Q&A with Lynda, Rick, and Jordan: is club soda a miracle worker?

Happy Friday, Readers!

Welcome to the another session of reader questions, answered with care and expertise by Lynda, Rick, and Jordan. Today, our reader wants to know if an age-old tip really works:

Question: "I am going to a lot of formal parties and events this season, so I am breaking out some of my favorite dresses. I love the holidays, but it seems as though whenever I wear a great piece to a party I spill on it. What's the best way to handle this? I have heard of dabbing club soda on the stain, but is there another solution I should be using?"--Karyn {Chicago, IL}

Answer:  

Well-meaning friends generally reach for the club soda bottle and a napkin on the way to the aid of wine- or makeup-stained dresses, but our overwhelming response is absolutely do not use club soda.  In fact, the safest answer to your question is do not put anything at all on the stain.

Why?  Well, essentially there are two types of stains, those that can be broken down with water (known professionally as water soluble stains) and those that can only be broken down with chemical solutions (known professionally as solvent soluble stains). Lipstick and most make-up stains can only be removed by chemical solutions, so the only result of applying club soda to that type of stain is creating two stains: the original make-up stain and a second problem--the dreaded club soda stain ring.

I guess you are now thinking that since a wine stain would be classified as water soluble, you can successfully utilize the club soda to remove wine.  Our answer is NO once again.  Even though wine stains can be broken down by water, applying club soda on a wine stain would most likely only serve to spread the original wine stain and once again leave the dreaded club soda ring.  

Applying the club soda can also cause another problem. Typically, the group of good Samaritans surrounding the dress wait with baited breath as the “fabricare doctor” guest begins rubbing the fabric in the affected area with a damp cloth, while continuing to pour the club soda on the stain.  Unfortunately the doctor unintentionally has more than likely permanently damaged the finish of the fabric and possibly caused color loss.  

What to do?  Usually by the time stains occur at the party, you're halfway into the night.  Blot (do not rub) your stains with a white cotton napkin, and enjoy every remaining moment of the evening. As soon as you can, take the dress to a trusted professional. 

Wishing you and your loved ones good health and happiness always…

Special thanks to Lynda, Rick, and Jordan for stopping by and helping out! And don't forget to email, tweet, or Facebook us any questions you may have. We'll pick the best to feature right here. 

Welcome to Our New Readers!

We’re so excited to officially announce the launch of our blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts. Many of you have been following along with us for weeks, but for those of you who are new, let’s take a little tour of what Behind the Seams—and the overall Davis Imperial social media collection!—has to offer.

As a family-owned company, Davis Imperial has always believed in offering unmatched quality fabricare with the type of client service that treats every person as a part of an extended family. Launching a social media component is the perfect progression of these relationships, allowing clients another way to connect with the Davis Imperial team on a fresh and interactive level.

In this space, we offer an exclusive peek at the events, philanthropy, style, education, and overall specialty operations that go into running one of the top 10 couture fabricare businesses in the nation--a company that is ingrained in the Chicago world of fashion and culture and recognized as by a myriad of media as the “best couture drycleaner".

As you can see on Behind the Seams, we post once or twice a week, highlighting the latest trends in fashion, offering education on the most commonly asked questions, and covering events and philanthropy from an insider’s perspective.  Going forward we plan to showcase some of our favorite designers, boutiques and specialty stores.

If you’re looking for something, you can either enter it into the “search” window, or you can look through our posts by category (located on the right-hand side). And if you have a question we haven’t answered, we invite you to submit it to davisimperial@gmail.com and we just may feature it in our Q&A column, where Lynda, Rick and Jordan personally deliver their unmatched expertise. You can also subscribe to our blog and receive email notifications each time we post, or follow us by clicking on “join this site.”

You’ll also see that we have links to our homes around the web. Visit our standard website for a full list of services, all things gowns (vintage, eveningwear, gown cleaning preservation and restoration), disaster restoration, pick up and delivery information, education, testimonials, media gallery (video and before and after pics), credentials, recognition, drycleaning resources, fabricarebymail™ press and a wealth of information about the Davis Imperial experience. Click on over to Facebook or Twitter to like or follow us, and you’ll get exclusive updates regarding offers, events, and the world of fashion. And don’t miss our You Tube channel where we house videos featuring before and after stories, celebrities, events, and more.

We’re thrilled to introduce this new way of interacting with all of you, and we cannot wait to get to know you even better in our pursuit of delivering the absolute best fabricare services out there. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions, offer suggestions, comments or share your story with us. You just might see it featured here!

Thanks for reading and we’ll see you back here soon.

Q&A With Lynda, Rick, and Jordan: A Fabricare Specialist vs. A Dry Cleaner Round Three

Happy Friday, readers! For the last two weeks, Lynda, Rick, and Jordan have been helpful enough to break down the difference between a fabricare specialist and a dry cleaner. It all started based on the following question:

“In the last year, I have purchased some pricier dresses that I really want to last (considering they cost more than a lot of my other items combined!). After a quick google search, I see two kinds of cleaners—the typical dry cleaner, and “fabricare specialists”. What’s the difference, and why does it matter?” {Lauren, Chicago}

Because this is a question Lynda, Rick, and Jordan receive so often, they’ve broken the answer into three parts. Two weeks ago, they taught us what to look for in a fabricare specialist when it comes to skills, education, and knowledge of the craft. Last week, the family outlined key steps followed by the top fabricare specialists so you know what to ask for when choosing where to take your most valued clothing. This week, they’ll show us the extra effort that the best-of-the-best in fabricare specialists put forth.

Answer:
Our last two weeks have focused on what a quality dry cleaner should be doing--versus what many cleaners do not do. We’ve discussed the process your clothing goes through, the education of the staff, and the details you should be asking about when you choose a cleaner. And while there are many “fine” choices out there, only a select few quality cleaners go the distance in exceeding your expectations every single time. Below, we’ve listed some of the top things you should look for to make the decision process easier. Any fabricare specialist worth your best pieces should…

1. run quality checks conducted by senior managers on a daily basis that measure the results of their work against their standards of excellence, in an effort to continuously strive for perfection.

2. staff a full-service, experienced alterations department for all of your tailoring needs.

3. check every single client’s order to ensure all preferences and special instructions have been met and expectations have been exceeded at all stages of the process. (When you become a client at Davis Imperial, you fill out a full profile detailing your preferences for all of your clothing needs!)

4. run an environmentally responsible business, and be certified as an Environmental Drycleaner and a Four Leaf Green Cleaner by the Green Cleaners Council. (For more on Davis Imperial being a “green” cleaner, check out our post here!)

5. offer to conduct educational seminars for retailers, schools and organizations because they believe in the importance of understanding the difference between an ordinary drycleaner and a fabricare specialist--and how the choice you ultimately make can protect your investment in your wardrobe.

6. stay abreast of the latest fabric and fashion trends, as well as classic couture in order to be best educated on how to care for all garments.

7. give back and be involved in philanthropic and community organizations, understanding the importance of supporting the very individuals, organizations and companies that have been so supportive of them.

8. have unending passion for what they do, never wanting to stop learning and growing in their field of expertise.

9. offer luxe pick up and delivery service to your residence or office by bonded, uniformed and responsible client service representatives you can trust and who recognize that their first responsibility is the security of their client’s valued garments.

10. offer FabricareByMail™ for individuals, retailers, museums, hotels and corporations where a fabricare specialist’s level of services is not available in their area.

Most importantly, a true fabricare specialist will never take your business for granted and will always remember to say thank you for giving them the opportunity to service your fabricare needs. Davis Imperial is so honored that their clients choose them, and we hope this 3-part primer has given you a peek into what you deserve in clothing and garment care—if you’re not getting this type of service, find a quality cleaner who will deliver.

Wishing you and your loved ones good health and happiness always…

Thanks Lynda, Rick, and Jordan for this week’s installment!

And readers, don’t forget to submit any questions you have on Facebook or on Twitter @davisimperial, or you can email us at davisimperialblog@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!

Q&A With Lynda, Rick, and Jordan: A Fabricare Specialist vs. A Dry Cleaner Round Two

Happy Friday, readers! Last week we started a series in the Q&A section that helps determine the difference between a fabricare specialist and a dry cleaner. It was submitted by Lauren from Chicago:

“In the last year, I have purchased some pricier dresses that I really want to last (considering they cost more than a lot of my other items combined!). After a quick google search, I see two kinds of cleaners—the typical dry cleaner, and “fabricare specialists”. What’s the difference, and why does it matter?”

Because this is a question Lynda, Rick, and Jordan receive so often, they’ve broken the answer into three parts. Last week, they taught us all about what to look for in a fabricare specialist when it comes to the background of the owners—the skills they have, education they’ve been trained in, and their knowledge of the craft. Today, the family will outline key steps followed by the top fabricare specialists so that you know what to ask for when choosing where to take your most valued clothing.

Answer:

As we established last week, instead of focusing on what the typical dry cleaner does not do, we think it is far more productive to discuss what a quality dry cleaner--a true fabricare expert--should be doing. In particular today, we’ll focus on the services that should be offered from the moment they receive your beloved dress, suit, or blouse. Below are some of the key criteria you should look out for. A fabricare specialist…

1. should have the technical skills to offer hand-cleaning as an option for a fragile garment or textile that (after testing) shows a likelihood of being damaged if utilizing traditional processing methods. Hand-cleaning protects the integrity of the fabric while removing stains and odors.

2. should have an on-site full-service alterations department staffed with both tailors and dressmakers, experienced and trained to perform the highest levels of their craft. They should also be responsible for the removal and replacement of fragile specialty buttons and trims, and perform necessary repairs.

3. should also impeccably maintain their equipment and solutions, consistently submitting their solutions for professional testing so that all clothing is rinsed in pristine crystal clear solutions with no odor. (By the way, if you ever pick up dry cleaning from your cleaner and it smells, run--do not walk!--away from that cleaner. Strong odors usually indicate that their equipment was not properly maintained, since this odor generally comes from bacteria.)

4. should rinse garments in gentle solutions that do not strip fabrics of dyes or damage embellishments and trims.

5. should employ experienced technicians who understand fashion and the importance of detailing a garment with a hand-iron, properly hand-finishing the garment by following the drape and design intended by the fashion designer.

6. employs individuals trained in the art of couture inspecting procedures. They examine each garment applying points of excellence established for couture garments. Should standards fail to be met, the process should be repeated until the garment is perfect.

7. trains packaging experts to assess and determine the packaging requirements for each garment. Recyclable plastic molded hangers that are designed to properly support each garment for short and long-term storage, or alternative packaging when hangers are inappropriate for a garment or textile should be available. Recyclable tissue, oxi-biodegradable poly garment bags for the protection of garments during transport, reusable shopping bags, properly sized shirt, scarf and tie boxes as well as specialty packaging for fine bed, table linens, and comforter bags should minimally make up a fabricare specialists arsenal of luxe and environmentally responsible packaging.

8. should offer luxe pick up and delivery service to your office or residence by client service representatives--individuals that are bonded, uniformed, intelligent, and responsible. Individuals that you can trust and who recognize that their first responsibility is the security of their client’s valued garments.

If you’re not sure if your current cleaner follows these steps, don’t be afraid to ask. If they’re
worth taking your most valued pieces to, they will share any information you need to be
confident in their services. Davis Imperial follows all of these best practices and more. Next
week, we’ll share how we go above and beyond to consistently make our services the best in
the businesses.

Wishing you and your loved ones good health and happiness always…

Thanks Lynda, Rick, and Jordan for this week’s installment!

And readers, don’t forget to submit any questions you have on Facebook or on Twitter @davisimperial, or you can email us at davisimperialblog@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!

Q&A with Lynda, Rick, and Jordan: A Fabricare Specialist vs. A Dry Cleaner

Happy Friday, readers! So excited to have Lynda, Rick, and Jordan back again for another Q&A session—and this one will be a series of posts, as it is a question the Woods get asked repeatedly, and the answer is layered, detailed, and integral to understanding how to care for your quality clothing. To be honest, it’s one I had when I first learned about Davis Imperial. Essentially, I think it’s what any person asks when they starts truly investing in their closet.

Question: “In the last year, I have purchased some pricier dresses that I really want to last (considering they cost more than a lot of my other items combined!). After a quick google search, I see two kinds of cleaners—the typical dry cleaner, and “fabricare specialists”. What’s the difference, and why does it matter?” {Lauren, Chicago IL}

Answer: 

As you can well imagine, as a family owned and operated certified couture cleaner for over 56 years, many questions are posed to us each day. But the question that makes our top ten list of most frequently asked questions by a first time client is "What makes you different from the ordinary dry cleaner in my neighborhood?”

Instead of focusing on what the typical dry cleaner does not do, we think it is far more productive to discuss what a quality dry cleaner should be doing. By definition, fabricare specialists are true quality cleaners. Not ordinary dry cleaners. There is a difference. And it's not just one of semantics.

In a nutshell, we are not comparing apples and apples. It’s far more like comparing attending a cocktail party with appetizers and drinks versus sitting down to a full course dinner including dessert with the wait staff making sure that all your preferences, standards of excellence and expectations are met. Our goal is to clarify for our readers the importance of having a fabricare specialist process your favorite garments with a positive result. You may have both a $3,000 suit or dress and a pair of your favorite 15-year-old khaki pants in your wardrobe that have been perfectly broken in. Although there may have been a substantial price difference when purchased, they’re both invaluable in your eyes. At Davis Imperial Cleaners both garments are processed exactly the same way with particular attention to detail—just like every single piece that comes through the door.

Today’s answer will focus on knowledge, skills, and evaluation. Under this category, a Fabricare Specialist should:

1. Have the fashion and fabric knowledge to recognize the investment you have made in your wardrobe and household items, and accept the responsibility to protect your investment. That can only be successfully accomplished if the cleaner has the technical skills and experience, along with a combination of old world techniques and state of the art equipment and computer technology.
2. Be vigilant about security. At Davis Imperial, from the time a garment is received or delivered, it is bar-coded with a removable tag so that garment location in our facility can be immediately determined, as well as the stage of care it is at, and when it will be ready—just like tracking a package.
3. Offer a detailed inspection, including the reading of the care label upon arrival at our facility. It should also include the option to examine a garment under full spectrum light which may reveal a variety of both visible as well as invisible stains and/or fabric damage so that they can be properly addressed.
4. Properly evaluate and test fine fabrics, embellishments and trims to properly select the correct process to remove a stain (such as utilizing gentle solutions that do not strip the fabric of dyes or damage the details).

Davis Imperial follows all of these steps to ensure every garment that comes into our space is treated like the most important garment we’ve received--because, in essence, it is. And next week you’ll find out just how delicately and thoroughly we handle each piece through our second-to-none process. We can’t wait to share with you.

Wishing you and your loved ones good health and happiness always…

Thanks Lynda, Rick, and Jordan for your always informative answers and for stopping by to share with us!

And readers, don’t forget to submit any questions you have on Facebook or on Twitter @davisimperial, or you can email us at davisimperialblog@gmail.com

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!

Q&A with Lynda, Rick, and Jordan: Green Cleaners

Happy Friday, everyone! Thanks for the questions you submitted--we are so excited to hear from you, and we truly hope Lynda, Rick, and Jordan help you understand a little better why it is so valuable to care for your clothes in the right way.

Today’s reader question is about what it really means when a cleaner claims to be “green”.

Question: “Lately, I have really been trying to clean up my act when it comes to the environment, but I am wondering if there is a way to do this with my dry cleaner of choice? I am not really sure what the difference is between a “green” cleaner and a normal one. Am I losing anything by sending my clothing to an environmentally-friendly cleaner? Will my clothes get the same benefits? What am I gaining?” {Sarah, Vernon Hills, IL}

Answer:

Unless you’re a zealot for whom no price is too great to pay or sacrifice too much to ask, striking a balance between being a good environmental citizen and maintaining your personal standards for the quality and care in your life requires you to be an educated consumer.

Some choices are easy.  You have to go to San Francisco for your BFF’s wedding.  The smallest impact you could have on the environment is walking.  THAT is zealot territory.  The most self-indulgent choice is a private jet.  THAT is obscene.  For most responsible human beings who care about the world they live in, the reasonable choice is a seat on a non-stop commercial airline flight (an added bonus would be a full plane that achieved economy of scale!).

For other choices, like dry cleaning, the pros and cons are not so obvious because the knowledge required to make an intelligent decision is primarily known only by industry insiders.  You are to be commended for wanting to know the pluses and minuses attached to your choices, and we’re happy to share our inside, painstakingly researched information with you.

1. All cleaners are not created equal. 
   
1. There are green zealot cleaners for whom changes in texture, tensile strength, cleanliness or even size are acceptable sacrifices because their primary, and perhaps exclusive interest, is in being GREEN.  These are generally ONE process cleaners.  Think of them like a one-size-fits-all garment.  They NEVER fit everyone perfectly.  Similarly, a single green cleaning process is NEVER the perfect cleaning answer for EVERY garment brought in to them.  The result will almost always be a compromise.
2. There are cleaners who have NO environmental conscience. 
   
1. For their own reasons they choose not to invest in any eco-friendly technologies or practices beyond those required by state or local governments.  Most of these cleaners are solely dependent on processing 100% of your garments in a solvent the federal EPA has deemed to be a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP)
   

3. Then there are cleaners, like us, who have spent years researching and training in the latest environmentally sound technologies and principles, as well as staying abreast of the latest fashions, fabrics, construction techniques and trends. 
   
1. Cleaners who think beyond the cleaning process to determine what is good for the garment, and even take it many steps further by evaluating and monitoring their entire business for its impact on the world we live in.  We work toward achieving total environmental sustainability, and we adopt and invest in those eco-friendly and conservation opportunities accordingly.  We are dedicated to striking the balance between optimum environmental performance and superior garment care and superior client service.

And when these types of cleaners do it right, they receive certifications like being named a Certified Environmental Dry Cleaner (which we are), or one of our personal points of pride, being the first dry cleaner in Illinois to be named a Certified Green Cleaner. 

Wishing you and your loved ones good health and happiness always…Lynda, Rick and Jordan, Your Fabricare Friends

Thanks Lynda, Rick, and Jordan for your always informative answers and for stopping by to share with us!

And readers, don’t forget to submit any questions you have on Facebook or on Twitter @davisimperial, or you can email us at davisimperialblog@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!