By brightleaf Displaying our national symbol is actually covered by an official Flag Code. For instance, the flag should not be flown in the dark or inclement weather. It should not be used as decoration – that’s a job for bunting, streamers and decorative materials. Always display the blue part on top. When the flag is lowered, it should never touch the ground or any other objects, it should be gathered by waiting hands and arms, respectfully and ceremoniously folded (ask a veteran how). Flags should be mended and cleaned when needed – we clean American flags at no charge as a courtesy year-round. Show your pride and fly the flag, especially this Sunday on Flag Day. …read more From:: Flag etiquette.

By brightleaf As we thankfully return to a more-normal schedule, hanging up the stay-at-home sweatpants and reviewing those go-to-work clothes in the closet, it’s a good time to edit out the seldom-worns and the slightly-snugs and donate them to a thrift shop. Bring us the garments that need a freshening, a new button or an adjustment in the waistline. And as always, we’ll help you look your very best. …read more From:: Dressing for business.

By brightleaf If you’re lucky enough to enjoy an outdoor clothesline, here are a few old tricks to drying laundry outdoors. Turn right-side out and shake damp laundry to smooth out wrinkles before hanging. Dry shirts on hangers for crease-free results, ready for touchup ironing. Hang pants by the bottom hem. That’s the way to hang t-shirts and polos, too. Hang like items together to make sorting and folding go faster. Splurge on good wooden clothespins and don’t forget to wipe down the clothesline when it gets grimy. Enjoy the crisp texture and fresh smell from line-drying. And it’s free! …read more From:: Hanging out.

By brightleaf We made it through winter and spring with the Covid-19 pandemic threatening lives, livelihoods and pretty much upsetting our daily routines. When you don’t go to work, school, church or restaurants, your needs for dry cleaning and laundry services diminish to a slow trickle. Like other community businesses, we depend on local customers to keep our doors open, our employees busy and our families fed. We appreciate every relationship we’ve built over the years and thank you for allowing us to serve you. We look forward to seeing you as soon as circumstances (and health officials) allow. …read more From:: June’s here!

By brightleaf There’s been a lot of bleach spread around lately to kill the coronavirus. Using bleach in your laundry certainly sanitizes, but it can also damage your garments. Not all fabrics are color-safe, so test an inconspicuous area with chlorine bleach before it’s too late. Always use any type of bleach in a well-ventilated area and protect your skin from direct contact. Bleach performs best with hot water. Some machines have a bleach dispenser, if not add the bleach during the wash cycle. Rinse well and enjoy. …read more From:: Bleach safely.

By brightleaf Anything made of leather needs maintenance, especially if it’s been exposed to winter conditions. Wipe shoes and boots with a damp cloth, especially if salt-stained. Inspect jackets and coats for damage, tears or stains before hanging on a well-padded hanger for storage. Use leather conditioner on dry spots like elbows and seams. Frequently worn items should be professionally cleaned every year to maintain the leather, preserve the color and prevent permanent staining. …read more From:: Stowing winter leathers.

By brightleaf Loved caps carry more than good memories. They’re seldom fresh, always sweat stained with sometimes a touch of mustard on the brim. Really Simple offers a quick way to freshen: Add a drop of mild laundry detergent to a sink or basin filled with cool water. Soak the hat for ten minutes, rinse thoroughly and blot dry with a clean towel. Avoid twisting the brim and hang to dry. See the full article for deep clean tricks, cautions and tips using a dishwasher for baseball caps! …read more From:: Washing a baseball cap.

By brightleaf Summer’s here and white sneakers are a great way to round out a casual look. Fashion site whowhatwear.com suggests gently rubbing the shoe surfaces with a mix of 2 cups warm water and ¼ cup of laundry detergent. Rinse your scrub brush in fresh water often. Wipe down with a clean towel and rescrub remaining stains, or use a stain remover. When you’re satisfied, stuff the clean shoes with wadded newspapers and air dry outdoors. In a rush? Put your sneakers in a mesh bag and wash on gentle cycle, warm water. …read more From:: Keep white shoes white.

By brightleaf Here’s a new tip for a category of cleaning we’ve not known before. Cloth masks are helping slow the spread of Covid-19, and after using may collect virus particles. Just throw preshrunk and washable masks in the washing machine with other outdoor clothes, launder in hot water and dry on high heat. Another option is to seal used masks in a plastic bag and wait a week for possible viral contamination to die. Keep your cleaned masks isolated to keep them uncontaminated. …read more From:: Face mask cleaning.

By brightleaf The COVID-19 pandemic has us all thinking about cleaning, especially where we’re spending most of our time. Like you, we’re wiping often-touched surfaces like door handles, counter tops and even our screens on phones, tablets and computers. Every garment we clean is sanitized, and we keep it sanitized all through the delivery process. To thoroughly clean garments, towels and bed linens at home, launder in water that’s above 80° F to sanitize fabrics — without the need for chlorine bleach. Heat in the dryer helps, too. Stay safe, stay well. Wash your hands often, and we’ll get through this together. …read more From:: Clean, cleaner, cleanest.