Stain School & Care: Spring Cleaning!
Household Items
Spring is known as the time to clean – not just the home, but all the things made of fabric; drapes, swags, cornices, furniture covers and upholstery, clothing and bedding.
Drapes
Air-borne particles and furnace dust, and fumes from the kitchen deposit on your drapes and window coverings.  Though none of these may show as obviously as a red paint stain, I assure you that they are there! All of these impurities shorten the life of your drapes.
Therefore, your drapes and window coverings
should be cleaned every few years. A preventive vacuuming –with a soft-bristled attachment – can help maintain the fabric, but it does not completely remove all the soil that eventually weaken and discolor fabrics.
You can take down your own drapes – marking the panels and locations – or your cleaner may be able to take them down, clean and re-hang them for you.
Furniture Covers
Covers and upholstery take lots of abuse and should be cleaned at a similar interval to your drapes. Look at a piece of the original fabric or an armrest cover to see how they have faded or soiled. Turning over cushions only works for so long, and then they will need a thorough cleaning.
Cushion covers can be cleaned while still on the cushion, or they can be removed for cleaning. Spraying a little silicone between the cushion and the cover will help you slide them in and out easily.
Steve Boorstein is an author, clothier, drycleaner & radio personality |
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Building a Wardrobe: Body Balancing
Part 6: Clothes That Flatter You: Complimentary Clothes
This is the last article in a series on body shapes. We ’ve examined Pear-shaped, Apple-shaped, Orange-shaped and now, Squash shaped –in hopes of helping you find the most trimming and complimentary clothing in each realm. This has been a very illuminating series, which we hope has been an eye opening experience for you.
Do You Have a Balanced “Squash-Shaped ” Body ?
 What Enhances Your Shape
Keep clothes in proportion to your curves
Medium rise pants
Fitted or ribbed sweaters
Fitted jackets
Fitted skirts
Insults Your Shape
Boxy clothes
Large patterns
Gathered skirt
Fitteed Jacket www.nordstrom.com
If you missed one of the issues that addressed your body shape, ask your host for a back copy or email The Clothing Doctor directly!
If you ’ve enjoyed these segments on Body Balancing, write and let us know. Thanks!
 Kate Rice styles clothing for TV and private clients. Appearing in more than 400 style segments, she ’s worked with TV Guide, USA Network and Lifetime ’s Head 2 Toe. Kate delivers style solutions.
Please visit www.KateRice.com |
CLOTHING CARE... 
