than damp, and the dress was placed in the plastic garment bag for shipping back to New York. Once the dress arrived, a greenish, black mold had infected the top of the dress.

Both dresses could be restored, but the results were mixed. About 90% of the mold was removed from the dress that swimming in the sea, where as, a full 100% of the mold was removed from the other dress. A tremendous amount of additional time and labor was needed for both restoration projects, which added hundreds of dollars to the original fee.

Here is a guide for all brides. Four things are necessary for mold to grow.

1. Moisture.

2. Heat.

3. A closed environment.

4. Time (Mold starts growing in 72 hours).

Jeeves does not recommend that you store ANY garment in plastic, especially your wedding dress. If your bridal gown has gotten wet or damp on your wedding day, please let it air dry before placing into any garment bag. A short time after your wedding, you should consider having your dress cleaned, as stains and soil will be more difficult to remove the longer you wait.

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

Your man Jeeves knows his clients are no strangers to shearling garments. Let’s face it, shearling is a fashionable way to keep super warm now that the temperatures have dipped in the single digits in New York.

However, because shearling is an investment and the winter weather can wreak havoc on your winter wardrobe, most shearling owners find themselves hesitant to pull them from out of the closet on the nasty days.

Jeeves wants you to be happy, fashionable and warm, so he put together a little list of tips that will bring you comfort while you wear that shearling garment in any weather. Here is his advice:

#1 – Keep your shearling away from salt.
The salt can burn the skin, making it as hard as cardboard. If splashed with salt and/or snow, have your shearling garment cleaned ASAP.

#2 – If your shearling gets wet, air dry it.
Never put it into a clothes dryer.

#3 – When your shearling shows signs of soil, have it cleaned.
If you wait until it is extremely dirty, it may never look new again.

#4 – Hang up your shearling on a proper hanger.
Don’t use a skimpy wire hanger or a door knob. You will distort the skins.

#5 – Never store shearling in plastic.
Use a breathable, cloth garment bag.

#6 – Don’t store shearling in a place that gets direct sunlight.
This may cause damage to the dye of the shearling.

#7 – When your shearling needs to be cleaned, consult an expert.
Your neighborhood dry cleaner may not have the expertise to take care of your investment properly. Cleaning shearling is not like cleaning fabric.

#8 – Never put tape or stickers on your shearling to indicate stained areas.
The stickers will leave marks, that may not come out after cleaning.

Jeeves has the expertise you and your shearling need, as well as, over 30 years of luxury cleaning experience.

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

The decision to clean and preserve your wedding dress is very important.  Whether you’re hoping your dress becomes a family heirloom or you expect to wear it again yourself one day, understanding the delicate nature of your special garment may help make the decision a bit easier.

In normal wearing, skin oils and perspiration are absorbed into the fabric – wine, champagne or other sugary beverages may have even spilled on your dress; these organic compounds will undoubtedly damage the fabric if they are not neutralized or properly removed.

Here at Jeeves, we uphold the importance of having your bridal gown professionally cleaned before being stored long-term.  In fact, in addition to cleaning, proper storage is vital to the overall safety and security of such a special garment.  Scientific research proves that archival materials can protect delicate fabric from age and decay.  For these reasons, we strongly advise against having gown vacuum-sealed as plastics are used.  Instead, the preservation process must ensure that your gown be wrapped in acid-free materials before being placed in an acid-free textile storage box.

The box should be stored in an area where temperature and humidity levels are as constant as possible, preferably in a closet that is located on an interior wall; attics or basements are not appropriate locations for storage – in fact, spaces that are in close proximity to heating or air conditioning vents, pipes and even spaces that are exposed to direct sunlight should be carefully avoided.

Upon storage, about every 2-3 years your box should be opened and your gown inspected.  But brides remember, always wash your hands with a small amount of baking soda and warm water before handling this precious garment or wear cotton gloves.

For your convenience, if you live or work in the Manhattan area, we would love to arrange a pick-up and return of your gown after it has been cleaned and preserved; outside of Manhattan we can arrange for pick-up and delivery with our partnership with FEDEX. This is just the final detail that protects all of your wedding day memories and guarantees your gown’s perfect preservation for years to come!

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner

Ever heard the phrase “desperate times call for desperate measures?”  Well, in our case the phrase is “drastic times call for drastic measures” because sometimes it takes drastic measures to achieve the most drastically-perfect results.  This week, a drastic time was met with drastic measures in making a one-of-a-kind gold lame Jackie Rogers gown camera-ready for the Bravo TV show, “Fashion Hunters” (airing soon).

A red ink stain from a Sharpie marker that found its way onto the silk lame of this beautiful gown would undoubtedly be no match made in heaven for any dry cleaner; the fabric is whisper thin and oh, so fragile – one small error and you’re left with yards of what is then nothing but worthless gold lame.

This “drastic task” inspired us to reflect upon the story of an old dry cleaner who once told Jeeves he could get any stain out of any garment – 100% of the time. We were thoroughly impressed – he had mastered the delicate art of using a pair of scissors.

Meanwhile, our lads in the workshop tried and tried to free the gown of its horrid red stain, but it just wouldn’t release its hold on the lame.  Was Jeeves defeated?

As if in a light-bulb moment we thought, “what if we used scissors?!” and instantly our head tailor got to work nipping and tucking to create a beautiful gather and perfect fold.  The result?  No more red stain, gold lame ready for its fashionista close-up!

Oh, and the answer to that “drastic” question? No, Jeeves remains undefeated!

Dry Cleaning Tips - by Jeeves, NYC's FInest Dry Cleaner