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!

Mattituck Laundry Services

With work, kids, errands and everything else on your plate, it’s not always easy to get the laundry done the way it should be.  That’s where we come in!  Mattituck Laundry provides commercial linen service that will make your life easier and save you money.  Many people don’t even think about using a laundry service for their dirty clothes.  The truth is, a commercial linen service is affordable, convenient, speedy and cost efficient in comparison to expensive washers and dryers. 

                        

When you bring your clothes into Mattituck Laundry, you can expect professional results 100% of the time.  We deal with laundry every day and know how to make just about any clothing item look in pristine condition.  We will gently wash your clothes, remove all of the stains and dry them to specifications.  Plus, we will pick up and deliver your laundry, giving you more time to spend with your family.

Take a look at some of the services Mattituck Laundry has to offer you:

Dry Cleaning – If you’re looking for the best dry cleaning in town look no further than Mattituck Laundry!  We use quality cleaning supplies, solvents and equipment to gently wash your clothing and remove any stains.

Wash and Fold – If you hate doing laundry this is the service for you.  We will wash, dry and fold your clothes for a better clean than you can get at home.  Simply hand over your dirty clothes and we will handle the rest.

Free Pick Up and Delivery – What’s better than having your dirty laundry returned fresh and clean right to your doorstep?  At Mattituck Laundry, we will pick up your laundry and return it to you in a timely manner.  When we deliver your clothes you will find them dry-cleaned and folded neatly in a pile for your convenience.  It’s that easy!

Self Service – Have a handful of quarters ready?  In addition to our commercial linen service, we also offer self-service coin operation wash and dry for those that want to handle their own laundry for minimal costs.

Mattituck Laundry is open 7 days a week from 7 am to 10 pm.  Stop in and let us provide you with full-service commercial clean. We like it when you Talk Dirty.

Address:

Mattituck Laundry

12250 Main Road

Mattituck, NY 11952