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!

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!

Take Advantage of Our FREE Pick-Up and Delivery!

Have you ever found yourself…

•        Altering your route to drop off or pick up your dry-cleaning?

•        Leaving dirty, wrinkled clothes sitting forgotten in the closet because “you just didn’t have time” to bring them in?

•        Forgetting a treasured item at the cleaners because life got away from you?

All too often we’re trying to squeeze one more errand into our already over-packed days.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when Americans dedicate time to housework, we spend 2.35 hours doing it! Laundry is one of these chores that never go away.

Save precious time by having Mattituck Laundry do the work for you. We offer FREE pick-up and delivery for all your cleaning needs. Let one of our laundry professionals come to your home, pick up your clothes, and bring them back for a cleaning. We’ll dry clean, wash and fold - whatever your needs are. When your clothes are done we’ll deliver them right back to you! 

Wondering what to do with all your free time?

Ten Things You Can Do Instead of Your Laundry

1.     Go straight home after that stressful meeting

2.     Pick your kids up from school on time

3.     Make dinner

4.     Enjoy leisure time with your partner

5.     Grab coffee with a friend

6.     Make it to the gym, yoga, or spin class

7.     Cheer on your teenager at their game or performance

8.     Walk the dog

9.     Catch up on current events

10.  Dedicate mental energy to networking, building your business, or involvement in charity work

Streamline your to-do list, make your errand routes more direct, and never leave wrinkly clothes in the dryer again. For more information on the logistics of our FREE pick up and delivery service, give us a call at 631-298-1963. 

Mattituck Laundry is a full service laundry business offering dry cleaning, washing and folding of machine-washable items, and self-service coin operated washers and dryers.  Head to our website to learn more about our services!

Convenient Laundry Service At Its Best

When you want quality laundry service in Suffolk County that you can trust, you want Mattituck Laundry! With three convenient locations, Mattituck Laundry, Greenport Laundry and East Hampton Cleaners, we are ready to provide you with laundry service at its best! Keep reading to find out more about our cleaning services and a location near you.

Mattituck Laundry: 12250 Main Road, Mattituck, NY 11952

Dry cleaning, wash and fold, commercial linen service, free pick up and delivery - what doesn’t Mattituck Laundry do? With almost 20 years of experience, our business can offer you a variety of residential and commercial services dedicated to making your life easier. Whether you stop in and use our self-serve coin operation or want us to clean and deliver your laundry to you, our service will always be convenient and effective. 

Greenport Laundry: 38-44 Adams St., Greenport, NY 11944

Greenport Laundry is open 7 days a week for your convenience! Let us provide you with a variety of laundry services including dry cleaning, wash and fold service, FREE pick up and delivery, and standard coin operation washers and dryers. If you’re too busy to stop in, give us a call and ask about our incredibly convenient pick up/drop off service.

East Hampton Cleaners: 104 Newtown Ln, East Hampton, NY

East Hampton Cleaners provides customers with dry cleaning expertise for a variety of items. Dirty wedding dress? Worn leather? Dusty old rugs? Bring them in and our professionals will happily work with your dirtiest fabrics. Additionally, we can also clean your suits, button down shirts, and jackets with ease!

Mattituck Laundry strives to provide residents of New York with exceptional laundry service they can count on. Mattituck Laundry, Greenport Laundry and East Hampton Cleaners are open 7 days a week for your convenience. Whether you are a commercial business in need of linen service and uniform cleaning or a busy individual looking for a professional to wash and fold your laundry, we can provide you with the clean you’ve been looking for. 

Personalized Laundry Service for Long-Term Facilities

Are you in charge of a senior living facility? Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day to complete every task and show each resident the individual attention they deserve. Fortunately, a personalized laundry service is a great way to make the most of your time with residents and ensure a clean environment for all.

Hiring a professional laundry service to clean laundry and linens ensures higher quality results. Many senior care facilities do laundry in machines that cannot handle the volume and variety of materials. A Laundromat has large machines that are ideal for washing sheets, towels and large bundles, and dry cleaning for delicate items.

               

Mattituck Laundry can provide your long-term facility with personalized laundry service to benefit patients, families and staff. Here are a few of the services we provide:

Linen Service – The team at Mattituck Laundry serves a number of commercial markets including medical and hospitality.  From linens to bedding, you can expect quality clean and professional service from our team.  Give Mattituck Laundry a call and let us leave your linens looking crisp, fresh and ready to impress.

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.

Pick-Up and Delivery – Mattituck Laundry knows that life can be hectic.  That is why we offer convenient pick-up and delivery service free of charge.  This allows you to focus on your residents and staff rather than what time the dry-cleaning will be ready.

Located in Suffolk County, Mattituck Laundry is open 7 days a week with convenient hours from 7 am to 10 pm.  If your long-term facility is in need of commercial laundry service, look no further than your local Mattituck Laundry!  Stop in today and discuss your needs with our friendly staff.

Why Is Dry Cleaning Called Dry Cleaning?

Everybody wants fresh clothes after a wash.  Unfortunately, it can be hard to achieve with an aging washer and dryer.  If you have a new suit or a white shirt with a pesky stain, the easiest way to get your dirty clothes clean is with professional laundry service.  One laundry service that Mattituck Laundry offers for best results is dry cleaning.  Keep reading to learn more about the magic that is dry cleaning!

Believe it or not, dry cleaning is in fact, a completely dry process of cleaning clothes.  Dry cleaning is a process of cleaning laundry without water.  All garments are immersed and cleaned in a liquid solvent but there is no water used in the process.  How does dry cleaning work?

Step 1

Garments are tagged and inspected by our professionals to avoid mix-ups during the cleaning process.  Clothing is also inspected for stains or tears.  If clothing items have major stains, they will be given a pretreatment that will eliminate the stains during the actual cleaning process.

Step 2

Next, clothes are placed into a machine that drops small quantities of solvent and goes through a high-speed cycle.  The solvent is absorbed and pulls dirt from the clothing’s fibers.  This is then followed by another high-speed cycle that distributes hot air into the machine and dries any excess moisture.

Step 3 

Pick up your clothes and enjoy the cleanest clothes possible!  Compared to traditional washing machines, dry cleaning does less damage to your clothes.  Not only do they remain soft and fresh, but they also ensure colors stay intact.

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.  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 youTalk Dirty.

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