The hustle and bustle of the Holiday season is coming to a close and New Years Eve is right around the corner.  Here are a few tips on how to dispose of common Holiday leftovers and clean up after the party has ended.

Christmas Tree:  One-third of all Christmas tree fires occur in January verses December, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.  It’s important to dispose your Christmas tree as soon as it shows signs of drying out.  It’s best to cut the tree down into pieces that will fit into your waste container and put it out on the curb on collection day.  Some cities offer drop off locations for residents to recycle their Christmas trees.  For example, in the Indianapolis area, Indy Parks & Recreation will offer eight drop-off locations in Marion County from Dec. 26 through Jan. 31, 2010.  For more information visit IndyParks.org. 

Food:  If you have pets, be sure to dispose of bones in a secure trash can, preferably one outside, even if they don’t usually bother with your inside trash can.  The rich scent could entice them to dig through it.  Veterinarians claim that during the Holiday season many animals make a trip to the emergency clinic due to obstructions caused from table scraps. 

Candle Wax:  Those festive candles sure are pretty but they can leave a bit of a mess as they melt, get bumped and drip all over your clothing, linens, carpet, and table cloths.  Before trying our tips, be sure to read the care label on the item and when in doubt, take it to a professional. 

The best way to remove candle wax from washable materials is to first gently scrape to remove excess.  Next place the stain between two pieces of white blotting paper and press with a warm iron using care.  With colored wax, be sure to change the paper as it absorbs the stain because this stain can spread easily.  And use extreme care when pressing.  If any trace of the stain remains flush with a stain-removing agent.  Rinse well with clear water and dry. 

To remove candle wax from unwashable materials, freeze the wax to harden it by applying ice against the stain.  Carefully scrape the excess then place an absorbent pad under the stain & flush with a stain remover.  Allow to dry and repeat if necessary. 

To remove wax from Carpet, Felt, Leather, & Suede, first freeze to harden the wax.  For Leather & Suede, place the ice in a plastic bag first before applying.  Gently scrape to remove excess from the surface.  If any stain still remains on your leather or suede, mix a thick paste of fuller’s earth with water, apply and allow it to dry.  Carefully brush it off with a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush.

REMEMBER:  ALWAYS follow the cleaning label of chemicals and if you see a colore or texture change in the material, stop immediately.  Have a professional remove the wax. 

If you have any questions regarding removing wax from your materials, please contact us for help.  Or, you may bring your items into any of our 17 locations and we’ll happily help remove the wax from the items for you.

Now that you’ve spent days and weeks (okay, maybe a few hours) hunting for the perfect gift to give that hard to buy for person, you need to wrap it.  But, since you took your time finding the perfect gift, complimentary gift boxes are nowhere to be found.  You want to make a good impression and it’s December 24th so what do you do?

Resist the urge to toss it in the recycled “Happy Birthday” gift bag.  Trust us, when giving a gift, whether it be to your Mother-in-Law or someone else, it’s all about presentation.  Although it may take a few more minutes, wrapping a gift verses throwing it into a gift bag makes the gift look more carefully chosen and thoughtful.  The recipient will immediately feel good about what’s inside. 

There are many items laying around the house that can be utilized to wrap your gift.  If the item can’t be wrapped without a box or something to protect it, we recommend a cereal box, empty pasta box, a shoe box, a large zip-lock bag, and empty coffee cans.

Once the item is packaged, look around for creative items to be used as wrapping paper such as old maps, brown paper grocery bags, cellophane, art paper, comics, old book pages, foil, a handkerchief or scarf, a festive dishtowel, or even an old (clean) T-shirt. 

If you are gifting an item of clothing, roll up the item and wrap some tissue paper around it, leaving enough on both ends to tie with a ribbon.  The result is a pretty gift that looks just like a piece of candy.

If you have time for a quick trip to the craft store, top off the gift with interesting decor such as ribbon, a brooch, fabric flowers, strands of cheap plastic beads, and string.  If there is no time to stop, don’t fret.  Look outside for pine cones, twigs, and acorns which are timely and festive.  Or you could re-purpose an old tie, belt, scarf, or sash that you don’t wear anymore. 

Your recipient already knows you have a winning personality and a great sense of humor.  Show him or her your creative side too.

Happy Wrapping and Happy Holidays from all of us at Classic Cleaners!

The holiday season is creeping up on us and that often means fluffing pillows and straightening curtains for guests. If you’ve started the fluffing and the straightening, you might have noticed that your home could use a little extra polish. In light of Classic Cleaners’ limited time offer on household cleaning (take 20% off all of your household cleaning needs Sept. 25-Oct. 15), here are some tips for prepping your home for holiday guests.

CLEAR VIEWS

A thorough window washing — inside and out — can make a huge difference in how the inside and outside of your home looks. A cloudy window can make even the cleanest things in your home look a little dingy. Your draperies can also improve the view. To remove signs of dust, stains and pressing, bring your linens to Classic Cleaners. From lined to swag, casual to formal, Classic Cleaners makes your drapes look as good as your wardrobe.

HANDSOME TABLES

If you are hosting guests, chances are you are cooking. Be sure the table on which you are serving is as pleasing to the eye as your food is. If your table is treated with a polyurethane finish, consider sanding down worn areas and giving it a fresh coat of poly. It will help repel stains and give it a great shine. Treat your table linens to the spa treatment with a visit to Classic Cleaners. Crisply pressed tablecloths and spotless napkins can go a long way in setting the holiday table.

SUMPTUOUS BEDS

One key to making up a welcoming bed is regular cleaning. Before tossing anything into your washer or dryer, check the label. This is not an area in which you want to be a rule breaker. Be sure you aren’t crowding your washable bed linens in the washer. You want them to have plenty of room to move around when they’re being agitated. After washing, it’s best to lay out blankets and comforters flat in a dry place or line dry them. If you don’t have a large washer and place to dry your linens effectively, drop all of your bed linens by Classic Cleaners. We can handle it.

SPA-WORTHY PILLOWS

When your guest’s head hits the pillow, be sure it’s a fluffy one. To add a little life back to your pillows, give them to the “pillow-rejuvenation spa” treatment at Classic Cleaners. Once the down and feather filling has been thoroughly cleaned, we add new filling to return the pillow to its original volume. The filling is then placed in brand new, dust-free ticking.

Take a picture of your ugliest holiday sweater and post it to the Classic Cleaners Facebook wall. Our fashion experts will choose the ugliest and reward some fashionista a $100 gift card to Classic Cleaners. Contest runs September 19-October 3.