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.

Just a few more hours until the New Year and everything starts anew.  While packing up the Holiday decor and laundering the seasonal linens, don’t forget to give the Christmas tree skirt a once over.

Regardless of their original or sentimental value, tree skirts should be handled with great care.  While you wont be able to throw the skirt in the wash, there are a couple of tactics you can try to spot clean any spills or stains.

If water or other liquids have spilled on the skirt, blot the area with white handkerchiefs, cotton towels, or paper towels. Use cool water to aid in removing stains.

EHow Home has tips for hand washing a felt skirt but if your tree skirt is adorned with beads, sequins, appliques, lace, felt, quilted designs, multicolored prints, and other types of decorative trim, it cannot safely be washed in most cases due to the glues and adhesives used.  These adhesives show little resistance to cleaning methods – even hand washing.

Of course you could purchase a new tree skirt but if you own one that was very costly or has sentimental value, you may want to have a professional look at it to see if it can be professionally cleaned.

If you bring it to us, we’ll consult with you prior to laundering or dry cleaning to discuss options so as not to damage the material.

Happy New Year!

- S.O.

You’re plane tickets are in hand and you’re counting down the days until you fly back to your hometown or to see your far away Grand-kids.  Travel during this time of year can evoke a two sided feelings:  Joy & excitement as you anticipate seeing loved ones and anxiety & stress over traveling during such a busy time of year.

It’s no secret that the airports will be crowded, some flights may be delayed and everyone will be on a tight schedule.  We’ve done some research for you and listed 8 tips (with links to even more info) to help you get to your destination hopefully feeling more joyful and less stressed.

1.  Check flight status and review the airport maps (terminals & parking lots) before you leave home.  In addition to the airline’s website or mobile app, TripIt can help you organize your travel and will send you flight alerts and Flightstats tracks flight in real time, give airport overviews and airport parking options.

2.  Check in ahead of time with your airline and put critical documents such as ID, credit cards, and boarding passes in an easily accessible part of your wallet or bag.  Check TSA’s PreCheck to see if you qualify for expedited screening benefits.

3.  Program the airlines 800 number into your phone. If your flight is delayed or canceled it may be faster to call the airline’s 800 number than if you wait for the overwhelmed customer service agent to help you figure out your options.

4.  Limit your carry on baggage and review prohibited items and packing on TSA’s website.  Luggage fees stink, we know, but cramming everything into a large carry on could slow you down more than it will save you time in the long run.  Arguably, one of the most serious travel problems for many people is traveling with too much stuff.  Lugging it through the airport, going through security, and trying to find a place to store it on a full flight slows you down.  Also, you could be penalized for over sized bags or forced to gate check your carry on.  See “Independent Traveler.com’s” 11 Versatile Travel Essentials You Can’t Do Without for packing tips.

5.  Give yourself extra time to get to the airport, park and check bags.  If you’re going to utilize the airport’s self parking lots, assume that they will be full and you may lose time driving around looking for the few open spots.  You may have to drive to alternate lots or park and take a shuttle to the airport.  If you live in a climate where snow, rain, sleet and ice can be present, expect to spend even more time taking it slow on the road, navigating around parking lots, around snow removal vehicles, and parking lot shuttles.

6.  Check the airport & airline’s website for how to receive assistance if you are elderly, physically challenged, need a concierge, or flying with pets.  Check their procedures if you are traveling with a wheelchair, walker or cane.  Many airlines will allow you to call ahead to reserve wheelchairs and electric carts in advance and request special seating with a doctor’s note.  TSA also provides online information to help you prepare if you are traveling with a children including children with medical conditions or disabilities.

7.  Check flight status after you go through security and again when you get to your gate.  As your flight time is getting close, you will start to see gate changes and more reliable departure time estimates.  Then, go directly to your gate and check the status again.  Unfortunately the status boards can be unreliable during busy travel times due to a lag in the system updates.

8.  Be realistic.  The bottom line is if you’re going to travel during the holidays your chances of encountering long lines, unpredictable weather, inexperienced travelers and congestion in the terminals is high.  But, if you follow some our tips, you may reduce the stress of travel and stay focused more on the joy of being with the ones you care about this season.

While traveling, Classic Cleaners can help reduce some of the stress of travel by taking care of your cleaning and household needs while you’re gone.  Here we tell you how we can take care of all your laundry needs during your visit away from home and save you some money during our current limited time offer!

- S.O.

If the idea of setting the dinner table correctly deters you from hosting a dinner party, never fear.  There are some basic rules to follow but then you are free to be creative with colors, themes and centerpiece decor.

Here are the basics:

*   Start with the plate or charger.  A charger can take the place of a place mat and it helps to keep the dinner plate warm.

*   Align the flatware with the bottom rim of the charger/plate and place the flatware on the outside of the plate on the left and right side in order of how you will begin eating a meal.  For example, if you are having a salad or soup before the main course, you will place the salad fork on outside of the dinner fork and the soup spoon on the outside of the dinner knife.

*   Bread and butter plates sit above the plate and to the left with the butter knife across the plate.

*   Stemware is set above and to the right of the dinner plate.  The water glass stands above the dinner knife and if you are serving wine, the wine glass will stand to its right.

*   The dessert fork and spoon are laid across the top of the setting above the plate and the fork’s tines should face right and the spoon’s bowl should face left.

*   If the cloth napkin is lightly starched, pressed, & folded, place it to the left of the plate, under the forks, or on top of the plate.  Or, you could drape the napkin through a festive napkin holder and place it on top of the plate.

Compliments of Martha Stewart

Now that you know the basic setting, you can make adjustments and have some fun.  You could add placement cards for your guests in front of or on top of the plate, center a pretty flower or candle arrangement, and mix vintage china with newer pieces as House Beautiful suggests.

Until December 8, 2012 we’re offering 25% off all Table Linens to help take a little of the pressure off of you and save you time on putting together the perfect table setting for your guests.

However you choose to set your table, the focus is on the spirit of the occasion.  We wish you all a fabulous Holiday season!

- S.O.