Will the stain come out or will it spread?

To be clear, we are talking about washable clothing here. Fact is it’s hard to know, without training, if a stain will come out. But, most “concentrated” stains will spread before being contained and removed. We want to help you to do the “right thing,” at home, or before taking it to your drycleaner. Here are some telltale signs to help you make a prudent and safe decision.

Hint: Water-based stains usually have a ring or an outline on the outside. So …

• If you know that the stain is water-based, then go ahead and treat it, wash it, and air-dry it. Do NOT machine dry unless you are sure the stain was removed!
• Most “colored” stains such as chocolate, wine, milk and punch—to name a few—will wash out, even large spills. But, don’t tumble dry the garment the first time around: The stain may require color-safe-bleaching to remove the “last trace.”

Hint: Oily stains have NO ring, so don’t be fooled: Think twice before washing!

• If the stain contains food oils, lipstick or ink—and has NO clear outline—then soap and water may set the stain—even if it appears to be helping. The stain will probably “re-appear” after air-drying.
• Blotchy-looking stains—like those on kid’s T’s and other cotton garments—are almost always oily, so get them to your drycleaner before washing at home!

Hint: Very small stains and spills can often be removed from upholstery, but …

• You must first identify the stain as water-based or oil-based. And, you may not be able to see the outline, so be very careful before proceeding at home.
• The smallest, most innocent stain, could spread and bleed, and your upholstery cover probably cannot be washed, so think twice before proceeding!

This tip is ©2012 The Clothing Doctor and used with permission. May not be reproduced in any form without written permission.

Environmentally Friendly Dry Cleaning

Gadue’s Dry Cleaning is at the leading edge of a revolution in dry cleaning technology.  Since April, Gadue’s has been testing a brand new dry cleaning fluid that is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for human health—not to mention exceptional at cleaning clothes.

Gadue’s Dry Cleaning was the first company in the world chosen by Kreussler Chemical to test their new dry cleaning system, SystemK4.  SystemK4 includes cleaning fluid SolvonK4, a halogen-free solvent that is highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and absolutely safe.  The testing phase, performed by Gadue’s and three other dry cleaning facilities around the world, was a complete success.  Kreussler introduced SystemK4 to the world in Milan, Italy on October 15, 2010.

Up to now, most dry cleaners have relied on a chlorinated hydrocarbon that is detrimental for the environment if released, particularly for ground water.  That solvent is perchloroethylene, or perc.  Alternative solvents have been introduced to the market in the last decade, but Gadue’s Dry Cleaning chose not to pursue any of those options because of their lack of effectiveness in cleaning clothes and/or cost associated with capital improvements that would have been necessary for the switch.  We have been careful users of perchlor for thirty years with the hope that something new and better would some day come to market.  That day has arrived.

By the end of 2010, Gadue’s Dry Cleaning will have converted all dry cleaning operations to use SolvonK4.  We will offer our clients truly environmental dry cleaning, as well as environmentally friendly wet cleaning and laundering options.  Vermonters who are looking for a green alternative for cleaning and restoring their garments will have one in Gadue’s Dry Cleaning.

SystemK4 can be found on the web at www.systemk4.com

Last year, one of our employees was diagnosed with breast cancer.    Doris told her story in our October newsletter, and I will include it here.

In honor of Doris in particular, Gadue’s fielded a team of walkers for the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk.  It was a chilly day in October, but we had a great turn out of employees and their families.  The Gadue’s Team raised over $1200 to help defeat breast cancer!  A special “Thank You!” to all of our thoughtful clients who donated at the counter.

Walking for “Team Gadue’s” was: Doris, Kendra, Lisa, Heather, Malissa, Darlene, Carol, Stephanie, John, Pam, Pam, Kayla, Lucinda, Thelma, Penny, Amanda, Stasia, Samara, Aline, Lee, Greta, Eve & Rowan.

Here is Doris’s story:

Hi, my name is Doris.  I have been working at Gadue’s Dry Cleaning for seven years.  I work at the plant located in Creek Farm Plaza in Colchester.  As you are all aware October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Being a survivor I was asked to write for our newsletter.

In August of 2009 I was encouraged by my daughter to get a mammogram.  After a few visits to Fletcher Allen for what we thought was a cyst, they did a biopsy in November only to find out I had stage two breast cancer.  This was devastating news, but with the support of my companion Craig, my three daughters, employers and co-workers, I was able to work through this and so far have beat it.  I could not have done this without all the help I received.

I talked to my employer Aline about my time.  You see, I only had two sick days left to take.  One of my co-workers offered to donate a sick day to me.  Aline sent out a letter to the whoel staff, and many of them then donated some of their own sick days to me.   the suggestion of a co-worker, Aline sent out a letter to the staff who in turn donated some of their own sick days to me.  Gadue’s Dry Cleaning matched each of these days with two additional days, therefore increasing the sick days I had.  With not having to worry about missing time from work, for which I am very grateful, I was able to concentrate on getting through treatment.  That’s where Craig and my daughters came in.  I never went to a treatment alone.

I encourage anyone going through this to talk to employers, family and friends.  Let them help you in any way they can, even if it’s as little a thing as making you dinner after a treatment.

The theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Hope.  My hope for anyone going through what I have gone through is to keep the faith.  The American Cancer Society is making great strides in the fight against breast cancer and they are doing wonderful things as far as treatment goes.

In closing, I would just like to say Thank You to everyone that helped me through this time, and say again to anyone going through this ‘Chin-Up’ and I hope this goes as well for you as it did for me.”

Doris

National Clothesline is a national dry cleaning trade newspaper  that is published monthly.  They profile a different owner every month.  For the October issue, they selected Mark Gadue!

This is a wonderfully written article that reveals (drum roll please!) that Gadue’s Dry Cleaning has been testing a brand-new, revolutionary dry cleaning solvent since April.  This solvent is biodegradable and non-toxic.  In other words: totally safe for the environment, and totally safe for human health.  When the article was written, that was about as much as we could reveal.  Stay tuned for more details!  In the meantime, please enjoy the article!

http://www.natclo.com/1010/profile.htm

At one of our regular staff meetings in 2007, I asked the customer service staff to brainstorm what we could do to increase our community involvement.  One of the ideas was to provide school supplies for children who might not be able to afford them otherwise.  Back to School was born!

Since 2007, Gadue’s has donated more than 925 fully stocked backpacks to area school children!  We provide the backpacks, and our generous clients and wonderful staff donate the supplies.  Staff members volunteer an entire Saturday just before school starts to stuff all the backpacks.  This year alone, we did 425 backpacks!  It was a tremendous success, and we’d like to thank everyone who donated.