Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
We love this super cute blog posting about The Laundress!
LAVISH LAUNDRY
Of course my first 'real' entry has to be about something as exciting as laundry (really hooks the audience). Working for California Closets for over 6 years, I learned a lot about caring for and preserving your belongings. Caring for your clothing is as important as organizing it! My believe around clothing is to buy great quality and take really good care of it. Nothing makes me more upset than wasting money on clothes that fall apart. I would rather spend $400 on a dress that lasts years, than $50 on something I can only wear a couple of times - my style is more classic with an edge, less trendy (I need to mention, though, that the best t-shirt on the market is the "My Favorite T" from the GAP. They're about $2o and better than anything else out there - expensive or cheap).
Back to laundry. The best laundry detergent I have ever used is from a small company called "The Laundress." The company was started by two friends who had years of experience in the textile and fashion world. They created a luxury fabric care line that helps to preserve all types of fabric, saves trips to the dry cleaner, is good for you and the environment, and has 4 different fragrance lines that smell divine. I love the whole line, but if I had to chose I would buy the "Delicate Wash", "Darks Detergent", "Fabric Fresh", and "Wool & Cashmere Shampoo"....it's really hard to choose because every product is amazing.
If you are used to grocery store bought detergent, the prices will shock you, but I justify this luxury by thinking about how long my clothing will look fabulous and the dry cleaning bills I won't have - plus, the products are concentrated. You can find this line in some high-end home and beauty boutiques, but I think it's easiest to buy from their website. Be sure to check out their whole website - I think it's amazing. I love the "Things We Love" posts...such a great idea for any business website.
Check out the products and let me know what you think.
Funny Note: When my boyfriend and I were discussing Valentine's Day, I said I didn't want anything because I would rather save for travel or for something in our newly remodeled house later in the year... but then I decided to ask him for some detergent from The Laundress. I'm not kidding. I'm such a romantic.
Check out her blog, The Krafty Life, here...
http://thekraftylife.blogspot.com/2009/02/lavish-laundry.html
LAVISH LAUNDRY
Of course my first 'real' entry has to be about something as exciting as laundry (really hooks the audience). Working for California Closets for over 6 years, I learned a lot about caring for and preserving your belongings. Caring for your clothing is as important as organizing it! My believe around clothing is to buy great quality and take really good care of it. Nothing makes me more upset than wasting money on clothes that fall apart. I would rather spend $400 on a dress that lasts years, than $50 on something I can only wear a couple of times - my style is more classic with an edge, less trendy (I need to mention, though, that the best t-shirt on the market is the "My Favorite T" from the GAP. They're about $2o and better than anything else out there - expensive or cheap).
Back to laundry. The best laundry detergent I have ever used is from a small company called "The Laundress." The company was started by two friends who had years of experience in the textile and fashion world. They created a luxury fabric care line that helps to preserve all types of fabric, saves trips to the dry cleaner, is good for you and the environment, and has 4 different fragrance lines that smell divine. I love the whole line, but if I had to chose I would buy the "Delicate Wash", "Darks Detergent", "Fabric Fresh", and "Wool & Cashmere Shampoo"....it's really hard to choose because every product is amazing.
If you are used to grocery store bought detergent, the prices will shock you, but I justify this luxury by thinking about how long my clothing will look fabulous and the dry cleaning bills I won't have - plus, the products are concentrated. You can find this line in some high-end home and beauty boutiques, but I think it's easiest to buy from their website. Be sure to check out their whole website - I think it's amazing. I love the "Things We Love" posts...such a great idea for any business website.
Check out the products and let me know what you think.
Funny Note: When my boyfriend and I were discussing Valentine's Day, I said I didn't want anything because I would rather save for travel or for something in our newly remodeled house later in the year... but then I decided to ask him for some detergent from The Laundress. I'm not kidding. I'm such a romantic.
Check out her blog, The Krafty Life, here...
http://thekraftylife.blogspot.com/2009/02/lavish-laundry.html
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Laundress is featured on Brides.com!
5 Questions With....The Laundress!
In addition to your wedding dress and accessories, you'll probably purchase and/or receive a variety of lingerie for your honeymoon. And unlike your dress, lingerie can be worn again and again so you'll need to know how to properly care for your intimates. We asked Lindsey Wieber and Gwen Whiting, co-founders of The Laundress—a line of luxury fabric care, specialty detergents and laundry-related accessories—how to travel with, clean and store lingerie. Here's what they had to say: —Anne Chertoff
How should one wash their lingerie? Are there some basic do's and don'ts?
The biggest rules are to always hand wash and air dry—no dryer. A laundry basin or sink are great options and always remember to wash in cold water that is best for delicate fabrics. If there are stains you may just want to add more detergent to make sure they are fully cleaned. Also remember to lay flat to dry so that it does not distort the item.
When traveling, is there a best way to pack and store your lingerie?
Yes! We recommend storing your items in storage bags so that you can avoid damage and protect them from other items in your suitcase. We recommend purchasing storage bags for all your intimates and laundry. It saves the embarrassment from any unwanted security checks into your bags. It keeps them nice and discreet.
Which fabrics should you always hand wash and which fabrics can go in a machine?
Cottons, linens, polyester and acetate and some rayons are fine for the machine, but silks, satin or any time of blends with those fabrics should be hand washed. If you are planning on using a machine, a mesh washing bag is always the best option, and remember not to keep it on a long washing cycle or in hot water. Only cold water for delicate items.
How do you spot clean lingerie?
We recommend using our Laundress Wash & Stain Bars for spot cleaning because they are a concentrated dose of detergent that allows you to clean the garment very effectively. You can use them just like a bar of soap and work them into the stains very gently. Make sure not to over soak as it may damage fabrics.
When storing lingerie in your home, are there any special instructions one should follow?
Lingerie can just be stored in a special cloth bags (not plastic) to avoid damage. You may also want to consider storing with a natural moth repellent infused with lavender to keep them fresh.
To see this article on brides.com - click here.
5 Questions With....The Laundress!
In addition to your wedding dress and accessories, you'll probably purchase and/or receive a variety of lingerie for your honeymoon. And unlike your dress, lingerie can be worn again and again so you'll need to know how to properly care for your intimates. We asked Lindsey Wieber and Gwen Whiting, co-founders of The Laundress—a line of luxury fabric care, specialty detergents and laundry-related accessories—how to travel with, clean and store lingerie. Here's what they had to say: —Anne Chertoff
How should one wash their lingerie? Are there some basic do's and don'ts?
The biggest rules are to always hand wash and air dry—no dryer. A laundry basin or sink are great options and always remember to wash in cold water that is best for delicate fabrics. If there are stains you may just want to add more detergent to make sure they are fully cleaned. Also remember to lay flat to dry so that it does not distort the item.
When traveling, is there a best way to pack and store your lingerie?
Yes! We recommend storing your items in storage bags so that you can avoid damage and protect them from other items in your suitcase. We recommend purchasing storage bags for all your intimates and laundry. It saves the embarrassment from any unwanted security checks into your bags. It keeps them nice and discreet.
Which fabrics should you always hand wash and which fabrics can go in a machine?
Cottons, linens, polyester and acetate and some rayons are fine for the machine, but silks, satin or any time of blends with those fabrics should be hand washed. If you are planning on using a machine, a mesh washing bag is always the best option, and remember not to keep it on a long washing cycle or in hot water. Only cold water for delicate items.
How do you spot clean lingerie?
We recommend using our Laundress Wash & Stain Bars for spot cleaning because they are a concentrated dose of detergent that allows you to clean the garment very effectively. You can use them just like a bar of soap and work them into the stains very gently. Make sure not to over soak as it may damage fabrics.
When storing lingerie in your home, are there any special instructions one should follow?
Lingerie can just be stored in a special cloth bags (not plastic) to avoid damage. You may also want to consider storing with a natural moth repellent infused with lavender to keep them fresh.
To see this article on brides.com - click here.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
“Bravo! The wool shampoo is wonderful! It saved me so much money at the cleaners and in this very difficult economic time that is saying a great Deal! It is a Great Deal. A wonderful product. A GREAT COMPANY.”
Thanks so much, Bernadette
(Customer Testimonial 1/13/09)
Thanks so much, Bernadette
(Customer Testimonial 1/13/09)
The Truth about Dry Cleaning
Here's a familiar scenario: you just splurged on a cashmere sweater for the fall season and after only few wears it begins to look downright dingy. Now, what do you do? Make a mad dash for the dry cleaner's? No!
Think back to the faint odor of chemicals you may have detected on your last set of dry cleaned garments. The EPA says that conventional dry cleaning involves toxic chemicals which may have dangerous, long-term impacts on your health and the environment. How much damage can that whiff of chemical odor do? Should I never dry clean again? What should I do about my "dry clean only" clothes? The Laundress team is here to put a few commonly-asked questions to rest. So, let's get started!
What exactly is dry cleaning?
Contrary to popular belief, dry cleaning is actually not "dry" at all. Dry cleaners use liquid chemicals, instead of water, to wash fabrics. Legend has it that dry cleaning was discovered accidentally in France during the late 1800’s - apparently, someone spilled turpentine on a badly stained tablecloth, which quickly became clean after the accident.
What's so bad about dry cleaning?
One word: PERC. Today, 85 percent out of the more than 35,000 professional dry cleaners in the United States use the chemical perchloroethylene (PERC) to clean clothes.
PERC is classified as a synthetic volatile organic compound (VOC), because it gives off dangerous and toxic vapors. It is a major air and water contaminant and can easily enter the body through inhalation or dermal absorption. PERC can also cause dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, and skin and respiratory irritation. If that doesn't sound bad enough, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified PERC as a possible human carcinogen.
So, what's the bottom line? Consumers bring home clothes full of PERC every day. The toxins can leak into the environment by getting into air, water and soil. The dry cleaning industry has experienced significant damage due to the costs of cleaning up contaminated sites after leaving trails of PERC and other harmful solvents behind.
What are my dry cleaning alternatives?
The good news is that there are non-toxic cleaning alternatives that are just as effective as dry cleaning with PERC. The bad news is some may not be any better than PERC. Here are a few methods you should know about:
HYDROCARBON:
Hydrocarbon cleaning methods use petroleum-based solvents as an alternative to PERC. However, beware - these cleaning methods are not any greener! Hydrocarbon cleaning carries all the environmental concerns of petroleum, including the fact that it's a major source of greenhouse gases. It is also a VOC and causes a variety of health risks.
Bottom line: Don’t use – not a healthy alternative for you or the environment.
GREENEARTH:
GreenEarth is an award-winning, silicone-based cleaning solution used to replace PERC in the dry cleaning process. The silicone-based solvent degrades to sand, water and carbon dioxide, so it doesn't require expensive clean-up. Also, it won't linger in your clothes, like PERC!
Bottom line: Potentially good alternative, but use at your own risk as its silicone-based cleaning process is still being assessed by the EPA as a potential carcinogen.
HANGERS:
Hangers Cleaners is a new technology that uses liquid carbon dioxide under high pressure. The non-toxic, naturally-occurring gas dissolves dirt, fats and oils in clothing. Although carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas, the samples used in this process are reused from existing industrial processes. In this way, carbon dioxide is eliminated from the environment and will not contribute to air pollution. Carbon dioxide poses minimal health damage, making this process a star in the green dry cleaning industry.
Bottom line: No environmental concerns, yet expensive making it hard for smaller businesses to adopt the method by becoming a franchise.
PROFESSIONAL WET CLEANING:
Professional wet cleaning is a cheaper and safer cleaning technique, widely used in Europe. This process uses water and computerized operations for precise control to gently wash garments. Wet cleaning involves no hazardous chemical use and therefore, no waste, pollution, or health risks.
Bottom line: The best overall alternative to conventional dry cleaning, just more time-intensive & may have a slightly weaker performance than other methods.
I see signs that say "organic" and "natural" on many dry cleaner signs. How can I tell if they really are environmentally-safe?
If you’re wondering if it’s really green? Ask! Be sure to ask about for specific methods and chemicals the next time you want to dry clean a garment. Some dry cleaners will advertise as "green" or "organic," but actually use just as harmful processes to clean your clothes.
The most common misconceptions involve hydrocarbon cleaning methods. Some dry cleaners market hydrocarbon as "organic," but this is only true in the scientific sense of the word. Yes, the method involves carbon-based, or organic, solvents but they will also add to greenhouse gases and pollute the environment! Remember, hydrocarbon methods do not represent a green alternative to PERC.
If you're looking to use liquid carbon dioxide cleaning, ask if they use a Solvair machine. These machines replace PERC with glycol ether, a suspected neuron, respiratory and kidney toxin. Solvair machines only rinse the clothes in liquid carbon dioxide - they do not use liquid carbon dioxide for the entire process. Don't be fooled by these businesses who advertise liquid carbon dioxide methods. The Carbon Dioxide Dry Cleaners Alliance does not allow Solvair cleaners to become members.
What would the Laundress do?
Believe it or not, you rarely have to dry clean. The Laundress is a huge supporter of hand washing. Laundering your own clothes means saving energy, money and your health.
Cashmere, wool, silk and synthetics are all washable. Follow label instructions on the back of our products to ensure the successful revival of all your fabrics. Our website also offers a handful of tips on hand washing and drying your "dry clean only" garments. To learn more, click “here.”
The Laundress also loves steamers. Steaming kills bacteria with just hot water vapor which is a great allergy solution. Simple, easy-to-use, and quick! It eliminates odors and you can also use a steamer on mattresses, upholstery, carpets & more.
Any more questions?
Feel free to post a question/comment or contact us if you have any more questions on this topic. Happy Laundering!
List of PERC FREE Dry-Cleaners:
www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/garment/gcrg/cleanguide.pdf
http://www.myfreshshirt.com/
Resources:
http://www.laundrylist.org/
http://www.greenearthcleaning.com/prospective/drycleaningprocess.asp
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/06/green_dry_clean.php
http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/realmoney/articles/drycleaning.cfm
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-dry-cleaning.html
http://www.thelaundress.com/LaundryTips/recipes.asp
http://www.jiffysteamer.com/
http://www.americandrycleaner.com
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