With Classic Cleaners so involved in the care and preservation of bridal attire, it’s natural for us to hear all about different weddings – and about different wedding legends and superstitions!

Just the other day we were discussing with one of our recently married Eagle Creek dry cleaning clients one of the oldest superstitions surrounding weddings:

                    It’s considered bad luck for the bride to try on the entire wedding outfit – meaning the dress, shoes, veil, train, gloves, etc. – before the wedding itself.

How did the topic of wedding superstitions and folklore come up in that conversation? Well, with so many lakes and the reservoir, rainbows may often be seen in the Eagle Creek area. In fact, a very beautiful rainbow had appeared on the very day of this Classic Cleaners’ client’s wedding.  We discussed the fact that, in folklore, if a bride sees a frog, a dove, or a rainbow on her way to the ceremony, good luck will follow.

One tradition it seems everyone knows about is the “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”., with the “old” and “new” representing the bride’s life pre-wedding and post-wedding, and the blue standing for the traditional color of wedding dresses before Queen Victoria changed the fashion to white.

From Eagle Creek to Noblesville, our customers seem to honor old traditions while creating some new ones of their own.  We so enjoy being part of marriage-in-the-making!  Before the big day, Classic Cleaners professionals perform alterations and prepare dresses for travel to destination wedding sites. Afterwards, our expert stain removal process and archival box storage come into play!

Whether or not we’ve seen that rainbow or dove, At Classic Cleaners we feel lucky to play a part in the wedding tradition!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

Different dry cleaners handle clothes differently. But which of those differences – differences in processes, differences in equipment, and differences in expertise –  are going to matter most when it comes to helping your family’s garments lasting their longest and looking their best?

Take this simple ten-question test to see just how much you know about dry cleaning….

1.  Table linens should always be laundered in water that is 110º.

 ___True                           ___False

2. The certification for environmentally responsible dry cleaning practices is
 called Green Dry Cleaner.

  ___True                           ___False
                  
3.   To preserve wedding gowns, you should store them in special boxes treated with  acid.
 

___True                           ___False
                 
4. If a garment has studs or beaded buttons, the buttons should be detached prior to dry cleaning and reattached.

___True                           ___False

 
5.  Home dry cleaning never rinses out the spotting solution.

 ___True                           ___False

 6. If you get bubble gum on a garment, scrape the gum off the best you can before
 bringing the garment to the dry cleaners.

 ___True                           ___False

7. When drapes have smoke damage, homeowners trying to clean them on their own will only smear soot into the fabric.
 
 ___True                           ___False

8. Dry cleaned clothes should be kept in their plastic bags until you’re ready to put them on.

___True                           ___False

9. Zippers should be left open when clothes are hanging in the closet, in order to allow fabric to “breathe”.

 ___True                           ___False

10.  If a garment label reads “fire retardant“, the dry cleaners must use special non liquid cleaning agents on that garment.

___True                           ___False

How did you do on the test? At Classic Cleaners,” the modern craft of clean” combines the latest in equipment and technology with decades of experience in caring for clothes. Nothing less than a ten out of ten will do for our customers!

 
Answer key: (Click on the link for each question to find the full explanation.)
True: 4, 5, 7, 10
False: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

 All dry cleaning is local, you might argue. After all, no one ships  clothes out of state to be laundered or dry cleaned! So, if your dry cleaners is locally operated, is it important whether it’s locally owned? 

Classic Cleaners - born, bred, and involved in local Indiana

CityofSoundcom thinks so. “Locally owned independent retailers contribute a vast amount to cities…  recent research from the US indicates that between 54 and 58 cents of every dollar spent at a locally-owned retailer stays in that local environment.” (The article goes on to explain why: Local businesspeople employ local accountants, local delivery services, local web designers, local signwriters, local architects, advertise in the local newspaper, and so on.

Staylocal.org of New Orleans lists no fewer than ten reasons to shop local:

1. Protect local character and prosperity
2. Community well being
3. Local decision making
4. Keeping dollars in the local economy
5. Jobs and wages
6. Entrepreneurship
7. Public benefits and costs
8. Environmental sustainability
9. Competition
10. Product diversity

Classic Cleaners is locally owned and locally operated. The first Classic Cleaners store opened in Indianapolis in January 1985.  Today, there are 17 stores in locations that include Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville and McCordsville along with Indianapolis.  Pickup and delivery service is available in the surrounding localities bordered by Fortville, Pittsboro, and Cicero.

As far as the Staylocal.org list, Classic Cleaners is certainly 10 for 10. Through membership in the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, and the Fishers Chamber of Commerce, Classic Cleaners does its part to strengthen local communities.  Through its financial support of Dress For Success Indianapolis, local Girl Scout troops,  the Museum of 20th Century Warfare, and many other local charities, Classic Cleaners stays involved in local community needs, seeks to be an employer of choice and to protect the environment in all its operations.

Local, anyone? 

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

CLASSIC CLEANERS’ NOVEMBER SPECIAL -           

2.00 OFF ALL OUTERWEAR ITEMS!

“You know you’re a fashion nightmare when you wear underwear as outerwear,’ comments ivillage.com, warning “nice ladies” that, “Unless you’re Paris Hilton, there’s a time and a place for lingerie.”

(Not that any of our fine female Classic Cleaners customers would ever fancy themselves the new Paris Hiltons, but, given our November special on all outerwear items, we thought a dictionary definition reminder might be appropriate:

                                  Out-er-wer: n. 
Garments, as raincoats or overcoats, worn over other clothing for warmth or  protection outdoors.

  http://www.dictionary30.com/meaning/outerwear gets even more definitive about outerwear, counting  jackets, coats, cloaks, and even scarves and mittens in the category.

At Classic Cleaners, our professionals dry clean coats of every description, including parkas, down-filled mountain-climbing and ski outfits, and we specialize in suede and leather coats.

The other day I heard a waggish WIBC announcer tell his listening audience how much he was enjoying the unseasonably balmy Indiana weather, “I’m beginning to think global warming is vastly underrated, ” he quipped.  Global warming or not, we all know November is the time to prepare for colder temperatures and even for some precipitation.

So, gather up those cloaks and coats and jackets and rainwear, the down-filled vests and ski suits and parkas.  With freshly cleaned outerwear, you’ll be prepared for whatever weather the autumn and winter to come might bring.

You know you’re fashion-savvy when you put your fine outerwear garments in the capable hands of our Classic Cleaners professionals!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team