Raleigh Laundry | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

October 1, 2016
by Laundry Expert
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Ways To Clean Comforters and Quilts

Most of our families laundry is pretty straight forward. We know how many items to put into the washer and what can be washed together and what can’t. We quickly learn how much detergent we need and whether or not the items can be dried in the dryer safely. Sometimes however we have things that need to be cleaned but we are not sure if we can do it safely or if our laundry room can handle them.

Laundring Bedding | Fluff and Fold Raleigh NC

If you have quilts that you have inherited and that are special to you then you must take care with how they are cleaned. Sometimes it takes a bit of detective work to figure out how to proceed. Today’s blog post will address large items like Comforters and Quilts.

Much of our bedding items, other than sheets, can be made from all kinds of materials. Some may be an easily cleaned cotton or polyester, but some may have more delicate fabrics. If this is the case or if the item is an older quilt and handmade you will want to take extra precautions when laundering. The first step in determining how to launder is read the manufacturer’s label carefully. This will provide any information you will need to know. If the quilt or comforter is filled or seems padded you will need to keep in mind that it is more than likely filled with wool, polyester fibers, or a cotton batting of some sort. Some of these are washable and some are not.

There are some things to keep in mind. First if you have a patchwork kind of quilt look at it closely and find the most delicate fabric it contains. When you clean it use the method that will best suit that fabric, This will ensure that the entire quilt is protected.If your quilt is made from a silk or velvet type of material you will NOT want to attempt to wash it yourself. The same goes for comforters. Check any label carefully. If it says it is safe to wash then proceed carefully.

If you have a really large quilt or comforter it will more than likely not fit into your standard home washer. You will need to take it to a laundromat that has a larger commercial washer. Allow the quilt or comforter to soak for about ten minutes with a gentle detergent and then continue to wash on a gentle wash cycle. If your manufactures label says the item can be dried you will also want to use the commercial dryer on as low a setting as possible.

Fluff and Fold Raleigh NC

Here at Laundry Express, fluff and fold in Raleigh NC, we have a state of the art laundromat facility to help you get those large quilts and comforters clean. We can also help you with those more delicate items to help you preserve them for as long as possible. Come by and check out our facility today!

September 27, 2016
by Laundry Expert
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Why Add Vinegar To The Wash

Many of us are always on the lookout for common household items that can help us with many of our household chores. We don’t want to add any more chemicals to our already overloaded environment than we can help. Did you know that common white vinegar can help you with your laundry problems in many different ways? The following are some really great ways vinegar can help you with your laundry problems.

Add Vinegar! | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

Vinegar has been a staple in many laundry rooms for years. Adding white, distilled vinegar is the key. Vinegar will help you to keep your laundry really clean and has the added benefit of preserving your clothes color by preventing fading. It is also an excellent fabric softener and can help to reduce common allergies. Lint reduction is also a welcome side effect of using white distilled vinegar in your wash.

To wash with white vinegar simply add 1/2 of a cup of white distilled vinegar into your load of laundry. Used this way you get fabric protection from fading especially with dark fabrics.
To soften and reduce static in the wash add 1/4 to 1/2 of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse cycle. If you do this you will need no liquid fabric softener or dryer sheet in the dryer. If you have trouble with static the use of vinegar will reduce this issue. If you are laundering heavier items such as blankets or comforters you can add up to two cups of white distilled vinegar to your final rinse cycle. Vinegar will also leave everything soft and fluffy especially sweaters. If you hand wash items like this you can still add the vinegar when you rinse.
If you have odors in your clothing vinegar can help. For cloth diapers use vinegar in the wash. It will remove odors, soap residue, and is not an irritant on baby’s skin. Spray it on stains full strength. Let it soak and then launder as usual. This works for perspiration stains, mustard, grass, red dirt, and other stains.
For Yellowed or Dingy white clothing boil a large container of water. Add to it one cup of distilled white vinegar and put in your clothes. You can then soak these overnight and was as usual the next day,
To remove lint and/or soap residue use a half cup of vinegar in your final rinse cycle. Lint and pet hair will be reduced. It will also take away the soap residue that can accumulate on on dark items of clothing. The vinegar will totally dissolve that soap residue so that it will rinse away in the rinse cycle.
Just as the vinegar prevents fading of dark colors, it can brighten your whites and bright colors of clothing. It works as a booster to help your clothes look the best they can.

More Reasons to Use Vinegar | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

There are so many other uses for distilled white vinegar in your wash. New jeans can be soaked in a solution of water and vinegar using a one to one ratio. This will help them not to fade. Pantyhose can also be soaked with some vinegar in water to help them last much longer. We all know how smelly tennis shoes can get after being worn a while. No problem when you wash them with 2 full cups of distilled white vinegar in the wash. You will need to air dry them when done.

Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

As you can see from this blog the list seems endless for the use of vinegar in helping with many laundry issues. Laundry Express can also help you with many of your laundry needs. We are a state of the art laundry facility offering wash, dry, fold services to help you catch up with your family’s laundry. Come by today!

September 20, 2016
by Laundry Expert
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Keeping School Clothes Looking New Part 2

Last time we visited the topic of keeping clothes looking new as long as possible. Today’s blog post will offer up more tips for doing so. Some of the problems we encounter in doing laundry are shrinking clothes, build up of detergents, and fading colors.

Keep Clothes Looking New! | Laundry Service Raleigh NC

We hope the following tips will help you as you protect your investment in your children’s clothing and yours as well.

1. Protect Your Delicates:

Some of our laundry includes items you simply will not want to wash with other things. They need extra protection. Children’s school clothes may not include too many of these items but girls tights, some socks, Mom’s hosiery, and some of the more delicate undergarments need special care. You can use a mesh bag or use a cloth pillowcase. Put your items in and either zip or tie the bag and wash with your other laundry.

2. Laundry Detergents:

Take some time out to research the best laundry detergent for you and your wash. There are so many different brands available on the market today. You will want to choose one that is not harsh or that has any additives that will harm your skin or your clothing. One of the biggest issues is the amount you use. It is recommended that you use LESS detergent not more. Buildup from detergent is a big problem when it comes to clothes looking new. It can also stain your fabrics. A great rule of thumb is to check for the proper amount on the bottle and then use LESS than that amount. Some of the more eco friendly brands are really good. They are much more gentle and will help your clothes last as long as possible.

3. Turn things Inside Out:

If you want proof of how well this tip works, just take a look inside your clothing. You will more than likely find that the inside of your clothes is in way better shape than the outside. Take a little time and turn your clothing inside out before washing and you will find a couple of things to be true. Fading will be reduced. Your clothes will stay in great shape much longer. Also if you have any print, beading, or other decorative on your items you will defiantly want to turn them inside out so these things will be protected during the wash.

4. Button Up! :

In our hurry to get the dreaded laundry chore done we often neglect to do some simple things to make things easier on our clothing. Taking the time to button all your buttons and to zip the zippers will keep snags and lost buttons to a minimum. You will be surprised how much this really helps!

5. Delicate Cycle:

One of the least known tricks but one that is so easy to do is to use the delicate cycle for all your clothing. This is the cycle you use for your dedicates to keep them safe and to preserve them so why not apply this to ALL of your clothing? Use this cycle all the time and you will find your clothes will last longer and it was such as easy tip to use!

6. Denims:

You may want to re-think how often you wash your jeans. Many folks go days without washing their jeans between wears. They simply spot clean as necessary and sometimes put them in the freezer for a day or so. This is thought to kill bacteria and and remove smells.. Give it a try and see if this will save your jeans.

Laundry Service Raleigh NC

Laundry Express understands that doing the household laundry is time-consuming chore. We are here to help! Call us today to find out about our great laundry service in Raleigh NC to help you get a handle on your laundry!

September 10, 2016
by Laundry Expert
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Keeping School Clothes Looking New Longer

As parents we are sure that after you have broke the budget buying new clothes for back to school you will want to do all you can to protect your investment. Unfortunately, our children are not as interested in doing so. So as the summer comes to an end we are going to offer up some really great ways to keep your children’s new clothing looking good for as long as possible. If you need help getting clothing cleaned and dried, stop by our Raleigh laundromat!

Keep Clothes Looking Newer, Longer! | Raleigh Laundromat

First things first, establish a really good laundry routine. For families this needs to be a simple and easy to follow routine. A basic routine is to have three laundry baskets for separating laundry into whites, darks, and medium colors. Place these in an easy to get to area and then teach your children to bring their laundry to your station and sort. If needed you can have baskets in each child’s room but it is important they learn to bring it to your laundry room to be laundered.

Establish a laundry day. No one wants to have to do laundry every day of the week! This can be as easy as one person’s laundry per day. Each one with their own laundry day. This is also a great way to teach them the responsibility of doing their own laundry as they get old enough. Begin with simple things they can do according to their age. As they grow they are able to take on more responsibility until they are doing all of their own laundry from beginning to finish. Trust us Mom, they will thank you some day.

To keep clothes looking fantastic you will also want them to tell you about any stains they bring home each day. Pre-treating these stains will go a long way toward keeping clothing looking good. Also treat the stains immediately with a spray or stick to ensure stains are removed. Check the articles before tossing them into the dryer to see if your stains have been removed. Drying them will set the stain and getting stains out will be almost impossible. Using a good detergent and laundry detergent booster will help if you miss any stains.

Of course it should go without saying that you will also want to check the laundry for stray ink pens, crayons, and any items that do not belong in the washer. This will save you hours of cleaning up ink or crayon wax from the washer and dryer. Not to mention the possible loss of clothing due to stains that cannot be removed.

A good way to preserve clothing is to immediately hang up clothes that can be worn another time before washing. This works well for those clothes that are worn briefly and in a cleaner environment. This will include Sunday clothes or maybe a quick errand run then changing into more relaxing clothes later. Many of us like to wear our jeans several times before washing so hanging after a wear will keep them looking better and no ironing required. Some will even place them into a Ziploc plastic bag and put them into the freezer for at least a day or two. The thought is that the cold temperature will kill any bacteria, take away any smells, and make them fresh. It is certainly worth a try!

Laundry Express | Raleigh Laundromat

The way we care for our clothing will definitely affect the longevity of them.. Protect your investment with all of these great tips! Laundry Express is here to help you with all of your laundry questions and needs. From a full service Raleigh laundromat to dry cleaning needs, we are your go to laundry experts in the triangle area. Call or come by today!

September 5, 2016
by Laundry Expert
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How To Decide Whether To Wash Or Dry Clean Clothes

laundry service Raleigh NC Let’s face it! Laundry is a time consuming chore that most of us dread. It is one of those things that has to be done one way or another. With school going back into session it is time for us to leave behind the lazy, crazy, days of summer and get a good laundry routine established. This blog post will offer some tips when making a choice between doing laundry yourself or using a laundry service in Raleigh NC. Each will get the job done but which is best for you and your family?

Wash or Dry Clean | Laundry Service Raleigh NC

The first thing you will want to do is take some time to read the care labels inside all of your clothing. Many manufactures today will label their clothing “Dry Clean Only” to make sure that you get the best results when taking care of your clothing. The newer dark denim’s in jeans and embellishments such as studs or leather trim also need special care.

Many of these fabrics can however be safely hand washed. Some may need hand-washing and no drying in the dryer. There are some do it yourself dry cleaning kits on the market today. Should you attempt this yourself? The short answer is maybe. Here are some tips that will help you decide what will work best, Dry cleaning or home launder.

As noted before, check your care label. Is the fabric an acetate, triacetate, or rayon? Although you can hand wash these fabrics in cold water they are prone to shrinkage. Dry cleaning might be best.
Is it a tailored fit item like a suit or coat? Pay close attention to the fabric. Not just the outside but inner fabrics like interfacing. Some can be ruined if you attempt laundering by water.
Does the garment have any type of special finish? If so water can ruin the shape.
Check for any stains or spots that you are unsure of how to treat. If you are worried in any way then by all means take it to the cleaners.
Once laundered will the item be hard to iron? Any pleats, or tucks can be really hard to get looking as good as they did before a machine wash.
If the garment is leather or suede water can ruin them.
Is the item colorfast? If the dye will run when wet then dry cleaning is needed.
Is the item special to you in any way or is it older? If so don’t take any chances, get it dry cleaned.

If you do decide to try washing dry clean only clothes here are some good tips to use. Always , always, always use the gentlest detergent possible and cold water. Wash the item by itself to see how it works out. We recommend you use hand washing if possible. For many garment the agitation and the wringing of the washing machine is what damages clothing the most. Of course you will not want to use the clothes dryer for drying your items. Hang to dry or if the item is a knit fabric you will want to lay it flat so that it does not stretch.

As you can see some items labeled “dry clean only” can be safely hand washed carefully. When in doubt always use a dry cleaner.

Laundry Express | Laundry Service Raleigh NC

If you have any questions about how to launder or dry clean your clothing Laundry Express, laundry service in Raleigh NC, is here to help. We offer wash-dry-fold services as well as dry cleaning service to help you with any of your laundry needs. Come by with all of your questions and we will be glad to help!