What shade of green is C.E.D.?  Classic Cleaners knows. 

The first dry cleaners in Indianapolis to earn the designation Certified Environmental Dry Cleaner, Classic Cleaners assumed leadership early on in our increasingly “green” Indiana economy.

The C. E. D. designation comes from the International Fabric Care Institute (IFI) and is accepted as identifying “masterful knowledge of the fabric care process”.  The owners of Classic Cleaners elected to participate in the program because we believe in protecting the environment while producing quality garment care. 

Our commitment includes:

• No smoking permitted in our cleaning facilities or delivery
• Reusing and recycling hangers, garment bags, and boxes
• Proper handling of waste
• Safe dry-cleaning operating
• Reducing “carbon footprint” from autos by reducing customer trips through our free delivery route system

Each year, owners or operators of drycleaning facilities must register with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and obtain a permit to do business in compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules.

To borrow a once-popular banking slogan, “It’s not easy being green.” But, at Classic Cleaners we find it’s quite rewarding. We’re very proud of our Indiana Five-Star Environmental Recognition award – and of our C.E.D. “green”!

So, what shade is C.E.D.?  We call it Classic Cleaners green!

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

“Once upon a time, women who bought their wedding dresses secondhand to cut costs may have kept it a secret; today they have bragging rights,”  says Bethany Kandel in New York Times’ Field Notes. Kandel cautions the now “in” frugal brides to budget for alternations and dry cleaning bills.

At Classic Cleaners, our wedding gown care professionals know all about the specialized dry cleaning, alternation, and pressing techniques needed for both brand new and “lightly loved” bridal attire.

While a surprising number of brides are buying used wedding gear online, as SmartMoney reporter Joan Magee notes, at Classic Cleaners we’re noticing more and more brides choosing to restore beautiful heirloom wedding gowns, first worn by Mom or Grandma, for their own wedding.

The Australian film released just last year, Second Hand Wedding, was dubbed a “first-class success by reviewers. Apparently, from the time Barbra Streisand lamented her status as “Secondhand Rose“, frugality has made quite a comeback. 

Of course, at Classic Cleaners, our job is making sure all our brides- and all their wedding gowns – make their absolute best appearance (whatever time around)! 

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

The slang expression “Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back” refers to people who praise themselves too highly. Yet, according to many psychologists, it’s OK to pat yourself on the back when you’ve accomplished something special, pointing out that self-congratulation can be a healthy exercise in raising self esteem. 
 
With their new and improved website finally up and running, the professionals at Classic Cleaners have time to reflect on the results of the customer survey results from last fall, and on the wonderful boost to self- esteem that customer feedback provided.

(Dr. Michael R. Edelstein suggests self-esteem can be harmful when it causes people to have difficulty admitting their behavior is unhealthy or unwise.  Edelstein suggests that it would be healthier for us to evaluate our actions without drawing either positive or negative conclusions about ourselves.)

In the case of the Classic Cleaners survey, it was not intended for “arm-breaking” at all, but to accomplish three things:

1. Help Classic Cleaners owners know more about the demographics of its customer
   base – where they are located, what age groups they fall into, and how long they have      
   been customers.
2. Remind customers of the “Classic Rewards” program.
3. Find out what concerns customers might have with the appearance and cleanliness of the stores, the friendlessness and patience of the front desk representatives, and with the timeliness and quality of order completion.Three very important aspects of the Classic Cleaners business earned almost across-the-board rave reviews:1.  convenience

   2.  friendliness

   3.  quality

No surprise to Classic Cleaners – customers are looking for good value at the lowest possible cost.  In fact, price was the only “negative” recorded by any of the survey respondents! Classic Cleaners’ response: That’s exactly the reason we offer the Classic Rewards program and all the limited time offers – to help you save money while taking advantage of the extra quality Classic Cleaners provides.

At Classic Cleaners, WE”RE looking for value as well.  And what we value is – our customers!

 by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team