One of the all-time great “songs about ephemeral someones” listed in Erin McHugh’s book Who? asks the question, “Who put the bomp in the bomp ba bomp ba bomp?”; another asks “Who threw the overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder?”

We don’t claim to know the definitive answer to either of those musical mysteries, but at Classic Cleaners we’re always asking “what” and “when”, rather than “who” questions, when it comes to removal of stains on our clients’ garments, bedding, table linens, and window coverings.

And, while Classic Cleaners specialists are armed with many tools, including steam guns, compressed air, specialized brushes, and more than twenty different stain-fighting solutions, in advanced stain removal, the most important tool is information:

• What is the fabric? Different fabrics lose color, fade, or shrink when improperly handled. You may know the general category of fabric, such as cotton, silk, or rayon, but there are many subcategories that dry cleaning professionals recognize, each requiring specialized treatment.
• What made the stain? Different stains require different treatments. Two basic types of stain are solvent-soluble and water-soluble; our stain-removal technicians are trained to administer different processes for each, based on the very latest in dry cleaning technology.
• How much time has elapsed since the staining occurred? It’s best to get stained garments in for treatment as soon as possible.

  So, who DID put that stain in the bomp ba bomp ba bomp? We’ll understand if you’re not sure or don’t want to confess, but please, when it comes to the “what”, the” how”, and the “when” of stains, Classic Cleaners needs to know!

 by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

               Limited Time Offer   March 27 – April 16               
               
               $3 off all outerwear!
              
Out-er-wear: n. Garments, as raincoats or overcoats, worn over other clothing for warmth or protection outdoors.

At Classic  Cleaners, ’tis the season.  As temperatures gradually rise and days grow longer, it’s time for cleaning and packing away winter clothes.  And, as Sara Aguirre of About.com warns, “…if we don’t want any nasty surprises next winter, we take the time to clean and store our clothing properly.”That’s precisely the reason Classic Cleaners is making its special limited time offer on outerwear right now, in the time between winter and spring.  Think of all the coats, jackets, down-filled vests, pea coats, and parkas that need to be finding their way to our seventeen locations for their summer hibernation “prep”.

What “nasty surprises” is Aguirre hinting at when she urges readers to take time for cleaning and storing of winter clothes? Stains containing sugars and salts, particles of food embedded in fiber, and insect eggs ready to hatch inside wool garments – all these are enemies, waiting to attack your favorite outerwear clothing.

Remember four words about winter clothing in summer time, says About.com.

CLEAN (All winter clothing should be cleaned before storing away for summer.)

COOL  (Avoid storing clothing near heat sources such as furnaces and  fireplaces.)

DARK  (Avoid storing clothing where sunlight can fade the fabric.)

DRY (Wetness can cause mildew and nurture insects.)

For a happy beginning next fall, let Classic Cleaners professionals prepare your
outerwear for a long, clean, cool, dark, dry, and lazy summer…

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

 ”The race is not to the swift,” the Bible tells us.  But when it comes to dry cleaning in and around Indianapolis, the race may be to the fleet! That’s because, twice a week, our Classic Cleaners fleet of vans visits homes and offices all around the Indianapolis area to pick up and deliver items for our customers.

Classic Cleaners fleet

Our newly decorated vans, proudly displaying the Classic Cleaners motto “The Modern Craft of Clean”, travel from Fortville on the east, Pittsboro to the west, Cicero to the north, and 42nd Street in Indianapolis on the south.  It all adds up to thousands of locations, tens of thousands of garments, and twelve different routes.

How does the “fleetness” work?

• You sign up for the free home or office delivery service.
• You’re provided with large clothing bags.
• A Classic Cleaners driver visits twice a week to pick up and deliver. (There is absolutely no obligation to have anything to pick up every time.)
• If you’re not at home, your clothes can be left on special hanger hooks (which we provide to slip over the top of your door), with Fluff and Fold laundry left in recyclable boxes.  Or, you may choose to give the driver access to hang your clothes in a front closet, mud room, or garage.

Fast, convenient, efficient, and……clean!  As a Classic Cleaners customer, you’ll soon realize: The race may not be to the swift, but the real service IS to the fleet!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

 The ivory wedding dress has become the favorite brand in many young lovers’ eyes,” according to the writers of weddinginthebox.com.

“Ivory seems to be the predominant color chosen by brides who are getting married the second time, opines www.professosrhouse.com.

So, which is it? Asks one Classic Cleaners’ blog reader.  Can first-time brides wear ivory, and can white be appropriate for a “second time around” bride?

As specialists in wedding gown care and preservation, Classic Cleaners professionals typically meet brides – and their dresses – after the big color decision has already been made.

• Before the big day, Classic Cleaners performs alterations and prepared dresses for travel to a destination wedding site.
• After the wedding, Classic Cleaners’ expert stain removal process comes into play. Many brides select MuseumCare preservation in hopes a daughter or even granddaughter will be able to someday carry on the tradition.So, no, we’re usually not consulted on color selection ahead of time.  But, since, at least one reader has popped the ivory vs. white question, here’s what we know:

Only since Queen Victoria’s wedding was white even used for wedding dress.  In fact, the color thought to symbolize purity and virginity was blue, with white meant for mourning!  Later, white became a status symbol, meaning you could afford to spend money on a garment that would be worn only once!

The most sensible response we found to the white-ivory question was given by a Yahoo!answers reader:  “My dress is off-white because it goes better with my complexion!”

In recent months, Classic Cleaners has dry cleaned, prepared, restored dresses in red, gray, ivory, and white, ranging from worn only once to 47 years old! We can tell you – they are all beautiful.

Our final answer (yes, Regis!) to our blog reader’s query – Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.  Whatever color makes you feel most beautiful – IS most beautiful!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team