| I
used to think time had gotten faster
(the years seem to move at a quicker pace, anyway)
but I've decided it's
just a retailing gimmick. They put
Halloween candy on the shelves in August, switch
to Holiday merchandise on November 1, and roll out
the spring garments in the middle of January!
This week, we're giving
some tips about how
to best take advantage of those end-of-season sales
that are just around the corner, so you're ready
to step out in style next Fall. In addition, we've
also got some tips for you regardinga pesky problem
you might well encounter if you've got garments
made of wool, and how to keep them
serviceable from year to year -- no matter how fast
they seem to go by.
See you soon!
Jim
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Get
it off your chest!
This
e-mail newsletter is supposed to be a two-way street.
We want to give you tips, make you laugh, share things
we've learned -- but we also want to hear from you.
If you've got a question
about garment care or drycleaning, want to make a
suggestion
about how we can serve you better, or need
to let us know about something we
should improve then let us know. Our
e-mail address is at the bottom of this newsletter,
and we'd love to hear from you. |
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Wonderful
Wooly COUPON!
The best way to keep
clothes moths from damaging your garments
is to wear them frequently, and keep them clean -- and always
clean before storing. Have
two garments drycleaned, and we'll
clean a wool item of equal or lesser value at no charge.
(Include first page of this newsletter with your order.
Offer expires Jan. 29, 2005. Cannot be combined with other
offers.) |
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It's your favorite wool
blazer... or pleated tartan skirt... or that gorgeous
hand-made woven piece you picked up on your honeymoon
and hung on the wall with pride. And it's got a hole
in it! Actually, the more you look, it's got more
than one. Who did this?
Most likely, you need look
no further than Tineola bisselliela or its
cousin, Tinea pellionella -- the webbing
clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth, respectively.
These small moths (the example at the top of this
newsletter is MUCH bigger than the half-inch wingspanned
critters we're talking about) lay eggs where food
is abundant. Unfortunately, they are among the few
animals that can digest keratin, a protein in wool.
Of course, that bit of wine that went unnoticed and
that perspiration under the arm are just gravy to
them.
If
you feel they are targeting your clothes, though,
think again. They'll also go after
things with feathers, leather, upholstery, carpets,
animal skins or trophies, toys, and even the felt
inside pianos. Yum, yum! |
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Just
the Facts
"Know thy enemy," as the saying
goes. Knowing how the clothes moths operate is a good way
to stay a step ahead.
- Adult
clothes moths don't eat -- but the females
lay 100-300 eggs each.
- If
you see a moth fluttering around a lamp, it's NOT a clothes
moth. They crave dark, and hide in the
folds and even the seams of fabric.
- Larva
munch on the fibers, and are attracted to any spills,
perspiration, or other things left on the fabric when
it was stored. Depending on environmental
conditions, they may stay larval for 55 days to 2.5 years
-- eating the whole time.
- The
larva form a tube around themselves out of what they've
eaten, and since the tube takes on the
colors of what they are digesting it is also camouflaged
from casual examination of the fabric.
- Clothes
moths can be transported into your home many ways -- on
second-hand clothes, rolled carpets, in furniture, even
in garments from the store.
What can
you do?
How do you defeat something that
is only about half an inch across when its wings are spread,
and lays hundreds of eggs? Here are some basic tips.
- Frequent
wearing, handling and cleaning of wool items is the best
preventative for damage. The moths won't
settle in something that doesn't sit still in a nice,
dark place.
- Good
housekeeping is also a great help. Vacuum
carpets, furniture, upholstery, drapes, closets, drawers
and storage areas frequently. (Don't forget the bottom
side of shelves and drawers, where some moths form webs
to hid out in.) Discard contents of vacuum bag.
- Drycleaning
fluid kills all stages of clothes moths
-- eggs, larvae, cocooned, adult. If you bring
garments you suspect have clothes moths, let us know.
We'll keep them separate from other garments until they
can be cleaned.
- Cedar
doesn't kill them, but it makes them unhappy
(and that's a good thing.) Unfortunately, cedar chests
aren't air-tight usually, and they lose their essential
oil over time. You can restore this by re-oiling every
few years, and by lightly sanding the inside of the chest.
- Never
spray insecticides on garments -- not
only can it cause stains or dye changes, it can also be
hazardous to your health.
- Be
alert for signs of clothes moth infestation
-- small, pepper-like grains on garments or under them,
cocoons, holes, bugs that flutter out when the item is
disturbed. Assume they are in more than one garment if
you find them, and take immediate action.
- Once
garments are clean and moth-free, store
in some of today's great plastic totes to keep pests out.
- Look
for garments that indicate on the label they were pre-treated
to make them pest-resistant. This is a
permanent treatment applied during the manufacturing process,
and will help stop clothes moths from getting their teeth
into your wool garments in the first place.
Further
reading and tips:
Use these links to find out more.
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Somebody Say SALE?
Ah, the end-of-season sales!
There's nothing like them to pick up bargains to
sock away for the next time the weather changes.
Be a smart shopper, though, or you could be throwing
your investment away.
- Shop
at the Top -- when seasonal clothing
is being phased out, go to the best store you
can afford. Getting top quality clothes at a good
discount is always a bargain.
- Stay
away from Trendy -- Whatever was
"in" this year will be out by next season, so
look for classic pieces in neutral or perennial
shades (navy, burgundy, brown, black, tan). When
next year's hot looks come in, you'll be able
to accessorize and match new pieces with these
great items to create fresh looks.
Have
fun shopping! And, since they seem
to move into the new season of clothes long before
the weatherman gets the word, you'll probably have
the enjoyment of wearing your new items at least
a few times before they need to be put aside.
- Clean
it -- even if you don't wear it.
Sounds funny, to buy something brand new and clean
it before you store it. But if it's wool, it's
a wise thing to do. Garments can come into your
home with clothes moths (or their imminent offspring)
already hiding in the seaming or other discreet
places. Store them with your current clothes and
they could ruin it all.
- Make a list
-- Most people forget what they put into storage,
and go out and buy new things the following season.
Make a list of the pieces you picked up on sale,
and the other things you stored. It'll save you
money and aggravation -- and it's a great thing
to have for insurance purposes, along with your
other notes about your possessions.
Happy
Shopping!
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Pressing
News is a weekly newsletter published by
The Cleaners (dba Nu-Way Cleaners
and Foothills Cleaners). The newsletter provides information on
garment care and restoration along with other information
and discount coupons. Visit our web site at www.thecleaners.net
for more
information about our company and the locations of our stores.
If you wish to be
removed from our mailing list, just scroll down to the "Go
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