Storing garments for the Off-Season

Here in California our seasons don't change that drastically, but they do change, and people's wardrobes change according to the weather and temperature. This means that, for an extended part of each year, groups of garments must be put away until their season arrives. Improper storage of your off-season wardrobe, though, can cause irreparable damage. Following are some typical problems you may encounter, and advice on preventing the damage. 


Yellow Stains: Stains that are invisible when they occur, left on a garment during storage, will oxidize with age and appear as yellow, orange, or even brown. Juices, soft drinks, beer, white wine, tea or coffee, and other beverages or foods containing sugars can cause stains to develop during storage. The longer the stain is allowed to age, the more difficult it will be to remove. Natural fibers tend to retain stains more tenaciously, too, like cotton, wool, and silk. Prevention is the best "cure". When you get a stain, take the garment to us as soon as possible, and point out and identify the stained area. We have special stain removal agents that may remove, or at least minimize, the stain. 


Mildew: Mildew will develop on garments that are stored in damp or humid conditions. It has a musty odor and appears as black, grey, purple, or yellow specks with an irregular pattern. Mildew not only stains, it actually deteriorates the fibers of your garments, especially natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, and leather. Once established, mildew growth can only be completely stopped by washing in chlorine bleach. Unfortunately, this is not safe on many fabrics and can remove color. The odor associated with mildew can be removed using an ozone treatment. To prevent mildew, store your clean, dry garments in a well-ventilated, climate controlled, dehumidified area. 


Insect Damage: When stains are left on garments, especially food, beverage, perspiration, and body oils, insects like clothes moths, carpet beetle larvae, and silverfish are attracted to the stain. Consequently, their efforts to eat the staining material will cause damage to the garment's fibers. Sometimes, a hole is apparent immediately; sometimes damaged fibers are flushed away during a subsequent cleaning, causing the hole to appear. There is no way to repair this type damage, but you can help prevent it by having your garments cleaned before storing them in a cool, dry place. Cedar chests and moth balls are effective, too. While there is an odor associated with cedar and moth balls, it can be eliminated by airing out or washing. 


Light Fading: Many dyes are sensitive to prolonged exposure to sunlight, and even to a light left on in a closet. Silks are especially susceptible, and fading can occur in a relatively short time. Light fading is typically evident on only one side of the fabric, and also only where an edge is exposed to the light source. Fading cannot be corrected, so do not store items in direct sunlight, and remember to turn off closet lights. 

The Cleaning Lady

Railroad Cleaners
2195 Railroad Ave 
Pittsburg, CA 94565

The Myth of Frequent Cleanings

The myth that too-frequent cleaning can damage garments has been around for many years. Perhaps this thought comes from people who have washed and dried items at home, especially brightly colored garments, and after several washings noticed a color loss, shrinkage or other distortion. While this may be true for garments cleaned in a domestic washer and drier, it is certainly not true of garments that are processed at your dry cleaner. Here are some points to remember when comparing washing to dry cleaning:

• Dry cleaning is gentle on your clothes. The special chemistry involved in dry cleaning, a process that uses virtually no moisture, has no swelling or shrinking effect on garment fibers. 

• The "chemistry" of dry cleaning is extremely gentle on the dyes and other finishes of your garments, such as embossing, polishing, waterproofing, and wrinkle-resistance. 

• Dry cleaning's lower cleaning and drying temperatures are substantially gentler to your garments. The higher drying temperatures necessary for laundered items combined with tumbling and agitation can cause noticeable garment shrinkage and color fading. 

It may sound crazy, but professional dry cleaning will actually prolong the life of a garment. Timely cleaning can remove spots and stains that would otherwise become permanent with age. Ground-in dirt acts as an abrasive, causing rapid wear of fibers. Also, insects are attracted to food particles on your clothes and can cause irreparable damage. Professional stain removal and cleaning eliminate these problems, and professional pressing will keep your garments looking as close to new as possible. A properly cared-for garment will wear out from use or go out of style before the effects of cleaning could cause any damage.

You have a lot of money and emotions invested in your wardrobe. Trust professional garment care to extend the life and maintain the quality of your investment.

The Cleaning Lady

Railroad Cleaners
2195 Railroad Ave 
Pittsburg, CA 94565

*-- This has been proven by studies conducted by two North Carolina universities on the effects of dry cleaning on wool fabrics. Wool was chosen because it is sensitive and costly, and is typically not able to be cleaned at home. These studies concluded that dry cleaning has no adverse effects on wool.