As a “one stop shop” dry cleaning company, we can handle all of your clothing needs including tailoring, mending and shoe care needs. But what if you’re at the office or traveling and you need a quick fix you can do on your own? Here are some common clothing snafus and how you can quickly “fix” them until you can get home or to a professional for help.
Your zipper is stuck:
Rub a bar of soap along the zipper’s teeth and slowly work the zipper free. Bar soap is best but a tiny amount of liquid soap could work in a pinch. Use sparingly! You could also color the zipper with a wooden pencil, which will help lubricate the track so you can easily slide the zipper up or down.
There’s a scuff mark on your black shoes:
If you don’t have a shoe buff kit, use a cotton napkin or towel to try to buff it out, transferring the existing wax and polish on the shoe to the scuff. If that doesn’t work, you can carefully color the scuff with a black marker. Then bring the shoes to us for a thorough buffing and shine.
The button pops off your pants:
Remember, this is a blog about quick fixes so you could carefully staple your pants together with about five staples to get you through the day. You could also use two safety pins, insert one through the button hole and one where the button popped off then attache them together. For more pants related quick fixes see our blog on repairing a hem on a pant leg and using double sided fabric tape.
You find gum on your clothing:
Place an ice cube on the gum for about a half hour. Or, you could place the entire garment in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for a few hours. Once the gum is hardened, use a dull knife, like a butter knife, and scrape off all the gum. It might even come off in one large chunk. Launder as usual.
Pilling sweater:
Maybe you just noticed it and you don’t have time to wait for the de-piller you ordered to ship to your door. You can remove the pilling by gently going over the sweater with a disposable razor. Click here for more tips on de-pilling a sweater.
The drawstring came out of your drawstring pants:
If you still have the original drawstring, attach a safety pin to one end and thread it through the drawstring hole, scrunching up the fabric around your safety pin as you got. If you no longer have the original string, use a ribbon. Measure your hips and add 10 inches to that measurement. Attach the safety pin and thread through. Be sure to tie knots on either side of the new drawstring.
You’re traveling and there is no ironing board:
Lay a clean white towel on a flat surface that can take the heat, such as a firm bed, a clean floor. Run the iron over the towel first to be sure there isn’t anything on the bottom of the iron that could meld onto your clothing. Use the setting just below the recommended one.
Our professional tailor with over 25 years experience is located at our headquarters on Bash Road. She’d be happy to mend your items once you return home. Submit your items at any of our locations and inform the Customer Service Rep of the work you’d like done. Or, leave a note in the bag for free pick up & delivery by your Route Driver.
– S.O.
