With Memorial Day Weekend on the horizon, some of us are putting the final touches on our summer vacation plans.

We’re making packing lists and “to do” lists so as not to forget the essentials for a successful trip.  Preparing for a vacation doesn’t only include finalizing reservations and effectively packing as few suitcases as possible.  We must also prep our home for our time away before we leave.

Here we share the 5 household things you must do before you leave for vacation:

♦  Turn off the water supply to your dishwasher and washing machine.  If a hose to either of these appliances happens to crack or come loose while you are away, you could come back to a flood.  The washing machine should have a valve switch in the back and the lever handle for the dishwasher is usually located under the sink.  Sprinkle a little baking soda in toilets and down the sink drains to avoid coming home to the stench of stagnant water.

♦  Unplug small appliances and electronics that aren’t plugged into a surge protector.  Your toaster, coffee maker, computer, etc. could cause a fire if there is a power surge. Disconnect Internet access to computers.

♦  Keep your air conditioner on but set it to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  You may be tempted to turn the air off since you won’t be home and you’d like to save cost, but if it’s too hot inside the home, it can cause mold and mildew to grow in just a few days.  Setting the temp to 80 degrees will prevent that from happening and your home won’t be too steamy when you return.

♦  Check sump pump alarms and temperature alarms.  Make sure they are in working order and set to send alarms to the proper telephone numbers.  If you have a friend, family member or neighbor keeping an eye on your house, it’s a good idea to give the alarm companies their number too.

♦  Turn off all lights except for one or two and set those on a timer.  Set them to random patterns to discourage potential prowlers. Photo sensors or motion detectors are good ideas for outdoor lights.

One last bonus tip -  Arrange for someone to keep up with your lawn mowing and watering and stop newspaper/mail delivery while gone to avoid calling attention to an unattended house.

Do you have any great household tips we’ve missed?  Let us know so we can share!

- S.O.

Sunday, May 26, marks the 102nd anniversary of one of the most well known traditions of the Memorial Day weekend: the Indianapolis 500. Making Hoosiers proud, the renowned race is always held on the Sunday preceding the national holiday and attracts hundreds of thousands of guests each May to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Leading up to Sunday’s Race Day are multiple events that attribute to it being one of the most exciting weekends of the year.

The weekend fun begins Friday, May 24th with  Coors Light Carb Day .  Many come to watch all of the teams competing in the Indianapolis 500 try to take home the prize for fastest pit crew.  Businesses entertain in luxury suites (and some locals may play hooky from work) while watching the live pit stops before enjoying a free concert.

Saturday, May 25th is the 500 Festival Parade in which the 33 starting drivers of the Indianapolis 500 will join other celebrities, marching bands, cool parade floats and more than 300,000 spectators in filling the streets of downtown Indianapolis.  Activities and food vendors are plentiful for you and your family to enjoy!  If you spill your sunscreen or drink while cheering for Will Power, Marco Andretti or Scott Dixon, we have stain specialists who will get the stains out.

On the last Monday of each May, the United States celebrates Memorial Day by paying respect to those who protect our country, honoring sacrifices made for our freedom, and remembering those who died defending it. Nationwide, the holiday is warmly welcomed as it marks the unofficial kick-off of the summer vacation season.

Classic Cleaners will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day, but we’ll reopen at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28th to expertly clean sunscreen or food-stained clothing.  Be sure to confirm turn times with your store or route driver due to Monday’s closing.

And to help you get ready for Memorial Weekend visitors and to welcome the summer season, Classic Cleaners is giving customers 20% off Households cleaning from May 12 – June 1, 2013.  No coupon needed.

- S.O.

You took your favorite dress to your Dry Cleaner for a professional clean and when you got it back, it was damaged.

Should your dry cleaner reimburse you for the damage?

Yes, he should if it was the Dry Cleaner’s error.  Every garment comes with a care label.  The care label is placed in a garment by the manufacture of the garment advising on how the item should be washed.  Following the manufature’s cleaning instructions is imperative to maintaining the garment’s integrity and ensuring it looks “like new” after a cleaning. 

All dry cleaners are required to launder or dry clean the item according to the care label.  If the dry cleaner did not follow the care label then most certainly your cleaner should reimburse you the value of an item if it’s returned damaged.  But be prepared, the value of the item, and what you will be reimbursed, is not what you paid for it years ago.   

Think of your clothing as cars with speedometers.  Dry cleaners use the National Fair Claims Adjustment Guide to determine the value based on the garment’s original price, age and condition when they must pay a claim.  It’s impossible to be reimbursed for exactly what you paid for an item.

Classic Cleaners will always yield to the care label instructions when cleaning a garment.  There have been very few instances in which a customer requests that we detour from the care label.  If that happens, we consult with the customer to explain possible outcomes and we ask the customer to sign a release. 

There’s been many general articles written trying to convince the consumer that dry cleaners are out to get you and your money.  In reality, if that were true, no dry cleaner would be in business for long.  Once the entire neighborhood/town/city found out a Dry Cleaner’s customer service was bad and the cleaning was of poor quality, they would refuse to patronize that Dry Cleaner and the company could not sustain. 

Classic Cleaners has been in business 28 years.  Our #1 job -and objective - is to help you maintain your wardrobe in like new condition for as long as possible.  It’s in our best interest to provide the highest quality care to your garments, households, and specialty items; as well as provide the highest level of communication and customer service to our customers.  Our focus is to professionally clean your items the way the manufacturer has advised so they look great year after year.  

If you’re ever in doubt or have questions regarding our cleaning methods, please ask the manager at the store you frequent or contact us anytime.  And, check out our post the truth about professional dry cleaning for more information.

-S.O.

You know it’s May in Indianapolis when you start to see the checkered flags adorning residential porches & decks, commercial buildings and even a few vehicles.

Although we all know Indianapolis hosts many amazing events, programs and attractions year round, Worldwide, our city is largely known for the 102 year old event, The Indy 500.  In the world of motor-sports, The Indianapolis 500 is the oldest and one of the most significant events in the world.

During the month of May, there are 50 events that take place but we always know when The Snake Pit Ball is near because of the formal wear we clean around this event.  On the eve of Sunday’s race, VIP guests and celebrities in town for the race attend a black-tie event at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.  Our professionals expertly clean and press many of the elaborate gowns, with delicate fabrics and beading, as well as the suits and tuxedos that are the attire of the evening, before an after the event.

Socializing, a formal dinner, and a performance by a famous band (this year it’s Foreigner) is always on the agenda.  Guests arrive via red carpet and all the local news teams as well as national entertainment news teams cover the footage.

Indy 500 Race Events in Indianapolis

Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day and Rookie Run- May 11th:  Kids’ Day is the state’s largest outdoor free festival for children.  Kids can ride a 70-foot Ferris wheel, race remote-controlled cars and test their skills in a race car simulator!  The Rookie Run invites all kids ages 3-12 to join the non-competitive 500 Festival  Rookie Run downtown Indianapolis.  “All participants will receive a goodie bag, a runners bib with the  number 1, and a finisher’s medal – just like the Mini-Marathon”.

Breakfast at the Brickyard - May 18th:  Breakfast and a lap around the track in your own vehicle followed by a tour of the garages.  In addition, the 2013 500 Festival Queen will be crowned.

American Family Insurance 500 Festival Community Day - May 22nd:  Drive your own vehicle on the track; stop by the Safety 1^st car seat safety check to ensure your car seat is properly installed; play in a designated play area; tour the IndyCar car transport trailers, visit Pit Lane and get autographs from favorite Indianapolis 500 drivers.

500 Festival Memorial Service presented by Rolls-Royce – May 24th:  On the north steps of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument a wreath-laying ceremony dedicated to the memory of all Hoosiers in wars and conflicts will take place at noon.

The 500 Festival Parade – May 25th:  Starting at noon at North and Pennsylvania streets and ending at 11th & Meridian.  An annual event since 1957, spectators will line the streets the day before the Indy 500 race to watch giant floats, bands, community leaders, patriotic units and celebrities parade through the streets of downtown.

What race day activities are on your agenda this month?  What are the “can’t miss” events?

- S.O.