Tips on Making Your Trip to the Laundromat Painless

Mattituck Laundry is a full service laundry business located on the North Fork of Long Island, NY, Mattituck, New York. With over 15 years of experience, we are committed to providing our customers with clean clothes and excellent service every time. Here are few tips to making your trip to laundromat painless.

Tips on Making Your Trip to the Laundromat Painless

The trip to the laundromat is always a hassle, especially when it’s more than one basket of clothes. If you often have a lot of laundry, it’s best to take a trip to the laundromat more often and with smaller loads! This will decrease the hassle and save you time. Along with multiple trips, always have coins ready. Start by using any large jar and slowly begin filling it on the daily with coins. Then you will never need to search in another couch cushion again!

Using a laundry bag over a laundry basket could be the difference in multiple articles clothing that need to be washed. Bags will save you time and money, plus you can carry a lot more loads of laundry. Bringing your own detergent is also a big money saver. Overall, tips to making the laundromat less of a hassel are all about time management and usually end up saving you money. Simply sorting the colors beforehand can save you time, because all you have to do is throw them in when you get there. The last tip is for the people who always need to be on the go. Running errands while your clothes are being cleaned, like grabbing lunch or groceries, will open up more time in your day to wear your new freshly cleaned clothes!

Mattituck Laundry has multiple laundry service options for your convenience. We provide on-site dry cleaning, washing and folding, as well as free pick-up and delivery. If you prefer to do your own laundry, we also have several coin operated washers and dryers for you to utilize at your leisure. For more information about our services visit our website at northforklaundry.com or give us a call at 631-298-1902.

How to Wash Different Fabrics and Colors

Laundry is a fact of life, whether you like it or not. However, it’s not as daunting of a chore as one might think. Getting clothes really clean has less to do with the detergent you use than it does following basic washing steps for fabrics and colors.

Here are tips from washing certain types of fabric to keeping your whites white and your colors bright.

A majority of machine-washable clothing contains at least one (or more) of these fabrics: cotton, linen, polyester, and spandex.

Cotton

Cotton, a natural fiber, is a favorite for comfortable, versatile clothing including t-shirts and jeans.  Cotton tends to shrink unless the fabric has been preshrunk, so start by checking the label. If the tag reads cold water only," it usually means the item is not preshrunk. Items that are preshrunk can be washed in hot, warm or cold water, depending on garment color and care label recommendations. Generally, washing cotton in cold water will keep the deep color in your jeans and keep your colored items bright.

Linen

Linen, a natural fiber, is made from the flax plant. Some linen garments need to dry-clean, so check care labels. If machine-washable, wash according to label instructions. Linen absorbs more water in the wash than other fibers, so guard against overcrowding in the washer.

Polyester

A hit in the 1900s (1970s disco, anyone?), polyester creates colorful and easy-care garments. Most polyester fabrics can be machine-washed in warm water but check care labels first.

Spandex

Spandex, an elastic fiber now incorporated in small amounts in many types of fabric (including jeans and form-fitting shirts) to add stretch and comfort. While spandex is hand or machine-washable, avoid hot water and chlorine bleach, as both will damage the spandex fibers.

Now that you have some fabric know-how, here are some quick tips for washing colors and whites.

Colors

Colorful garments are fun, but they also need special care, since they can fade and lose color quicker than light or dark clothes.

• Always read the labels. Proper washing will help colorful clothes last longer.
• Sort clothes according to color. Wash dark colors together, and white or lighter colors together. If there is a larger load made up of color groups, then these can be tackled in separately. Purples, reds, oranges and bright yellows can be washed together; while bright blues and greens can also be washed together in a separate load.
• Turn new colored clothes inside out, and put in the washing machine. Do not overstuff the machine, and wash the items in cold water on as gentle a cycle as is necessary to clean clothes.
• Remove clothes from the machine as soon as cycle finishes. Allowing them to sit in a washing machine may cause the colors to bleed onto other items.

Whites

• Don’t wash whites with colors. The main cause of dinginess is bleeding from mixing colors with whites. The second main culprit is detergent residue because it acts like a magnet for dirt.
• Use the hottest temperature the fabric can withstand. The hotter the water, the more effective the detergent, but check garment labels first.

For all clothing

• Always inspect clothing for stains before washing. Pretreating stains as soon as possible is a must, as the longer a stain sits, the greater the chance is that it sets. This not only causes discoloration but also weakens the fabric.
• Always wet the stained area with cold water first, then spray it with a stain remover.

When you’ve followed these tips, the machine does the dirty work - until the laundry needs to be folded.

Mattituck Laundry is located at 12250 Main Road, on the North Fork of Long Island, New York, with additional locations in Greenport and East Hampton. Our services include on-site dry cleaning, wash and fold, pick-up and delivery, and self-service coin-operated washers and dryers. Visit our website or call -631-298-1963 to learn more!

Laundry Products: The Bare Essentials

With so many different laundry products on the market, it’s sometimes difficult to muddle through the options to determine which ones you and your family really need. Do I really need this color or scent enhancer? Is it worth it to purchase the detergent with the boosted stain removal? Liquid, power, or pods?

The good news is, you need a minimal amount of product in your laundry room to get the job done effectively. The items can found in your local department store - and some are probably already in your home - and they won’t bust your family budget.

Choosing a laundry detergent

Liquids, pods, and powders can all be used in any water temperature and are formulated to use in high-efficiency washers; just look for the "he" (high-efficiency) symbol. FYI: you can use “he” laundry detergent in a standard top load washer.

Below are the pros and cons of each detergent type.

Liquid Detergent

• Pros: Perfect for using as a stain pretreater or spot cleaning, especially on oil and grease stains as it adheres to the fibers of the fabric to help release the stain. Less expensive than single dose pods.
• Cons: Difficult to measure the correct amount resulting in too much detergent per load, wasted money and residue left on clothes and washing machines. The packaging places an enormous strain on landfills.

Pods (Pre-Packaged)

• Pros: Convenient and simple to use. Premeasured dose of detergent produces consistent results. Less packaging waste for landfills.
• Cons: Most expensive per load of laundry. Pods cannot be used for pretreating or spot treating stains. Poisoning hazard and easily swallowed by children and vulnerable adults.

Powder Detergent

Pros:

• Most cost effective
• Packaging is recyclable and more environmentally friendly.
• Powder detergent formulas are more stable than liquid or pods.

Cons:

• must be stored in a completely dry area to prevent caking.
• Pretreating stains is more difficult because a paste must be made first with the powder detergent and water.

Whether you decide on liquid, pods or powder, price isn't always the best indicator of how well a detergent will perform. The more active ingredients listed in the formula, like enzymes that break down stains; the better the detergent will perform.

Mattituck Laundry is located at 12250 Main Road, on the North Fork of Long Island, New York, with additional locations in Greenport and East Hampton. Our services include on-site dry cleaning, wash and fold, pick-up and delivery, and self-service coin operated washers and dryers. Visit our site or call (631) 298-1963 to learn more!

Reducing Clothing Waste this Earth Day

This year, the 47th annual Earth Day will be celebrated on Saturday, April 22nd. Many Americans don’t realize how much clothing ends up in landfills, taking up valuable space and releasing harmful gases and chemicals into the atmosphere. Reducing clothing waste has become a goal for many environmentally-conscious citizens, and this Earth Day marks a perfect opportunity to shine a light on this important topic.

Cheaply-made Clothing and Faster Fashion Cycles Contribute to Waste

As clothing became mass-produced, and then more cheaply-made, affordability and increased fashion cycles skyrocketed. While at first glance, affordable clothing seems like a positive, low-quality items tend to get treated as disposable and end up being tossed. NPR reported that fashion has moved from a 4-season industry to as many as 10-15 cycles per year, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans alone now generate roughly 14-15 million tons of textile waste each year.

Low Quality Garments are More Difficult to Recycle

Textile recycling, as well as the secondhand clothing industry, are enormous global businesses that help alleviate the problem of clothing waste. Clothing that can’t be resold is often made into industrial wiping cloths, cleaning cloths, rugs, carpeting, and more. When garment quality is low, however, recyclers have a difficult time finding buyers for the used fabrics.

Investing in Well-Made Clothes

Although it’s tempting to stock up on cheap clothing that you can wear a few times and get rid of, the cost of “fast fashion” is high when it comes to the environment. Investing in quality pieces that can last through the years can be a responsible and wise investment both financially and socially. Although “fast fashion” makes it difficult to keep up with the trends of the moment, many clothing styles are timeless or stay in fashion for years. When you purchase clothing you really like, it can be frustrating if it falls apart after just a few washes. Investing in well-made clothing instead often gets a better return on your money, and comes with the added insurance that, even when it goes out of style, it has a higher likelihood of being usefully repurposed.

Other ideas for saving clothing from waste include clothing swaps, renting special occasion outfits, and repurposing fabric at home yourself.

Mattituck and Greenport Laundry’s full-service laundry business can care for your clothing with our dry cleaning, wash & fold, and pick-up services. With three convenient locations to serve you in the North Fork area of Long Island, New York, and over 15 years of experience caring for our customers’ treasured garments, we make it easy to keep your wardrobe fresh and ready-to-wear. Please call one of our locations to schedule services, or visit our website to learn more about us!

How to Know Whether to Salvage or Get Rid of Old Clothes

Spring cleaning season has arrived, and with it, closet cleaning projects. Changing out winter clothing for spring and summer wardrobes is an ideal time to sort through what’s worth keeping versus what should be re-homed, recycled, or thrown away.

If you find yourself attached to a particular piece in your closet, even holes don’t have to be a dealbreaker. See if you can patch or stitch the item to repair it. Even if you don’t own a sewing machine or have sewing expertise, these basic hand stitches can help!

If, however, you find yourself with clothing that has simply outlived its useful life for you, whether it no longer fits, is an outdated style, no longer suits your lifestyle, or has stains, a broken zipper, or stretched-out elastic, it is most likely time to repurpose or get rid of these items.

Almost all clothing can be recycled, and there are many alternatives to simply tossing out old textiles. Every year, millions of pounds of clothings and shoes are repurposed into products such as industrial wipes, polishing cloths, and insulation. Avoid the landfill by:

• Donating wearable, clean items free of holes or other damage to your local thrift mart or secondhand clothing store.
• Repurposing clothing at home. Some ideas include:
• Mismatched baby and children’s socks can be filled with catnip and used as cat toys.
• Old cotton fabric can be cut into dusting rags: baby burp rags make wonderful cleaning and dust cloths!
• Jeans and other items can be cut up and used for craft projects. If you don’t craft, Freecycle is a good place to find someone who can use clothing scraps for crafting.
• Adult socks can be knotted in the middle and used as toys for smaller dogs.
• Comfy old t-shirts can be used in pet beds.
• Local animal shelters may accept old towels and blankets for cleanup and bedding.
• Finding a designated textile drive or textile recycling bin in which to place unwanted shoes and clothing. Some stores also accept these items.

If you have rare, vintage, or “dry clean only” clothes, Mattituck Laundry’s professional dry cleaning service can care for your most treasured pieces. With locations in Mattituck, Greenport, and East Hampton, and offering pick up and delivery service, Mattituck Laundry makes it convenient for your clothes to get the best care while freeing up your time. Please call one of our locations to schedule services, or visit our website to learn more about us!

What Clothes Need Dry Cleaning and Why

The vast majority of your wardrobe can be laundered at home in your own washer and dryer, but there are certain items of clothing that require special care. Certain articles of clothing, especially nicer garments and formalwear, may read “Dry Clean Only” on the label. Chances are that these clothing items are not cheap, so you’ll want to follow the care instructions exactly as stated and not attempt to wash them at home.

What is dry cleaning?

Despite the name, dry cleaning is not completely dry. Dry cleaning uses solvents, like perchloroethylene or hydrocarbon to remove stains that have set in fibers. Dry cleaning solvents are able to remove tough stains like oil and grease more gently and effectively than traditional machine washing, which can damage a delicate garment.

What is the history of dry cleaning?

The most common stories about the origin of dry cleaning center on a surprise discovery when a petroleum-type fluid was accidentally spilled on a greasy fabric. It quickly evaporated and the stains were miraculously removed. The first dry cleaning firm is considered to be Jolly-Belin, which opened in Paris in the 1840s. In these early days, garment scourers found several fluids that could be used as dry cleaning solvents, including camphene, benzene, kerosene, and gasoline. These fluids are all very flammable, so dry cleaning was a hazardous business until safer solvents were developed almost a hundred years later.

Which clothing items should always be dry cleaned?

Says Martha Stewart: Suits, pleated skirts, and clothing made from delicate synthetics, such as rayon, or fabric blends, including silk and wool, should be left to the pros; all tend to lose their shape in water. Leather or suede items and those with metal embellishments, beading, or sequins require special care, too. Heavily soiled garments, especially those with difficult oil-based stains, should be taken to a dry cleaner, who may be able to remove them with specialized solvents.

If you have any garments that need to be washed but their care label specifies dry clean only, bring them to Mattituck Laundry! We provide standard dry cleaning services for any clothing item that is delicate, has a difficult to remove stain, or requires special care. We work with all fabrics and clothing types, including silk, cashmere, wool, cotton, and rayon. Bring us your suits, formal dresses, professional attire, button down shirts, and leather items. Questions or concerns? Give us a call today at 631-477-1994!

7 Resolutions to an Organized New Year

Embrace the Minimalist Trend

Whether it’s the new Minimalism documentary on Netflix or last year’s mega-hit The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, reducing clutter has never been more en vogue!  As you go through closets and boxes, set rules for yourself and make it a goal to downsize clutter as much as possible. Going through closets means you’re bound to find items overdue for dry-cleaning.  Remember to bring them to Mattituck Laundry for the best service in town!

Reduce the Paper Pile-Up

You’re bound to find a few stray receipts, bills, and bank statements. Organize them accordingly - shred what you don’t need and store important documents in labeled folders. Tax season will be upon us before you know it and being organized will help make the process a breeze.

Get Things Sorted

If your closet was a mess before you started downsizing, don’t just put it back the way you found it. Plastic or cloth organizers are available in all shapes and sizes.  Now is the perfect time to put like with like, whether you’re sorting clothes, craft supplies, or Christmas ornaments.

Keep It Clean

Make sure your de-cluttering process doesn’t make a mess of your house!  Don’t go through your things quicker than you can organize them.  Once your possessions are sorted, set up a new schedule for the new year, with set tasks for each day.  Remember, if you need help with the laundry, we offer free pick up and delivery services for both laundry and dry cleaning.

Stick to Your Calendar

Our lives seem to get busier all the time, but we can save ourselves a lot of hassle by putting everything on the calendar, whether it’s in your phone or on the wall. There are a number of organization apps out there to help you start 2017 off right.

Downsize Your Life

Family life can feel like it’s stuck in high gear, with everyone wheeling in all sorts of directions.  Sit down and look at everyone’s activities. How feasible are they? Consider setting a limit on on the number of activities family members can commit to during a given month or season.  Don’t forget to leave time on the schedule for activities that bring you do just for yourself and bring you joy. It’s easier to stay on top of your activities if you’re taking care of yourself too.

Organize Your Finances

A new year can be a great time to revisit your household finances. Take stock of your spending from 2016 in light of three categories - fixed bills like housing and insurance, fluctuating expenses like utilities and groceries, and fun spending like clothes and travel.  Then assess and reflect your budget to how you’d like things to look in 2017.