Posts tagged eco-friendly

Special Report: What You Need to Know About ‘Wrinkle-Free’ Shirts

With today’s hectic lifestyles, who doesn’t appreciate a little added convenience and short-cuts here and there? However, sometimes the offer is indeed too good to be true. Sudsies has found this to be the case with the latest trend in wrinkle resistant claims for dress shirts.

Sudsies Special Report: What You Need to Know About ‘Wrinkle-Free’ Shirts

According to Consumer Reports magazine, wrinkle-free finishes reduce the lifespan of a cotton garment by 20 to 25 percent. The National Cleaners Association (NCA), a professional trade group dedicated to the research and dissemination of the latest information about professional cleaning standards and consumer welfare, followed up on this claim, elaborating the problems associated with these types of items.

NCA Technical Director Alan Spielvogel explains that the formaldehyde resin finish used to help prevent wrinkles stiffens the fibers, making them weak against bending and chafing when laundered in water. Furthermore, Spielvogel, who oversees the Association’s garment laboratory analysis, says there is evidence of this same finish trapping in the residual chlorinated bleaching agents and acids used in the garment dyeing process. They are as harmful as they sound and are activated when in contact with hot water or high temps used during ironing. The result is holes, frays and other noticeable damage in as little as a few washings.

So while you may think wrinkle-free and other resistant garments may be a beneficial technology, it is actually costing you more money both in the short- and long-run. And quite frankly, it’s not saving you much time either if you consistently have to go shopping to replace damaged items. It’s disappointing to snag a new favorite shirt, only to have it become unwearable after a short time. Be aware that despite these drawbacks, untreated shirts are more of a rarity these days. As such, we suggest shopping at speciality stores or online sites for “resin free” options.

For those that still hate ironing, Sudsies aims to provide its clientele good-looking and eco-friendly cleaned garments WITH the added convenience of complimentary pick up and delivery from your location and schedule of choice. Furthermore, our services include providing you the most updated information about garment and cleaning trends such as this, so that you can make informed decisions when purchasing your wardrobe. To make your experience with Sudsies even more special, we always throw in free smiles.

For the full press release of the NCA’s wrinkle-free warnings, click here.

The Cloth Behind the Clothes: Part Three – CAPES

Ok, in South Florida we may be limited in picking up the cape trend, but it IS a more reasonable alternative to traditional coats with more air flow to the body.  No superheroes here, just super fashionable.  Coverlets have been modernized in a range of ways, from cropped, to short and feminine, to long and sweeping.  For those anomaly cold days, capes can be paired with long leather gloves for an uber chic look.

CARE CAUTIONS:

  • Though probably not often worn in South Florida, these garments should still be cleaned at least once during the “winter” season.  As outerwear, they are touching public spaces and coat checks, as well as accumulating makeup and hair product residues.
  • Before considering a cashmere option, understand that this fabric is very delicate and susceptible to microscopic abrasion.  Those with an on-the-go lifestyle may want to consider a wool/cashmere blend.
  • If opting for the wizard-style, bear in mind the longer hemline attracts debris from the floor and streets.  As such, buyers may want to go with a darker color to help camouflage this effect in between cleanings.
  • Before placing back in storage over the Spring/Summer months, be sure to professionally clean and store in a breathable garment bag of tissue to prevent mold build-up.

Need to catch up on the other parts of this series?  Check them out here!  Part One – KNITS and Part Two – LEATHER

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The Cloth Behind the Clothes: Part Two – LEATHER

In continuation of our Fall Fashion Fabric Guide series, we now bring our attention to leather.  A stand-alone statement piece or used in a hybrid form with other fabrics, leather was this year’s “it” material.  Leather is traditionally associated with a biker or rocker vibe, but this season, designers quilted it, used as trim or paneling, and fashioned into sleek silhouettes to present it in a more sophisticated light.

Care Cautions:

  • This material is an animal hide, not derived and woven from plant materials; therefore is prone to some imperfections.  A leather tanner will treat and color the materials to hide much of these imperfections, but over time, these treatments will wear away, re-exposing them, much in the same manner that makeup covers up blemishes but wears off over the course of the day.
  • Many professional cleaners recommend recoloring after cleaning to replace the finish that is naturally lost over time.
  • With leather and suede, it’s especially important to store in a cool place over the summer months.  Hides will stiffen from heat and humidity.  These materials are also more susceptible to moth damage.  That being said, never store in plastic, for this will only trap in heat and moisture.  A muslin cover stored indoors is the best alternative.

In case you missed it, check out the other Fall Fashion Fabrics in this Series by clicking here:  Part One – Knits.

The Cloth Behind The Clothes: Part One – KNITS

The Sudsies Fall Fashion Fabric Guide includes six of the 2013’s top fall trends.  Up first is knits! Slouchy, oversized, form-fitting, patterned, tightly woven, or intricately crocheted, knits are a classic fall go-to.  In his show, Marc Jacobs paired sweaters and pencil skirts for a new kind of “suit”, while Mara Hoffman showed large pullovers with skinny pants.

Care Cautions:

  • Before purchasing, keep in mind that knit fabrics are often stretched before even making it to stores during the processing process.  Knitted loops should be round.  Elongated or long loops are a sign that the garment had already been stretched.
  • Have extra drawer or shelf space available.  Ideally, knits should be stored flat with tissue.
  • If knits must be hung, use a properly-sized padded hanger for tops.  For bottoms, use a soft-clip hanger and clip so that the garment does not sag, stretch or droop.  Even if the article has hanging loops, do not use, as they will pull and distort the shape over time.
  • Networking is an important part of business, but try not to wear knits for functions that may require name tags, as the adhesive can create “fuzzy” damage when removed.
  • Avoid pushing up the sleeves.  Over time, the fabric will lose resiliency and hang shapelessly over the forearms. For South Floridians, save the knits for assuredly cool days to avoid the urge to hike up the sleeves.

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Sudsies Bubbles Over: Second Location in North Miami

Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry has announced the expansion of its services with the opening of a second location in North Miami. Located at 12711 Biscayne Boulevard, the 8,000 sq ft space will act as both a customer storefront and processing facility. Coupled with its original location in Miami Beach, Sudsies offerings span Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

“We’re continually striving to enhance the quality of our work, and this new location helps us do just that,” says Founder and President Jason Loeb. “Now, our customers can expect and enjoy even more services and faster response times.”

With the location expansion also comes the expansion of the Sudsies team. Its fleet of vans offering free pick-up and delivery is expected to double in size to reach all corners of the South Florida market.  New cleaning experts and equipment bring with them new operational and managerial techniques to increase production capacity and turnaround times. While primarily a processing facility, a storefront component allows for customer pickup, drop-off, alterations and general cleaning consultations. Both Sudsies locations incorporate EPA-sanctioned green cleaning initiatives including wet cleaning processes, gentle detergents, water-conserving machinery and recyclable hangers and packaging.

Sudsies’ many core services include eco-friendly dry cleaning, laundry, alterations, restoration and preservation, couture work, on-site home cleaning and complimentary pick-up and delivery across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. High-tech facilities, in-depth skills and expertise and customer convenience are a part of the Sudsies S.M.I.L.E. mantra to provide friendly, impacting experiences for its clientele. More information about Sudsies and its many offerings can be found at www.sudsies.com or by phoning 1.888.898.SUDS (7837).

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Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry Announces Expansion of Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Systems

Clothing at Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry will take on an even greener tone.  The South Florida-based dry cleaner announced the expansion of its environmentally-friendly cleaning department with the most recent high-performance equipment and agents.  These processes mainly incorporate Professional Wet Cleaning and Hydrocarbon Cleaning, cited by the Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI) in Massachusetts as among the top alternatives to traditional perc dry cleaning systems that better support environmental and consumer health.

“It’s not easy being green, but it’s among our top priorities here at Sudsies,” says Founder and President Jason Loeb.  “We’re constantly exploring new and improved ways to impart the biggest impact on our clientele with cleaner, better-looking garments, while having the least impact on the environment.”

Professional Wet Cleaning is an alternative process incorporating biodegradable detergents, texture enhancers and specialized finishing equipment.  According the recent TURI report, the method does not emit hazardous air pollutants and requires the lowest electricity usage of all garment cleaning options.  Additional key environmental organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Green Peace, and Sierra Club Green Home deem wet cleaning as the most eco-friendly solution.  While the technology isn’t the newest of the perc dry cleaning alternatives and has its limitations, it has evolved with significant improvements to its effectiveness and safety.  New cleaning solutions and computer controlled conditions are gentler on fabrics, helping to maintain the integrity of the garment and a new-like appearance.

Despite wet cleaning benefits, there is still no single cleaning process that is perfect for all types of clothing.  To best provide high-quality effectiveness across the vast range of its in-bound clothing, Sudsies has also incorporated Hydrocarbon Cleaning to its arsenal of green alternatives.  This second innovation does not rely on any Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-classified hazardous air pollutants to function and is recommended by the agency’s Design for Environment Program.  Sudsies’ hydrocarbon technology is especially suited for fragile articles, vintage wears, and intricate couture pieces, all of which are core specialities for the company.

Eco-friendly initiatives are part of Sudsies’ care trifecta for its clients, clothes and environment.  The dry cleaner’s full-service offerings include dry and wet cleaning, laundry, alterations, restoration services, vintage and couture care, bridal gown preservation and on-site home cleaning.  Customer convenience is further enhanced with complimentary personal pick-up and delivery to all locations across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as nationally via a Sudsies Express Mail service that cleans and ships garments across the United States.

More information about Sudsies and its offerings can be found at www.sudsies.com or by phoning 1.888.898.SUDS (7837).

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Snow Bunnies: Good. Dust Bunnies: Bad The Sudsies Guide to Ski Wear Storage

Time to replace the hot cocoa with lemonade…ski season is coming to a close.  Hopefully, you’ve mastered a new trick or two on the slopes, though it’s likely your snow apparel underwent a little wear-and-tear in the process.  Before storing ski clothing, there’s a few things you can do to ensure its in tip-top shape for when the resorts reopen.

  • Give all items a good cleaning to remove any excess water and prevent mold and mildew from harboring over the summer.  This includes, hats, headbands, gloves, scarves and socks (no, your boots are NOT the best place to be storing your socks).
  • For the extreme winter sport adventurers (or just the accident-prone), now is the time to mend any rips and tears in jackets and pants to help prevent any further damage, as well as remove stains so they don’t permanently set or attract critters while in storage.
  • Once clean, do not store items in plastic bags or containers.  This will only lock in moisture and humidity, counteracting the benefits of cleaning beforehand.  Storing without any protectant or well-sealed coverings, on the other hand, can make clothing susceptible to insects and other pests.  Specialty storage boxes or natural cotton garment bags, such as those found at the Container Store, are good options.  Clean, ventilated suitcases are another alternative.
  • Ideally, avoid placing in environments prone to high temperatures.  Cool, dark, dry places help prevent any fading and mildew growth.

As for tips on extending the life of ski gear, check out this article from SkiMag.com: http://www.skinet.com/ski/article/how-store-your-ski-gear-summer

Proper storage takes a little extra effort, but come next winter, you’ll be ready to hit the slopes!  Let Sudsies make it a littler easier for you…we’re known for our specialty garment services and can have your items clean and ready for their summer hibernation.  For even more added convenience, make use of our new Sudsies Express Services, where you can ship your clothes to us right from your ski town and we’ll prepare and have them delivered back to your South Florida home, or wherever your Summer travels take you within the USA..

Sudsies Takes Competition to the Cleaners, Captures #1 Spot in WPLG Local 10 Top 10

The people have spoken!  Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry is officially South Florida’s most beloved dry cleaner as the category winner in the 2013 WPLG Local 10 Top 10.  The television station granted the company the top ranking following a dynamic voting campaign conducted through the station’s website and social media outlets.  Sudsies offers a full range of clothing and specialty item services across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, including complimentary pick-up and delivery to its clientele’s location of choice.

“This is such a great honor,” says Founder and President Jason Loeb of the results.  “We’ve developed a great team that is truly dedicated to quality of work and above-and-beyond service.  It’s wonderful to see that our customers are responding enthusiastically to our efforts.”

 

Founded in 1996, Sudsies has been a pioneer in the industry, becoming South Florida’s first fully-mobile dry cleaner.  The company has expanded its services over the years to meet every customer need including environmentally-friendly dry cleaning, laundry, alterations, restoration and preservation, as well as care of couture garments, wedding gowns and other specialty items.  Most recently, Sudsies opened a second processing facility in North Miami and enhanced its customer convenience even further by offering Sudsies Express Mail services across the United States.

High-tech facilities, in-depth skills and expertise, and customer convenience are part of the Sudsies S.M.I.L.E. mantra to provide friendly, impacting experiences for its clients.  Both locations incorporate EPA-sanctioned green cleaning initiatives including wet cleaning processes, gentle detergents, water-conserving machinery and recyclable hangers and packaging.

More information about Sudsies and its many offerings can be found at www.sudsies.com or by phoning 1.888.898.SUDS (7837).

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Going the Distance: Sudsies Launches Express Mail Service for Loyal Clients Nationwide

 

MIAMI, FL — Well-heeled travelers and part-time South Florida residents no longer have to despair about clean clothes when outside the Sunshine State.  Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry has announced that it will now offer Sudsies Express, whereby clients can mail their garments to the dry cleaner for care and return.  Sudsies Express is offered throughout the United States and includes all services – including cleaning, alterations, restoration and more – at regular pricing, plus the cost of shipping.

“Local or long-distance, we aim to make all our customer relationships a success,” says Founder and President Jason Loeb.  “We added Sudsies Express to help assure that clients and their garments will get our reliable service, no matter where their travels take them.”

The process is simple.  Customers enclose a special care form, found on the the company’s website, with their garments and mail them to the North Miami facility address, where the Sudsies team cares for the items and places them freshly pressed in a garment box for return.  While all services are offered via Sudsies Express, Loeb adds that it is particularly appealing for clients with designer or couture labels, garments in need of restoration or damage repair, or vintage pieces given the cleaners’ expertise and superior capabilities in working with specialty garments.  Another key user group are customers preparing to return to South Florida.  Instead of packing, they can ship their garments to Sudsies for a cleaning, followed by direct, complimentary delivery to their South Florida residence at the date and time of preference.

Sudsies continues to add offerings that enhance its quality of service and convenience for its clientele.  The company’s many core options include eco-friendly dry cleaning, laundry, alterations, restoration and preservation, couture work, on-site home cleaning and complimentary pick-up and delivery across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.  More information about Sudsies can be found at www.sudsies.com or by phoning 1.888.898.SUDS (7837).

 

About Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry

Miami-based Sudsies is full-service dry cleaning company dedicated to clean clothes, clean service and a clean environment. An industry pioneer for South Florida home pick-up and delivery services, the Sudsies fleet of bubbly, blue and yellow vans offer prompt service to every nook and corner across the tri-county area, while a team of highly-trained specialists care for garments and customers with a smile. The vast range of services includes ecological dry cleaning and laundry processes, alterations and tailoring, clothing restoration, bridal gown storage or alteration and knowledge of specialty items such as couture garments. At Sudsies, customers look and feel their best, while sister company Rugsies Carpet & Drapery ensures customers live in their best with on-site home or office cleaning for carpets, drapes furniture and other home items. For more information about Sudsies, please call 1.888.898.SUDS (7837) or visit www.sudsies.com.
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Hanging Tough . . .

I recently read an article that detailed the world’s most expensive clothing hanger. For $460, you get a birch-wood plywood mold with your selection from an array of designs across the lower rod area. You’d have to be a pretty serious, and wealthy, fashionista to invest in that.

While not as extravagant, we at Sudsies think our hangers are pretty nifty too. Forget wimpy wires, your clothes will hang happily upon return from our facility. The blue coating is safe on fabric, while the speciality design ensures no wearing or warping around the shoulder area. For slippery garments, our plastic hangers have built-in fasteners, while our wide shoulder design option supports heavier pieces to prevent any sagging.

Even Mother Nature loves our packaging, which is made completely from recyclable material. Furthermore, we provide recycling assistance for the hangers (if you’re willing to part with them) – simply return the items to our facility, or place with your next Sudsies order for complimentary pick-up.

While your clothing may not command a $460 hanger, they do deserve to be perched on quality hangers that preserve their look and overall life. For more information about our many laundry and dry cleaning services, visit us at www.sudsies.com.

Clean Tip from Sudsies:  Once your dry cleaning order is returned safe and sound, remove the plastic covering before placing back in closet to prevent any humidity moisture from building up and getting locked inside, which can cause damage to your favorite items over time. Good news, Sudsies protective coverings are made of recyclable materials too!

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