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.

Celebrate in Style

Family gatherings, office parties, charity events, nights on the town…the holiday season offers plenty of opportunities to showcase your personal style.  Follow the tips below to find the right outfit for occasion!

Do

• Plan ahead.  Determine your holiday activities and who you’ll be with.  Are you attending two office holiday parties with entirely different people?  Maybe you only need one new dress!
• Keep your life organized.  In a four-season state, you don’t need access to your wintry holiday items at all times.  Keep them together in your closet so they’re out of your way in the off-season and easily accessible to sort through when the party invitations arrive!
• Dress according to the occasion.  If you’re wearing jeans to a holiday party, stick to a dark rinse for a dressier look.
• Unleash the power of neutrals.  While the holidays may seem like a time to jazz up your outfit, do so with a bright accessory.  Black, grey, and navy are excellent base colors for the winter months, and classic pieces can be re-worn year after year, event after event, accented by classy accessories.
• Get creative with your accessories.  Pick a bright, signature color.  Red is an excellent choice for the holidays!  You can mix and match your scarves, jewelry, or pocket squares accordingly.
•  Pay attention to detail.  Holiday clothing items can often contain extra zippers, buttons, or creative stitching.  Along with your jewelry, stick to three to four similar metals for a unified look.
•  Layer.  Just because the weather outside is frightful doesn’t mean you need to feel it’s effects.  Camisoles or tees provide a good base.  Scarves, wraps, and vests can be a fashionable way to add warmth to your outfit.

Don’t

• Where the sweater with the reindeer. Unless the dress code was specificallytacky sweaters, avoid overly holiday-specific outfits at your office party.
• Assume all sizing is created equal.  Petite or plus. long or short, having these cuts in mind is just as important at the holidays as it is year round!
• Forget to check the weather.   If you don’t have one already, purchasing a warm, classy coat can do wonders once the snow begins to fall!
• Ignore the laundering directions for your fabrics.  If your dress or slacks are dry-clean only, throwing them in the washing machine means they will lose their shape and quality.  Remember, Mattituck Laundry offers FREE pick-up and delivery, so there’s no need to add one more thing to your holiday to-do list!

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.