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.

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.

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.

Well, you’re not going to like the answer to our above question.
The fact is, it’s BAD to leave your house while an appliance is still on.

Faulty appliances cause about 9,600 residential house fires a year!  FEMA states it also causes an estimated 25 deaths, 525 injuries and $211 million in property loss.  If you’re not home during the first few seconds of an emergency, your house can go up in flames.

Here’s a list of the household appliances that can cause substantial damage if they are left on when no one is home:

Stoves and Ranges

Careless cooking fires are one of the leading causes of household fires in the United States. According to reports from the United States Fire Administration, nearly one-third of all home fires begin in the kitchen area. Cooking is also the leading cause of injuries from home fires.  Always turn off the oven and the stove top, even if just running down the street for “a few minutes”.

Portable Electric Heaters

These can cause fires or electric shock if not used properly.  Many factors can cause an electric heater to catch fire.  If combustible materials, such as furniture, pillows, bedding, papers, clothes and curtains are less than three feet from the front, sides and rear of the heater or if the heater’s air intake or outlet is blocked, a fire can start.   (For more info, see AHAM’s complete brochure).

Dishwashers

WOW – These are the cause of about 500 fires in the country each year according to The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  During the heat/drying cycle the heating element could fail and cause a fire.  As with many appliances, it won’t hurt to make sure the dishwasher is off when leaving the house. Or, at the very least, cancel the heat or dry cycle before leaving.

Clothing Dryers

A dryer should never run when you are not home or while you are sleeping in case of a fire.   More than 15,000 dryer fires break out each year.  For more dryer tips consult our blog on how failure to clean your dryer could cause a house fire.

Aside from fires, leaky washing machine hoses can flood your laundry room if left unchecked for hours.

We know it will be tough but try not to utilize the above appliances if you are not going to be home to monitor them.  Even if you have a newer appliance, accidents can happen.  Major brands have recalled units in the past due to faulty mechanical pieces as a result of reported fires.  It’s best to be safe than sorry!

- S.O.