The Clean Files by Janet Davis Dry Cleaners

Top Blogs in Detroit

2011-12-14T13:42:00.000-05:00

There is more to life than dry cleaning. I'm sure you are already aware of this, but for me dry cleaning is my life. Today I'm going make a bit of a segue (not the two wheel transportation device but rather a transition between topics) from my normal discourse to a list of top Metro Detroit blogs. The blogs listed below are in no particular order and are loosely categorized for your reading pleasure. Most are written about Detroit, but all are written in Detroit. Are there any big ones I missed? Talk about it in the comments section!

Bargains
http://www.bargainstobounty.com/
http://www.freeismylife.com/

Sports
http://www.prideofdetroit.com/
http://detroit4lyfe.com/
http://www.jimbrandstatter.com/brandys-blog.html

Mom Blog
http://www.detroitmommies.com/

About Detroit
http://www.detroitmoxie.com/
http://www.detroitblog.org/
http://www.sweet-juniper.com/
http://www.thepeopleofdetroit.com/

Food
http://thehungrydudes.com/blog
http://www.glutenfreedetroitmetro.com/

Photo Credit: laughlin

Problems with Using a Dry Cleaners

2011-12-08T11:19:00.000-05:00

The dry cleaning industry has one of the lowest customer satisfaction ratings of any service industry. What I’ve noticed is that there are a few good dry cleaners out there, but unfortunately the number of bad operators outweigh the number of good ones. What is it about dry cleaners that people don’t like?

It takes time

Gone are the days of one hour dry cleaning. Shoot, one cleaning cycle on our dry cleaning machine takes longer than an hour (but we can get your clothes a lot cleaner than those old machines used to). At a quality dry cleaners, there are a lot of steps we have to complete before we can give your clothes back. We have to put a tag on your clothes (to make sure each item makes it back to its respective owner), pre-spot, clean, inspect, press (like ironing), inspect again, assemble, and bag everything before your items are ready for you. Services like free pickup & delivery help take the time issue out of the equation, but you still need to plan ahead to have your clothes ready when you need them.

It’s not free

As outlined above, there are a lot of steps that go into dry cleaning your garments, so unfortunately, dry cleaning isn’t free. At even the most automated dry cleaners, labor is the biggest portion of your final bill. What you are paying for is the personal touch and care when you are using a cleaning service.

Occasionally we make a mistake

Dry cleaners don’t like to admit it, but sometimes we make the occasional blooper or blunder. Usually it’s a simple oversight that can cause a big problem. It’s easy to give out an extra garment or cross a pair of pants. We double check every item before it’s done, but sometimes even the best of us make a mistake. A good dry cleaners will do everything they can do double check everything and use computers to help. A great dry cleaner will make sure if they do make a mistake that they’ll make right on it as well.

What did your dry cleaners do to get under your skin? What did they do to fix the problem? Talk about it in the comments section.

Photo Credit: tracitodd

Janet Davis Cleaners Selected for Metro Detroit Editors Choice Award

2011-12-05T18:03:00.002-05:00

Here at Janet Davis Cleaners we were recently honored to be selected as one of two best dry cleaners in Detroit in the StyleLine Editors Choice Metro Detroit Shopping & Services Guide.

The guide had this to say about us, "The details translate to great service. That's why garments cleaned at Janet Davis are ready-to-wear and without missing buttons. Janet Davis offers a button guarantee on laundered shirts, cleaning two shirts for free if a broken or missing button is overlooked. Knowing dry-cleaning delivery service is a real time-saver, the business offers the service throughout Oakland and Wayne counties, delivery cleaned garments from casual to couture. The business also is expert at cleaning and preserving wedding gowns and is a member of MILD (the Michigan Institute of Laundering and Dry Cleaning) and AWGS (the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists). Open 7a.m.-7p.m. Monday-Friday; 8a.m-5p.m. Saturday."

Dave Matthews, the President and CEO of Janet Davis Dry Cleaners had this to say about being selected, "We provide the highest level of service to every garment and it shows when we are recognized for an honor like this."

6 Holiday Gifts to Keep the Man in Your Life Looking Great!

2011-11-30T15:50:00.002-05:00

Shopping for the man in your life can often be a daunting task. As I man I can understand, we're simple creatures and if there is something we really want, we find a way to buy it. So what do you buy your dad, husband, or brother this year? Something to make him look great, without having to guess this current size or style. Here are 6 items you can buy for the man in your life this holiday season.

6. A Valet
These can range from a simple 'jewelry box for men' to a free standing piece of furniture that holds a suit and everything you'd wear with it. Some use it to pick their clothes for the next day, others use it to mix and match patterns to create a unique style. Either way, any man that owns a suit will appreciate a suit valet (Note: I do NOT make any money from any of the links contained in this article).

5. Tie Rack
The best way to organize your ties is with a nice tie rack. The best tie racks are motorized and spin so you can really see all of your silk neck fashions.

4. Shoe Shine Kit
Shoe polish has been popular since WWI. As long as your man has dress shoes, why shouldn't he have the tools to help them look their best. The guys in the airport know how to do it best, but that doesn't mean it cant be done at home. Check out these tips from Kiwi for more details.

3.Travel Valet
This simple device is the perfect gift for the man who wears a suit or sport coat on a regular basis. It looks like a hanger that attaches to a seat back so the coat or blazer can hang properly and keep it's fresh from the dry cleaners appearance.

2. Shoe Tree

Although simple looking, shoe trees are instrumental in extending the life of a good dress shoe. Shoe trees help keep that new shoe look going for as long as possible. For best results, use a set of shoe trees for each pair of shoes in the closet.

1. Power Stays

Power Stays have to be the coolest new things for men. Power stays are like regular collar stays in that they keep you collar straight instead of letting it curl, but it adds a magnet to keep it in same spot all day. The picture above illustrates how it works.

Do you have any experience with the products I mentioned above? Talk about it in the comments section.

Top photo credit: nSeika

All other photos link directly to their respective purchase pages. I get no credit or commission for any of the products mentioned in this post.

The Brides Project

2011-10-21T15:52:00.006-04:00

Janet Davis Cleaners is proud to announce their involvement with The Brides Project. The Brides Project is a non-profit organization that sells donated wedding gowns to help fund free support services to those who have been touched by cancer.

How to Purchase A Gown

The Brides Project is a bridal boutique that sells donated new and pre-worn wedding gowns at the retail location in downtown Ann Arbor. All appointments must be made in advance by calling (734) 418-3332 or by going to thebridesproject.org.

How You Can Help

Many of the gowns donated are from other bridal salons from across metro detroit that may be floor samples or from last seasons collection. Other dresses have been donated from brides who don't want their gowns preserved and don't know what else to do with them. To donate a gown, you can use the same contact information found above.

Support

The Brides Project wouldn't be possible with the support of it's volunteers and donations from individuals and businesses alike.

Where Does The Money Go?

The proceeds from The Brides Project go to the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. This non-profit organization provides free social and emotional support that will help people better cope with the effects of cancer, while enhancing their quality of life.

Here at Janet Davis Dry Cleaners, we are proud of our involvement with such a great cause.

How To Fly A Wedding Gown to a Destination Wedding

2011-08-31T13:30:00.000-04:00

Are you headed to the tropics for your dream beach wedding but don't know the best way to get your wedding dress there with you? There are a few different ways to get your wedding gown to your destination wedding. You can pack it, carry it, ship it, or buy it there. Depending on where you are going and what style of dress you chose will likely dictate which option is best for you.

Bring Your Dress as a Carry On

The option that will keep your dress the safest will be to carry your dress on with you. This way you'll know where your dress is at all times and you run little risk of somebody else losing it en route to your big day. There are some limitations here, first there is limited storage space to hang your gown up, so always call ahead once you have your airfare booked. Here is what Delta Airlines has to say about carrying on your wedding gown.

Many brides take their wedding dress on the plane as carry-on luggage, but BE SURE it is an approved size, as some airplanes do not have extra room for oversized carry-on pieces. It is advised to make arrangements with the airline in advance. Some airlines allow the large "coat closets" in the first-class cabin area to be used for bridal gown storage.

If you cant use the first class coat storage closet, plan on bringing your gown in a carefully packed, carry on size, suitcase or specially sized carry on box packed by a dry cleaners who specializes in wedding gowns.
Pros: Lowest chance of losing your dress.
Cons: May not be able to hang dress. Dress may not fit in an approved size carry on.

Bring Your Gown as Checked Luggage

The next option is to pack your gown into a suitcase and check it your other luggage. You would pack it the same way as suggested above only now you can use a bigger bag (works better for gowns with multiple layers or a long train).
Pros: Dress will arrive when you do. Can use bigger suitcase than for carry on.
Cons: There is a chance your luggage will be lost. Many airlines charge a fee for checked baggage.

Ship Your Wedding Gown via USPS, UPS or FedEx

With prices that may be less than an additional carry on, shipping your gown to your destination may be an attractive option. My sister got married in Disney World and mailed her wedding gown to my grandparents house two weeks before the wedding. Before she even stepped on the plane she knew the dress was safe and sound hanging in my grandparents guest bedroom closet. Call ahead to your destination to see if you can make arrangements before you ship your gown, you don't want the hotel you staying at the refuse the shipment and have it sent back!
Pros: May be cheaper than checking with airline. Can send ahead of wedding to be sure it arrives safely. Can insure your gown.
Cons: Again, there is always a slight chance the wedding gown may be lost. Your hotel may not be willing to sign for your wedding dress.

Buy The Gown at Your Destination

Unless you are getting married in a destination marriage town, like Las Vegas, I wouldn't plan on buying the dress once your arrive. The exception to this is if you are planning on getting married in a simple dress that could be worn for an event other than a wedding. For instance you could buy a hand made dress in Mexico for use as your wedding dress.
Pros: Zero percent chance of your gown getting lost before you get there.
Cons: You may not find a gown you like or one that fits properly.

Photo Credit: GilbertoFilho via flikr

For more information about Janet Davis Cleaners Wedding Gown Services, click the following link.
Detroit Michigan Wedding Gown Services

Woodward Dream Cruise

2011-08-11T20:36:00.000-04:00

The Woodward Dream Cruise is nothing new to Janet Davis Cleaners. In fact, the Janet Davis Cleaners building on Woodward has been around longer than most of the classic cars in the 2011 Woodward Dream Cruise. The current location in Berkley on Woodward was opened in 1950. As you can see in the picture on the left, the store looked a bit different and was a bit smaller but the classic Janet Davis signature was present even back then.

As you can see from the cars parked in front of the building, they are quite a bit older than the muscle cars most people love at the Woodward Dream Cruise. You will also notice the classic neon sign we have come to be known for hasn't been installed yet.
From the angle, the building is barely recognizable. It has been added on to at least twice since this picture was taken.

Do you have any original pictures of your classic car? What were you driving when these pictures were taken?

For quality that stands the test of time, bring your cleaning to Janet Davis Dry Cleaners.

Paola D'Onofrio Wedding Gown Cleaned (Very Carefully!)

2011-08-05T17:38:00.000-04:00

From time to time, we post examples of the work we do here at Janet Davis Dry Cleaners. This dress is a one of kind Paola D'Onofrio Wedding Gown. The entire bodice is covered in sewn on Swarovski crystals and there are stripes (for lack of a better word) of crystals going down the skirt of the dress. There is glitter that covers most of the dress as well.

Due to the delicate nature of this wedding dress it was cleaned entirely by hand. Protecting the glittery elements of this dress is what makes it so difficult to clean. Also, you will notice all of the extra straps on the hanger; we had to add straps (attached on the inside so if somebody wears the dress you will never see them) to properly carry the weight of the gown. Beyond protecting the gown, and carefully cleaning, there isn't much to say about the cleaning as the bride was careful enough to keep it mostly clean.

Not pictured is the train of this Paola D'Onofrio. The train extends about 3 feet behind the dress and is styled in a similar fashion to the front.

Couture Wedding Gown Cleaning & Preservation
Have a dress like this? Janet Davis Cleaners in Berkley & Bloomfield, MI specializes in cleaning and preserving couture wedding gowns. Click the link for more information:
Couture Gown Cleaning & Preservation in Metro-Detroit, MI

How to Sell Your Wedding Dress After Your Wedding

2011-07-27T15:46:00.002-04:00

Many brides today are opting to sell their wedding dresses to help cover the costs of the wedding (or to afford a more expensive dress than otherwise possible). There are many ways to sell your dress and a few things you have to do in order to get the most for your dress. The biggest decisions you have to make are whether you want to sell it online or in person and whether you are going to do it yourself or have somebody else do it for you.

The Basics

Before you sell your gown anywhere, you need to have it professionally cleaned.This is a requirement for all of the options we talk about here. It only makes sense though, would you want to buy a gown that has been worn all day? Also, be prepared to not make as much money as you thought you might. The starting price for most pre-owned gowns is 50% less than you paid (not 1/2 of the retail price) and this is only the starting price, you may get less. Finally, the faster after your wedding you sell your gown the better. If you wait as long as three years, you are probably out of luck when trying to sell your gown (so get it listed relatively quickly)!

Craigslist

This is the ultimate local, do it yourself, way to sell a wedding gown. All you have to do is post a few pictures and a simple description and price of your gown and you're on your way.
Pros: It's generally local, prospective buyers can see the gown in person before purchasing, you get the full sale price
Cons: Small pool of interested buyers, will get lowball offers

Ebay

Selling here is similar to selling on craigslist except you may not be selling locally and potentially have a larger pool of interested brides. Good pictures and an accurate description will go a long way here. Be careful not to deceive anybody as it will only hurt you in the end.
Pros: Larger pool of potential buyers, you get most of the sale price (ebays fees are relatively low)
Cons: May have to ship your gown, gown may not sell, lots of other stuff for sale on ebay, cost to relist your gown if it doesn't sell right away

Preownedweddingdresses.com

This is a website that's all about selling once worn wedding gowns. They advertise which means brides will be coming to their site looking for gowns like yours. They also offer lots of guides and tools to help you sell your dress. There is a one time listing fee of $25 to use their site (which is extremely reasonable) and no commision fees of any kind.
Pros: Site is all about weddings and pre-owned dresses, small listing fee, guides provided to help you sell, listing fee covers until dress sells
Cons: Not a full service site

Local Consignment Shop

Taking your dress here is selling it the old-fashioned way (not that there is anything wrong with that!). Consignment shops sell your dress within a more traditional bridal salon feel. The staff at a consignment shop are more experienced at pricing and selling your gown than you are which may help your gown get sold faster.
Pros: Hands Off approach, since they only get a set percentage of the final sale they are motivated to sell it quickly at the highest price possible
Cons: Wedding Dress Consignment shops typically receive 50% of the sales price for the work they've done

However you decide to sell you dress remember to have it cleaned first and to be realistic about the selling price. Did you sell your wedding gown after your wedding? How did you sell it?

Photo Credit: dunikowski

Need Your Gown Cleaned Before You Can Sell It?
Janet Davis Cleaners Can Help! We can clean and press your wedding gown to make it look its best (without damaging it) to help you get the most for it. For more information, visit the link below.

Detroit Michigan Wedding Gown Cleaning

How to Prevent Stains in Your Wedding Dress

2011-07-21T14:50:00.001-04:00

A little bit of preparation goes a long way when trying to keep your wedding gown stain free. When asked, a brides biggest worry is that her dress will look perfect for pictures throughout her wedding. I've compiled a few tips to keep your wedding dress spot free on your big day.

Before your wedding

Keep your wedding gown some place that is a moderate temperature, dark, not in a plastic bag and where it isn't being touched/crushed on any side. Some brides go so far as to choose their menu items without any items that are typical culprits for staining (like pasta sauce). It is a good idea to have your florist remove the stamen from your flowers. Also, if you are going to have bubbles at your wedding, I would test them before hand to make sure they don't stain.

Getting Dressed

Use a deodorant that contains an antiperspirant sparingly. Underarm stains (both from perspiration and deodorant) are some of the toughest stains to remove. Use trial and error beforehand to find one that works for you to keep you dry and deodorant stain free.
When its time to put your dress on, put something over your face, like an old cotton t-shirt, to protect your dress from your makeup.

Your Wedding Day

Stick to clear liquids only so that if you do spill, nobody will notice. Always make sure to get help going through doorways, especially car doors. Grease and dirt from door hinges is black and hard to remove.

If You Do Get A Spot

If you do get a spot on your dress, don't fret. Spots are typically less noticeable than you think they are. Remember, the guests at your wedding are there to share in your special day, not to critique you. It's also likely that in trying to remove a spot or stain that you'll cause damage to your wedding gown (especially on silk wedding gowns).

Photo Credit: sevenyearitchs

Wedding Gown Pressing and Steaming
Visit Janet Davis Cleaners in Michigan to remove your wedding dress spots and stains before your big day!

How is Dry Cleaning at the Dry Cleaners Different Than Washing at Home?

2011-07-15T10:44:00.001-04:00

I am often asked about the difference between washing at home and the process we call dry cleaning. It's a natural question really. I mean, why take your suit to the dry cleaners if you don't have to (besides the fact that you like to see us every week)? I'm going to discuss the major differences between washing and dry cleaning.

Shrinkage

There are three things that cause shrinkage heat, moisture and agitation. By controlling these three factors, you can nearly eliminate shrinkage from your clothes. There are computer controls on our dry cleaning machines that control all three however by dry cleaning something, you are nearly eliminating moisture from the process.

Wet, but not water

Dry cleaning solvent has no moisture but is still a liquid. Let's break down the phrase dry cleaning solvent into it's parts to better understand how it works. Dry means it has no water, and therefore no pH value. Cleaning logically means it is used in the cleaning process and has cleaning properties (even before you add soap). Finally solvent is anything that dissolves something else (so technically water is a solvent, but it is not dry, so we cant use it for dry cleaning in the technical sense although wet cleaning is becoming more and more popular). So dry cleaning solvent is any liquid that dissolves something else that doesn't have water in it used to clean garments. There is a bit of moisture used in most dry cleaning soaps, but it is a very small amount that is controlled to help remove 'wet side stains' in the dry cleaning process.

Cleaning ability

Dry solvents excel at removing oil based (greasy food, car oil, etc.) or 'dry side' stains. Since dry solvent has no water, it isn't very good at cleaning water based stains (coffee spills, salt rings on your cuffs, etc.). This is where the proper use of soap comes in. A soap that is properly injected will help to remove the combination stains (like lipstick and mustard) and water based spots in addition to oily type spots.

Reusable

After you wash a load at home, you can watch all of the water go right down the drain, this isn't the case with dry cleaning. In fact, our used dry cleaning solvent never goes down the drain. All modern dry cleaning machines have distillers built in. Here at Janet Davis Cleaners, we distill our solvent after every load. This is what help keeps our whites white and colors bright in your clothes. Most cleaners, however, only distill a portion of their solvent after each load (this is a cheaper way of doing things). Distillation is the process of separating mixtures based on boiling points, this this case it leaves us with two tanks. One tank is then 100% pure dry cleaning solvent and the other is all of the waste (which we pay to have hauled away and recycled).

At the Cleaners

Your dry cleaners should be able to clean whatever you bring them, using the best method possible. Most dry cleaners now also have wet cleaning and other abilities to get your clothes as clean as possible while being very safe.

Photo Credit: robinsonsmay

Dry Cleaning At Your Door
We'll give you $10 in free cleaning to get your suit cleaned when you signup for our complimentary home pickup and delivery service (in the Detroit, Michigan area).

Wedding Gowns at Costco?

2011-07-05T15:24:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's true, Costco now carries everything, including Wedding Gowns (and no, you don't have to buy in bulk). They don't however just keep them on the shelf. There is a Special Event, this weekend only (July 7-10), at Costco in Bloomfield Michigan where you can buy designer wedding gowns from Kirstie Kelly at a fraction of the normal cost.

Price Range
You can expect to pay between $700 and $1400 for a gown which is less than the normal price tag for a Kirstie Kelly wedding dress (normally between $2000 and $7000).

The Dresses
There are six dresses in the line, exclusively for Costco, offering a different style for everybody. Some of the materials include satin, silk, taffeta and lace. According to Kirstie Kelly, the gowns aren't cheap in build or price, just less expensive than if you bought a similar gown elsewhere.There are only a limited amount of dresses available at each event.

Alterations
This is a cash and carry event which means you're on your own for alterations. They do carry sizes 2-24 with multiple sizes of each, but once they are gone, they are gone. You aren't purchasing a gown that is made just for you like you would be doing at a full service bridal salon.

The Location
Costco is building a makeshift salon for the event so you wont be sharing isle space with space heaters or tomorrows breakfast. It's best to make an appointment (go to costco.com and search for wedding gowns) since there is a limited amount of space and inventory.

Conclusion
Buying a wedding gown at Costco isn't going to be for everyone, and you aren't going to find a truly one a kind gown but might be for you if you are in a hurry, or want a nice looking gown at a decent price. This appears to be an alternative to buying a wedding gown ebay or craigslist versus the kind of service and selection you'll find at a local wedding gown retailer.

Photo Credit: Kirstie Kelly

Wedding Gown Cleaning Price Estimator
Get an estimate to have your wedding gown preserved or cleaned and pressed by Janet Davis Cleaners in Michigan (locations in Berkley and Bloomfield Michigan).

How to Choose and Care for Your Favorite Suit

2011-05-26T14:37:00.002-04:00

When I'm wearing my favorite suit, I seem to grow by two inches. The right suit inspires confidence and brings attention to the man in the suit, whereas the wrong suit brings attention to the suit itself and pulls energy from its wearer. Where did the mens suit as we know it come from, what makes a good suit and how do you properly care for your suit?

Basic History

The suit as we know it was adopted after the first World War with its origins stretching back to the twelfth and fourteenth centuries in Europe. Since then, many fads and trends have shaped the suit slightly with growing and shrinking lapels, number of buttons, size of the shoulder pads, and the cut. Some well known examples of this include the Zoot Suit of the 1940's and the Disco Suit of the 1970's.

How to Find the Best Suit

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a great suit. Five hundred dollars can get you everything you need in a suit, although you can certainly spend a lot more. Remember when choosing a new suit that trends only tend to last one or two years, so unless you plan to retire the suit in that amount of time, your best bet is to choose a somewhat conservative suit.

You have a lot of choices before you even get into size. Details like single breasted vs double, lapel size, color, fabric, the pocket style, the number pockets and number of buttons all come into play. These will come down to personal preference although there are a few unspoken rules. When it comes to color, the big four colors are navy, grey, black or any of the previous three with a stripe. As for the fabric, the most common is wool (and its variations like wool gabardine) and your other choices include cotton, linen, and seersucker. You also have the choice of two buttons versus three when choosing a new suit.

Find the jacket first. Try on a lot of jackets to find what is most comfortable and looks best on you. Once you have the jacket, the pants will follow as they can be more easily adjusted by a tailor. No matter which style you choose make sure the cut fits your body. If you don't feel comfortable in the suit you have chosen, it's either the wrong size (I'm not talking about the small adjustments your tailor will perform to make it perfect) or the wrong style - keep looking.

Regardless of which suit you choose, there are a few things you can do increase the life of your suit. I would suggest half lined pants as this will help to extend the life of your pants by decreasing the friction against the outer material. Since the suit jacket tends to last longer than the pants, I would consider purchasing two pairs of suit pants for each coat. When selecting a suit, turn the jacket inside out to examine the quality of sewing in the seams.

At The Dry Cleaners

Not all dry cleaners are created equal, nor should just any dry cleaner care for your suit. Improper cleaning and pressing will cause your suit to pill, shine, and wear faster. The dry cleaner you choose should use freshly distilled solvent on each load for the main bath. Many discount cleaners only distill a fraction of their solvent after each load which means you're getting dirty solvent to clean your suit. When your suit is pressed, the lapel should be rolled and NOT creased. The suit pants not have a double crease (which looks like railroad tracks down the front of your pants) and there should be no impression down the side seams.

Be sure to point out any repairs you need or any stains you've picked up, no matter how minor. If your dry cleaner has to guess what the stains are, there is a greater chance the stains will become permanent. Also, by keeping up with minor repairs, you'll avoid causing costly damage to your suit later. When you notice a loose button, have it reinforced before it is lost as it is nearly impossible to match a single button to a set; you'll be forced to replace all of the buttons to ensure they match.

In Closing

There are a lot of choices when choosing a new suit. By hashing out the details, you'll get a suit that looks great on you and lasts for a long time.

Now its your turn – what tips on suits can you offer?

Photo Credit: brennuskrux

Proper Suit Cleaning & Pressing
We'll give you $10 in free cleaning to get your suit cleaned when you signup for our complimentary home pickup and delivery service (in the Detroit, Michigan area).

How to Choose a Dry Cleaner to Preserve Your Wedding Gown

2011-05-21T08:29:00.001-04:00

I am often asked by people outside Michigan (and even by a few people outside the United States) how to find a local dry cleaner than can properly clean their wedding gown. It is important to find a specialist that knows what they are doing when it comes to your wedding gown, you don't want to leave anything to chance. Here are a few ways to find a good place to have your wedding gown cleaned and preserved.

Ask the boutique where you purchased your gown. Chances are, they have a local dry cleaner to take care of emergencies that pop up. If your bridal salon trusts their brand new, unsold dresses to be cleaned, they will probably do a pretty good job for you. To look at it from a different angle, if your wedding gown salon is willing to put their reputation on the line to recommend a dry cleaners, I would take it as a strong recommendation.

Ask a married friend who has had her wedding gown preserved already. Ask about her experience. Ask if she had to do it all over again if she would choose the same drycleaner or another one.

Find a dry cleaners who is in the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists. Each member is hand selected to join and there are requirements that must be met in order to remain a member. You can find a specialist near you at http://www.weddinggownspecialists.com.

Search google maps. Google is getting better and better at local search all the time. Searching for "Wedding Gown Dry Cleaners [city or state]" is no exception. I would use this as a starting point; ask a lot of questions to make sure you have found the right place. Also, disregard the cheapest places. If a dry cleaner is competing on price with regards to wedding gowns, they probably aren't the best.

Your local dry cleaners? If you use a high quality dry cleaners, it's worth investigating more. If you use a bargain dry cleaner, I would keep looking. In Metro-Detroit, there are over 750 dry cleaners listed in the yellowpages. I would expect only a few of them actually clean more than a handful of dresses in their plant each year. If your dry cleaners doesn't specialize in cleaning wedding gowns or sends them to somebody else to clean, maybe they can refer you to a dry cleaners who can properly work on your wedding dress.

Now that you have a few names, it's time to narrow down the list. You are looking for a shop that cleans wedding gowns in house, that cleans more than 100 dresses per year, and that will allow you to view your gown after it's clean and before it is placed in the preservation chest. For a more extensive list of questions to ask, see my previous article questions to ask your dry cleaners before preserving your wedding gown.

Photo Credit: adamquirm

Wedding Gown Cleaning Price Estimator
Get an estimate to have your wedding gown preserved or cleaned & pressed by Janet Davis Cleaners in Michigan.

What is the best way to store my wedding gown prior to my wedding?

2011-05-05T12:12:00.001-04:00

I was talking to a bride from Rochester Hills who picked up her wedding dress a couple months before her wedding and she asked me how best to care for her gown so it looks its best on her big day. Here's what I told her:

Most wedding gown shops will steam or press your gown after they perform the necessary alterations. To preserve the work they've already done, carefully hang it in your car with only one fold if possible. When you get home, take your dress out of the car right away and hang it up so it is not touching the floor.

You'll want to store your wedding gown away from any kids, pets, moisture and of course the groom. Only you know the best place for this, but a suggestion is in a guest bedroom with the blinds closed, or in a closet without too many things in it (you don't want to crush or wrinkle the gown).

Ensure that your wedding gown is hanging properly as it may have shifted on the way home. The dress should be hung on the hanger with straps connected to the seam in addition to the shoulder straps (if you have any). The important thing here is that the dress isn't being distorted on the hanger.

Next, take your wedding gown out of the plastic, and wrap it in a breathable material. Plastic is good for short term storage and transportation. For long term storage, plastic can trap moisture, push dirt onto your gown, cause it to yellow, and set any stains. The best thing to store your gown in is unbleached muslin (available at any fabric store). The next best thing is to drape the gown in two (clean!) white bed sheets. This will protect it from light, dust, and any rogue dirty hands.

If you have to travel with your wedding gown, you'll need to take extra precautions. Also, make sure you're prepared for what to do with your bridal gown on your wedding day.

Photo Credit: JJP BOLGER Photography

Wedding Gown Pressing and Steaming
Visit Janet Davis Cleaners in Michigan to remove your wedding dress wrinkles before your big day!

Store Your Gown Like The Royal Family - Wedding Gown Preservation for the Everyday Princess

2011-04-27T11:47:00.002-04:00

Queen Victoria bucked a lot of trends in Great Britain when she married for love, wore a simple yet elegant gown made of English lace and silk, then kept her gown for sentimental reasons and even wore lace from her gown for special occasions and her husbands funeral (to remind everybody of her love for him). Today, Queen Victoria's gown is cared for by Britain's Historic Royal Palaces and is set to go on display at the Kensington Palace in 2012 as part of the Victoria revealed exhibit.

There is a lot of attention on the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton right now. Most of the discussion seems to be centered around the wedding gown Middleton will wear. While the wedding itself will only last a day, Historic Royal Palaces will preserve Kate's wedding dress so that it will last for the ages.

You can preserve your own wedding gown, just as Historic Royal Palaces does for the Royal Family, with the following tips from Miriam Langford, Treatment Conservation Manager at Historic Royal Palaces.

1. Make sure the dress is professionally and carefully cleaned before it goes into storage.

She indicates it's important to use a pure cleaning solvent and to treat stains that are both visible and invisible. Cleaning your wedding gown right away is important and much better for the dress than waiting having the dress restored when someone wants to wear or display it again. Make sure the dry cleaner you choose is able handle the special details on your gown such as flowers or beads.

2. Use the best and cleanest acid-free materials when storing your gown.

Avoid items that are not acid free and that will not breath. Plastic or tyvek bags are not preferable because they wont breath and can be chemically unstable.

3. Most dress are better off in an acid free storage box with acid free tissue paper.

Use a box that is as big as you can practically use. Use tissue paper at any necessary folds and keep the number of folds to a minimum. Any hard creases will weaken the material over time and allow the material to split.

4. Don't forget about the dress.

Make sure the dress is stored in a cool dry place. Inspect your gown every 6 months to ensure insects or damp conditions aren't causing unneeded damage to your beloved wedding gown.

Historic Royal Palaces cares for over 12,000 peices dating back to the 17th century. By following the tips they provide, you can preserve your wedding gown just like a Princess would.

Photo Credit: wanderingone
Source: Historic Royal Palaces

Your Own Royal Wedding Gown Preservation
Janet Davis Cleaners adheres to all of the suggestions of Historic Royal Palaces and will preserve your wedding gown with a lifetime guarantee right here in Michigan.

Caring for Household Fabrics

2011-04-14T18:48:00.001-04:00

Caring for your household fabrics can be difficult because they aren't as uniform as the fabrics you wear. Some are pre-shrunk, some aren't, some can be washed, some have to be dry cleaned, and some cant be cleaned at all, the colors will run on some, and others don't even look like they get dirty. What gives? Here are few tips to help you navigate the waters of household fabrics.

Draperies

Don't let these get wet. Water rings can be difficult to remove from your drapes. Causes of water rings include condensation (you do have a storm window or double pane glass in front of your drapes, right?), leaks (from the window itself or the ceiling above) and spills.

The sun isn't good for draperies. It causes your drapes to age and discolor. This is a tough problem to fix because for most people, their drapes are both light control and room decoration. Have your drapes cleaned regularly and make sure each piece is returned to the same spot in the same window.

Bedspreads and Comforters

Bedspreads and comforters don't require care labels to be attached (it may be on the packaging or a temporary label). Also many consumers cut off any labels because they look ugly hanging off the side of the bed. This makes your job much more difficult when it comes time have them cleaned. A professional dry cleaner will have the experience necessary to clean these items properly however knowing at least the composition of these items certainly helps.

It is wise to have all matching items in a set cleaned at once because there might be a slight color change when cleaned (especially for the first time). By cleaning these items together (or at least at the same time) any changes will go unnoticed.

Upholstery and Cushion Covers

Couches, cushions and other upholstered items are usually cleaned in place by a professional. Cushion covers that zip off are NOT meant to be taken off to be cleaned, but rather to help them fit better. If you take them off to be cleaned two things can happen. First, the color could change and even a slight change would be noticeable compared to the items that could not be taken off to be cleaned. Second, the fabric could shrink and wont fit properly after being cleaned. Fabric used in upholstery isn't alway preshrunk before it is sold.

Heirlooms

Antique quilts and table linens require special care and not all dry cleaners are properly equipped to handle them. Be sure to choose a dry cleaner with a lot of experience and be sure to tell them what you are bring in.

What can you do?

-When purchasing new household items, ask if the material is preshrunk and resistant to fading.
-Make sure all draperies are lined or even double lined to protect them from the sun.
-Remove all furnishings (especially drapes) from wet conditions.
-Light control! Protect carpet, rugs, and furniture from the sun (especially if these items are only partially exposed to the sun).
-Regular cleaning is important. Dirt and surface soils can age your carpets, rugs, and other upholstery fibers faster than if they kept clean.

Photo Credit: Forever Wiser & The Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati Ohio

Comforter Cleaning

Take 10% Off Comforter Cleaning at Janet Davis Cleaners in April '11. Just bring your comforters in to either location (in Berkley or Bloomfield) and ask for the April Comforter discount.

How To Avoid Problems at Your Dry Cleaners

2011-04-08T09:28:00.000-04:00

Having your clothes dry cleaned is somewhat of a mysterious process and many consumers have the wrong idea or expectation when it comes to using a dry cleaners.

Dry cleaning is more of an art and a science than a routine operation. Think about it - in a manufacturing environment, you control all of the variables and inputs which gives you precise control over the finished product. In the world of dry cleaning, while we have control over the machinery and the cleaning tools, we don't have control over the biggest variable of all, the customers clothing. Every garment is made just a little bit differently with different materials, glues, sewing, cut and finish. Also, how the garment has been handled in the past, what spots or stains are on there, and how many times it has been worn all play a part in the final outcome. Also, care labels in clothing are often wrong and it takes an experienced dry cleaner to know when the care label is wrong.

What can you do?

There are a few things you can do as a consumer to make sure you're getting the most for your money at any dry cleaners.

1. All stains aren't created equally. Always point out any stains when you drop your garments off. If you know what the spot or stain is, your dry cleaner will have a greater shot at removing the stain if he doesn't have to guess.

2. Spots are harder to remove as time goes on. Get those dirty clothes into the cleaner as soon as possible. If you wait too long, the stain will set, and will be there permanently. Some spots are invisible at first and with time they will carmelize and become visible. Think about an apple. If you cut an apple in half it is white inside. If you walk away from the apple and come back an hour later it will be brown. The same process can happen with your clothing. If you wait to long to have your worn clothing cleaned, spots can start to appear.

3. Be conscious of what you are dropping off, but more importantly, make sure you have everything before you leave the dry cleaners. It is much more difficult to track a missing item days, weeks, or even months after you have sent your items in to be cleaned than in if you know right away. Most dry cleaners check, re-check and check again to make sure that everything they have received for care gets back the right owner but mistakes do happen.

4. Use a reputable dry cleaners and not necessarily the cheapest. Properly caring for your clothing takes a lot of labor (labor is a dry cleaners biggest expense) and that isn't cheap. A good dry cleaners will go the extra mile to make sure your clothing is perfect when you pick it up and if there are any problems, they will stand behind their work.

In Closing

I hope this helps close the disconnect at least a little bit between you and your dry cleaners. Is there anything I missed? What issues or problems do you have with your dry cleaners? Talk about it in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Lost Tulsa

Home Pick-up & Delivery
Janet Davis Cleaners offers free home pick-up and delivery service. If you signup online, we'll give you $10 off your first order.

A Night of Wedding Style Presented by Roma Sposa Atelier

2011-03-31T11:10:00.001-04:00

Last night Roma Sposa Atelier presented A Night of Wedding Style at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, MI. The main event was a fashion show with three isles/runways so there wasn't a bad seat in the house. There was a book signing by Grace Ormonde for her new book and Ines Di Santo was a special guest.

The first part of the fashion show presented models wearing Roma Sposa's collection of evening gowns. The second half of the show highlighted their couture wedding gowns. For those of you that don't know, Roma Sposa Atelier in Birmingham Michigan is a full service bridal and evening atelier which replicates the qualities of a Eurpoean boutique with world renowned designer gowns that are exclusive to Roma Sposa in Michigan.

After the show we were lucky enough to meet Ines Di Santo, world renowned wedding gown (and also evening gown) designer. From left to right in the picture below: Dave Matthews(owner of Janet Davis Cleaners, Ines di Santo, Kyle Matthews(that's me).

Ines Di Santo is known for the hand ruching, sewn on beads, and superior silk she uses to create her wedding gowns. She was born in Italy, educated throughout Europe and South America and oversees the production of every gown at her atelier in Toronto.

We also got to meet Grace Ormonde, editor in chief of the magazine Grace Ormonde Wedding Style and author of the 416 page, 10.5 pound, book Grace Ormonde Weddings "being in love never goes out of style...". Here I am pictured with Grace Ormonde during her book signing followed by Dave and Grace in the next photo.

Dry Cleaners Northville MI 48167

2011-03-23T15:51:00.001-04:00

Why schlep back and forth from the dry cleaner when we'll do it for you? Janet Davis Dry Cleaners in Berkley, MI offers delivery dry cleaning to homes in the Northville, MI 48167 area now. We’ll give you $10 in FREE dry cleaning just to try out our delivery service. Just call 248-543-0340 and find out more about how our dry cleaning delivery service works.

Store Your Winter Clothing Without Getting Moth Damage

2011-03-17T15:38:00.001-04:00

With it being nearly 60 degrees in Metro-Detroit today, it makes sense to talk about storing your winter clothes for the summer and how to keep them moth-free.

Clean Room
The easiest and most effective method of preventing moth damage it to put your winter clothes away clean. This doesn't mean that if your clothes were only worn once and look clean it's okay, it's not. You need to have your garments cleaned (washed in hot water or dry cleaned) before you put them away. Moths are typically attracted to something on your clothing such as body oils, food crumbs, or anything else your clothes may have picked up. Also, cleaning garments you are about to store for the summer will rid them of any moth eggs. Dry cleaning them or washing in hot water (remember not all items can be washed) will do the trick. Also, make sure your closet or dresser is clean as well. This means the floor and any shelves or drawers need to be cleaned out at least twice per year.

Moth Balls
Moth balls are a pesticide that will kill moths. They are only effective in enclosed spaces like a sealed container. Putting moth balls in your closet will do little more than give you a headache (they are a pesticide, remember). Moth balls also have a specific odor that is difficult to remove from your clothes after being stored.

Vacuum Pack
Another option to seal out moths (remember you need to be sure the clothes are clean first) is to vacuum pack them. This way any rogue moths cant get in and make a home in your clothing. Keep in mind your clothes will be heavily wrinkled when they come out. Another plus of vacuum packing your clothes is they will take up less space in your closet; which is perfect if you're short on storage.

Freezer
Another (crazy sounding) option is to put your clothing in the freezer. Put the garments in a plastic bag and place them in the freezer like anything else. The cold temperature will keep anything from feasting on your favorite sweaters until you pull them out in the fall.

In most cases preventing moth damage is a simple as putting everything away clean. Remember, all it takes is one item to invite moths into your closet.

Free Storage
To help keep your closet clear and your clothing moth-free, Janet Davis Cleaners offers free box storage for most garments except fur coats.

Photo Credit: wigu

Amelia Casablanca Wedding Gown in a Basement Flood

2011-03-10T18:33:00.001-05:00

One of the most important pieces of advice we give our brides as they pick up their wedding gowns is to keep your wedding gown in a room you'd live in, not in an attic or basement. This Amelia Casablanca wedding gown came to us to be cleaned after it had been in a basement flood. The (now married) bride brought us the gown over a year after the flood with mold and mildew growing on her precious silk Amelia Casablanca one of a kind wedding gown. I outlined the mold in the before picture with a thin black line.

This second picture is of the rear hemline of the wedding gown. Mold is difficult to clean out of normal garments - it was extremely difficult to clean out of this silk, one of a kind Amelia Casablanca wedding gown.

The inside was far worse than anything on the outside. Unfortunately there was no way of removing the petticoat from the rest of the dress as the pure size of the gown made the gown difficult to clean. The beads on the bodice of this wedding dress made traditional dry cleaning impossible (plus, mold isn't removed with traditional dry cleaning). We had to remove all of the flowers and hoops from the gown before we could clean it and then replaced them afterwards. We utilized a series of controlled baths and hand cleaning to (very slowly) clean the mold off of this priceless Amelia Casablanca wedding gown.

Here is the finished product. In person, the dress looks flawless and you can't see any traces of the mold. Note that the bodice is transparent in spots and the color difference is caused by the background of the picture. This Amelia Casablanca wedding gown is too large to fit through the doorway of our normal photo booth so we had to make due in our wedding gown cleaning and assembly rooms.

Cleaning Your Wedding Dress
Janet Davis Cleaners specializes in wedding gown cleaning and is located in Berkley, MI. Click on the following link for more information on having your wedding gown cleaned, preserved or restored by Janet Davis Cleaners.

How To Wash (Most) Anything In A Bucket

2011-03-02T11:15:00.002-05:00

Caring for 'hand wash only' items doesn't have to be scary. Many of these items can be dry cleaned, but if the item isn't very dirty and just needs to be freshened up, you can easily hand clean these items at home. All you need is clean water, two buckets, laundry detergent, and some time!

Test first
Always test delicate items before you attempt to clean them. Test beads, sequins, colors, and anything else that may be damaged when you clean the whole garment. If there is a problem, STOP, this item cannot be safely cleaned at home.

Wash Bucket
Fill the wash bucket with water about two thirds full. If the tag on the clothing item you are cleaning indicates what tempurature to clean in, use that, otherwise use lukewarm water. After the water is in the bucket, add just a few drops of soap. You don't need very much soap at all; you won't be able to rinse out the soap later if you use too much.

Rinse Bucket
Just fill the rinse bucket about two thirds full of water (same tempurature as the wash bucket).

How To Wash
After testing for colorfastness, put the item to be cleaned in the wash bucket. Gently knead the garment to work the soapy water in. If the garment was visibly dirty, let it soak for 10-20 minutes, knead again and then move on to the next step.

Do Not Wring
You can gently squeeze the water out in a top to bottom manner, but do not wring the garment as it may damage or change the shape of your garment. Once you have gently worked as much water as you can out, put the garment in the rinse bucket. Gently knead the garment to work the soap out, then remove and gently work the water out again.

How to dry
The safest drying option, after gently sqeezing as much water as you can out, is hang drying. If your garment is still dripping wet, lay it on a towel first so you don't change the shape of the garment due to the weight of the water. If the care label says it's safe to machine dry, go ahead and do that after the garment is no longer dripping wet.

Professional Cleaning

If you still don't feel comfortable hand washing your favorite blouse or other special item, a professional dry cleaners will know how to safely clean these items.

Photo Credit: chwynyn

Questions to Ask Your Dry Cleaners Before Preserving Your Wedding Gown

2011-02-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

Photo Credit: makelessnoise

You have a lot invested in your wedding gown and you want to be sure the dry cleaners you chose to preserve your gown will invest as much care in your wedding dress as you have. Here is a list of questions to ask the dry cleaner before leaving your gown to be preserved.

Where is my gown going to be processed? Who is going to be the one to actually clean and preserve my wedding gown?

Many dry cleaners send the wedding gowns to somebody else to process. You want to look for a dry cleaners who does all of the work themselves.

Can I inspect my wedding gown after you clean it?

If a dry cleaners is unwilling or unable to allow you view your wedding gown after it is clean and before it is placed in the preservation chest, how will you know what is in the box? Yes, there may be a window in the box, but that doesn't show the whole picture. If you are not able to view and inspect you wedding gown after it is clean, you have to ask yourself, what is the drycleaners trying to hide?

What is the preservation box made of? What about the tissue paper and everything else used to preserve my wedding gown?

The wedding gown preservation box should be fully acid free (not just pH neutral), if there is a window it should NOT be made of plastic and all materials such as tissue paper used in the box should also be fully acid free.

What precautions will be made to protect the beads, sequins, flowers and other delicate features on my wedding dress?

Wedding gowns are not the same as normal dry cleaned items and they shouldn't be treated that way. The dry cleaners should not clean your wedding dress with any other items and should take special precautions to protect your wedding gown from damage during the cleaning process. Ask to see before and after pictures if you have a couture wedding gown or if your dress is particularly ornate.

What is your guarantee?

If you preserve your wedding gown, it should come with a guarantee. Ask what the guarantee covers, how long it's good for, what happens if you open the box, and anything else you can think of to make sure the guarantee is legit. Here's our wedding gown preservation guarantee.

For more information about having Janet Davis Cleaners preserve your wedding gown, click the following link.
Detroit Michigan Wedding Gown Preservation

Oriental Area Rug Care at Home

2011-02-16T10:36:00.000-05:00

Whether you have an oriental rug, a persian rug, or a standard area rug, careful maintenance will make your rug look it's best all the time. Here are few tips to keep your rugs in tip top shape.

Vacuum Regularly

The best thing you can do to care for your rugs is to properly vacuum them regularly. This means you need to vacuum at several different angles to get the most amount of dust, dirt, and debris out. Also, make sure your vacuum is getting the proper amount of suction by ensuring your bag is not too full. If you use a bagless vacuum, empty the cannister before vacuuming your rug. While it's important to vacuum edge to edge, make sure you avoid the fringes on the ends.

Clean Spills Immediately

Blot (don't rub) as much of the spill out as possible. With another clean rag, put pressure on the spill to soak even more of the spill out. Next, use a little bit of water and blot. Test the water on an inconspicuous area to test for colorfastness first. Be careful not to damage the fibers when the rug is wet. If you cant get the spot out, professional cleaning may be required.

Rotate Often

Rotate your rugs often (once a year at the minimum) which will allow your rugs to wear more evenly. Even if your rug doesn't get a lot of traffic, it is important to rotate it to account for the amount of sunlight your rug receives (the sun can, and will, age your rugs).

Use a pad

There are many benefits to using a pad under your rugs so I'll just cover a couple of them here. Pads prevent wear to the bottom of your rug by preventing the rug from sliding against the hard surface it resides on. A pad will also protect the surface the rug is sitting on. Pads are designed to be mold and mildew resistant so they will help prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, bacteria, and their associated smells in your rug. With a pad under your rug you don't have to worry as much about slips and falls due to the rug sliding. Buy a good pad for your rug!

When It's Time To Get Cleaned

When it's time to have your rug professionally cleaned, choose a cleaner that uses an immersion style cleaning versus a surface cleaning. Surface cleaning refers to wet-vac machines that only clean the surface of the rug. You want your rugs to be washed in specialized equipment to make them look their best.

Janet Davis Cleaners offers boutique style rug washing that will properly care for your rugs whether they are priceless antiques or machine made rugs.
Rug Washing at Janet Davis Cleaners

Photo 1 Credit: Mr Thinktank
Photo 2 Credit: ianmunroe