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| buying clothing |
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silk
& rayon |
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household fabrics |
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environmental issues |
| protect
your wardrobe |
suede
& leather |
care label & problems |
Draperies
Draperies have the toughest
job in the home. They are constantly exposed to sunlight, heat, drafts,
and moisture as well as various gasses and pollutants. International Fabricare
Institute suggests that a fabric in this environment is lucky to make it
beyond three to five years. The only way to prolong the life is to protect
them from sunlight and clean them regularly. Line them with a polyester
based fabric. Rotate windows when possible. Plant shade trees outside. When draperies shred,
it will occur during the agitation of the cleaning process. That is why
dry cleaners sometimes recommend against cleaning and always warn their
customers of the dangers. Many linings have coatings
to block light or air infiltration. These linings prolong the life of the
drapery but often create a situation that prevents cleaning. Many coatings
are not able to withstand the elements and subsequently disintegrate during
the cleaning process. Shrinkage can occur even
when no moisture is added to the cleaning solvent. This type of shrinkage
is called "relaxation shrinkage." Fabrics are often stretched
as they are being woven and then the threads are locked into place by heat,
moisture, pressure and sizing. The lubrication of cleaning solvents and
agitation of the washing motion permits the fibers to return to their natural
length. Dry cleaning pressing can usually restore them to their original
length.Bedspreads
Bedspreads almost always
require the large capacity equipment of a professional fabric care facility
to restore the fluffiness of the spread. It is important that the care instructions
be saved so the cleaner can follow the recommended cleaning procedures. Exposure to light and
oxygen will, over time, result in fading of all fabrics. This fading will
not be uniform unless the fabrics are rotated to assure uniform exposure. Spreads are often part
of a set of fabrics used in the same room. All pieces of the set should
be cleaned at the same time to assure that any shifts in color are consistent.Antique and Heirloom Items
Fresh Touch is one of
the few cleaners in the Boston Area that can safely handle antique and heirloom
textiles. We often work with Winchester Art & Frame in the preservation
and display of valuable textiles. |
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| buying clothing |
|
silk
& rayon |
|
household fabrics |
|
environmental issues |
| protect
your wardrobe |
suede
& leather |
care label & problems |
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