 Separating your laundry pile into different colours and materials isn’t just done for visual satisfaction, it serves a real purpose for protecting the brightness and longevity of your clothing items. You may be wondering - “what’s the worst that could happen if I just throw them all in together?” If so, keep reading! We’re here to bring you all the laundry sorting facts you need to know. Why should I separate laundry?Ultimately, separating laundry allows your clothes, bed-linen and other household items to remain in-tact and looking as bright and wonderful as can be after every use. Other benefits include:
How to separate colours. There is no doubt that we all want to keep our whites looking white and brights looking bright! But which are the most important colour categories to separate before washing? We recommend at a basic level to sort colours by: whites, darks and bright colours. White fabrics, if grouped together, can be treated with bleaches or other whitening agents to keep the colour looking fresh and new. However, these agents can cause irreversible fading or colour spotting damage to garments in other colours – so separation is key! Keeping white items on their own cycle also reduces the chance of other shades causing them to take on a dull, grey appearance. When washing dark/black items, it is best to wash on a short, cold cycle to reduce fading. It also recommended to use detergents that don’t have any boosters or bleaches that may lighten their colour over time. For bright colours, especially new ones, washing on their own for the first few wears is the best way to ensure that dyes don’t run and alter the colour of your other clothes. It is also best to wash coloured items in cold temperatures to retain their original shade for longer. We’re here to help! We understand if laundry doesn’t make the cut in your favourite weekly pastimes. That’s where we come in handy with a full commercial laundry process for shirts, suiting and other household items.
Don't have time to spend separating laundry? Let us take a load off of you! Contact us today to organise pick up or drop off.
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 When it comes to handling wool, there’s a lot that can go wrong. By dry cleaning wool you can avoid any mishaps that your everyday washing machine could cause. Plus, learning how to properly clean your woollen items will keep them around and in good condition for years to come. The importance of dry cleaning wool The process of dry cleaning involves a gentle cleaning process. Fabrics such as wool, washed in a regular washing machine are at risk of fading, shrinking, or losing their shape. Dry cleaning wool allows for us to take a more careful approach. By using gentler dry cleaning methods, we can avoid compromising or swelling fibres, which often leads to distortion of shape. Top tips for keeping wool in good condition To keep your woollen items in good condition, we recommend:
For woven woollen items (such as jackets, overcoats etc), it is recommended to brush the wool. Using a soft garment brush, brush lengthways to remove dirt or grime. Woollen blankets should be cleaned, folded and placed within a breathable storage container and put somewhere cool and dark. Woollen jackets should be hung on coat hangers, and knitted garments gently folded and stored in drawers. Dry cleaning wool to ensure the quality is not compromised Dry cleaning wool extends the life of the item by reducing the wear and tear from washing in a washing machine.
When you bring in your woollen items to be dry cleaned with our team, we ensure that care and delicacy is taken with every item. So why should you choose dry cleaning wool over a DIY approach? Dry cleaning is so gentle and with regular dry cleans can help retain the wools vibrancy years after you have purchased it. Before starting the dry-cleaning process, our team take the time to pre-treat the woollen items. Our cleaners carefully inspect for stains and treat them to make the removal process easier. Our team of experienced dry cleaners’ take the time to carefully assess each stain while maintaining the colour, and retaining the quality of the wool. Want to give your precious woollen items some love before they are stored away for the summer? Talk to us today or drop into our store so we can handle the rest.  Putting off getting laundry done is something we all know and understand too well. Balancing work, family and other life arrangements can often be tricky. Let’s face it, we often get to the weekend and don’t want to be swamped with mundane household chores. Why spend time on laundry when you could be having fun instead? This is where we come in to save the day. If you feel like you are spending your days constantly doing loads of washing, consider using a laundry delivery service to help take a load off. Here are some of the benefits of our laundry delivery service: ConveniencePride Dry Cleaning provides a convenient laundry delivery service, helping you get your weekly laundry without having to spend hours loading, washing, and folding. One of our friendly laundry delivery drivers can pick up your dirty garments at a time of your choosing and return them back all fresh and clean. When life gets in the way, the convenience of laundry delivery will put more time back into your week to spend on the more important things in life. ReliabilityWhen you work with us, you can guarantee your laundry will always be delivered with a smile. Our delivery drivers don’t just stop, drop, and run. They care about your wellbeing too and will provide a friendly face to talk to. There is nothing worse than starting out your work week and realising there are no clean clothes to wear because you didn’t have time to do the laundry. We pride ourselves on our reliability. So you can always be rest assured that your laundry will be ready for the busy week ahead. SafetyWe are facing very uncertain and unprecedented times with COVID-19. Which means it is more important than ever to put safety first. Our laundry delivery services are contactless to ensure both our customers and staff remain COVID Safe. Dirty laundry can be left out for our delivery drivers at a pick-up and delivery point of your choice. These services are here to ensure that everyone’s safety remains a priority. Peace of mindYou can ensure your laundry is organised without any stress or fuss when you access our laundry delivery services. Our professional machines are top of the range, which ensures your whites become whiter and your brights brighter.
Our commercial-grade machines and cleaning products help lift stains with ease, leaving your laundry smelling fresh. For the health and safety of the environment and out community, we also provide medical grade washes and environmentally sustainable solutions as part of our services. Now, we think it’s time to pass your dirty laundry over to the pros. Get in touch with us today and we can arrange your laundry to be in our next pick-up.  Whether it be smoke from a fire or a cigarette, smoke odour removal can be a challenge. There’s nothing better than sitting around a campfire in the wintertime, warming up, toasting marshmallows, and getting all cosy. But at the cost of your favourite jumper or jacket? We think not! We are here to help you avoid that pain. When you’re faced with smelly clothes, there is only one solution - Pride Dry Cleaning What causes smoke odour to stick to your clothes?Sitting by a campfire, toasting marshmallows, and staying warm can be lovely. But let’s face it, the smell of smoke isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So, what is it about smoke that makes it leave such a lasting smell on our clothes? To break it down, wood is composed of large molecules that are packed very closely together. While the molecules are combusting, not all of them are converting into smaller gas molecules. Instead, they are going through a process called volatilisation, which easily collects on clothing when they cool down. Similarly, with cigar and cigarette smoke, the smoke is a by-product of the incomplete combustion of tobacco. The non-combustible materials are mostly minerals such as magnesium and potassium. These minerals are quite sticky, which means they are more likely to stick to your clothes and make smoke odour removal nearly impossible. The dangers of third-hand smokeHealth and safety is extremely important to us. Particularly when it comes to reducing people’s exposure to harmful chemicals. Our business ethos from the beginning has been centered around providing safe dry cleaning and laundry solutions. Therefore, we think it’s important to also advise others about the dangers that come from things such as third-hand smoke. But what exactly is third-hand smoke? Third-hand smoke is caused by the residue of cigarette smoke and other harmful chemicals that stick to surfaces and fabric. Non-smokers can be exposed to third-hand smoke from breathing in residual gases, swallowing dust, and even touching surfaces where the smoke has stuck to. Studies coming from the San Diego State University, show that two months after previous smoking tenants vacated their home, nicotine levels remained elevated, even as the current tenants were non-smokers. Further studies since then have shown the exposure to third-hand smoking showed a range of harmful side effects, such as damaged cells and DNA, and metabolism and behavioural changes. During our smoke odour removal process, we carefully handle our clients’ clothing items to reduce the exposure of harmful chemicals and side effects of smoke exposure. The best solution for smoke odour removalOur number one piece of advice when it comes to smoke odour removal is to leave it to the professionals.
Before you bring in your clothing items to us, we have some helpful ‘dos and don’ts’ if your clothing has been exposed to smoke.
Pride Dry Cleaning have special chemicals that remove smoke and soot particles from clothing safely. We use a solvent that binds with the soluble fats in the smokes oil and is then filtered and the particles are caught. The tar from the smoke is dissolved and the rest of the soot is disposed of.  Jorja McGrath came to us a month after walking down the aisle with her wedding dress, veil and husband’s suit jacket and shirt in tow. Jorja came to Pride Dry Cleaning ready to hand over her sweetheart strapless, beaded, ivory wedding dress to be dry cleaned by our team of professionals. Ideally, our recommendation would be to bring in your wedding dress sooner. Luckily for Jorja, there were no spills on her dress, just dirt on the gown from the wear of the day. Her husband’s suit jacket was a slightly different story, but more on that later! Communication and attention to detail – our successful cleaning formulaWhat Jorja didn’t expect was the amount of detail and discussion that would result from her visit. We were able to provide a rundown of all our options. This was to ensure that Jorja chose an outcome that was best suited to her needs and desires. “I was blown away by Jennie’s impeccable service and the whole wedding dress operation,” Jorja said. “Honestly, I hadn’t considered the various options Pride Dry Cleaning presented to me but was so glad Jennie did. I really thought it would be a drop and run type thing, but it became very clear to me that my wedding dress meant just as much to Jennie as it did me and she wanted to ensure she would meet my expectations.” When you bring your gown into us, we discuss and inspect your dress with you prior to cleaning. Whether you want to sell, frame, donate, dye, cut or box your dress – we can do it all. We just want the perfect solution so we can keep the memory of your big day alive. Our wedding dress cleaning procedure The wedding dress process takes roughly six to eight weeks. This is because we need to hand clean, spot it, and then go through either a dry or wet clean.
This process is repeated three times. We make sure not to push beyond these washes, so the dress remains intact. As directed by Fair Trade, we strictly follow the care label, unless instructed otherwise by the client. Suits are the easy part, taking between one to two days before they are ready for pick up. For Jorja’s husband’s linen suit jacket, we were able to remove the red wine stains and return it as brand new. “My dress and veil still look as beautiful as ever, ready for me to pass on to the next lucky bride,” Jorja said. “I don’t envy Jennie and her team for having to clean my dress – there was a lot of lace, tulle and beading – it would have been a very tricky job. But they have taken the utmost care of it, detailing the process to me and at one stage even asked if I was sure I wanted to clean it [the wedding dress].” “For a business to allow an individual to contemplate a decision instead of an immediate sale is such a new thing for me and showed me how much Jennie and her team care for their customers and their garments. Though the clothes are ticketed, it is noticeably clear that the customers and their items are not just a number. I couldn’t recommend Jennie and the Pride Dry Cleaning team enough!” Jorja concluded.  As a team, we believe in providing dry cleaning that is ability inclusive to everyone, which is why we’re a registered NDIS provider. In 2016, we became the first registered dry cleaning/laundry NDIS provider in the Hunter Region. We’ve remained committed to providing dry cleaning/laundry services to NDIS participants for over a decade. Not only does our services make things more inclusive for those in the program, but it also comes with numerous benefits. Read more below! What does a registered NDIS provider mean? As a registered NDIS provider, we provide easy and accessible dry cleaning/laundry services for NDIS Participants either through your self-managed plan or your Plan Managers, Support and Local Care Coordinators. We offer a variety of services, which include:
Learn more about what being an NDIS dry cleaner means here. A familiar and friendly faceOur team believes in providing not just a service, but a friendly face and a friendship. From the moment your first enquire with our team, we will make sure you feel confident and independent with your decision to allow us to help with your laundry requirements. Whether you would like to come into our shop in Islington or would prefer pick up/ drop-off at your address, we’re here to assist. Our team will tailor each service to your needs. Ensuring that you receive a quality service that ticks the box every time. A personal understandingWe believe everybody should have access to quality services that assist with everyday living. This is why our decision to become a registered NDIS provider was critical to our business. Little did we know that it was to also become a particularly personal service for us. When Owner Jennie, and her husband Phil took over the business in 2010, they never expected Philto be diagnosed with cancer four years later. During treatment, Phil had a full hind quarter amputation which bound him to life in a wheelchair. While Phil is no longer with us, his commitment to ensuring those with disabilities have equal access to care and quality services remain a key part of our business philosophy. When you use our services our team work hard to ensure that you know our services are built to support you and anyone who may need an extra hand. Enquire about our services todayNo matter your dry cleaning need, you can guarantee a judgement-free zone with Pride. Whatever you’re after, we’re happy to help along the way.
 Dry cleaning and laundry services can seem overwhelming, especially if you have never done it before. For young adults, this form of cleaning can be a bit of a mystery. The process can seem daunting and time consuming, leading people to avoid taking their laundry and precious garments to someone new. The benefits of dry cleaning and laundry services, however, are endless, and can minimise the time you take at home to wash, dry, and fold your own clothing items. In addition, dry cleaning can prevent you from ruining any of your more precious garments. Here are just some reasons why you should take the time to invest in our services. ConvenienceThrough Pride Dry Cleaning we offer laundry services that can allows you to pursue more time on other life admin tasks and activities. Instead of spending hours washing and folding items on your own, we can take the burden off you. We understand it can be difficult to balance your laundry load in between juggling work, study and sharing the laundry load with roommates or other people in your unit block. It too often becomes a time-consuming chore or something that sits in the basket, ignored, and shoved to the side. By neglecting these items, you could be doing more harm than good. With a build-up of sweat, dirt and bacteria, this can lead to a variety of problems – such as material tears, foul odours, stains and more. So why waste more time doing your own washing, ironing, and folding when you can get quality and convenience from bringing your clothes to us? All you need to do is drop your clothes off and pick them up, but we can also personally deliver! Our 24/7 Redbox convenience service is also perfect if you’re strapped for time and want to pick up your items when it best suits you. Colour and brightnessUnlike washing clothes at home, dry cleaning goes the extra length to protect the colour, brightness, and softness of your clothing. It is also a gentler cleaning solution, which is great for the clothes and for those wearing them. For example, we use thermal and chemical solvents that are safe on the environment and are less likely to irritate the skin. These products are also perfect for the removal process of soils and stains from a range of fabrics. Dry cleaning has a strong ability to dissolve grease and oils in a way that water cannot. It can also help return your clothing items to a “like new” condition to prevent shrinkage, colour loss, change of texture, and finish. Extend the life of your garmentsFrequently dry cleaning your clothes can extend its lifespan. By removing stains, dirt, and soils, which act as a harmful substance to the fibres on your garments, you will end up achieving more long-term wear from your clothing. Ultimately, with a little money spent on dry cleaning, you’re saving yourself dollars on having to buy replacement items down the line. It’s guaranteed bang for your buck. Save yourself the money you’d spend on potentially harmful cleaning chemicals and bring your clothes to us instead. ExpertiseFrom fabrics to fashion, we understand that your clothes are an expression of your personality and image.
In addition to giving your special garments and everyday items the attention they deserve; we can also provide advice on how to properly clean and restore items in your wardrobe that haven’t seen love in a while. It’s not out with the old and in with the new – we want to provide all clothes with a second lease on life. We have years of expertise, allowing us to provide the best advice on how to preserve and clean your clothes. When you look good, we know it can make you feel better and more confident – that’s the kind of results we aim for at Pride Dry Cleaning. If you are finding it difficult to fit time in to do your dry cleaning and laundry between juggling work, study and socialising with friends, let us do it for you!  After a weekend of adventuring and camping, taking care of all your clothing and spending time on outdoor cleaning solutions is the last thing that anyone wants to think about. It’s common when tiredness and procrastination take over people that people just throw their dirty camping gear into the garage and neglect it until their next outdoor adventure. This leads to a build-up of grime, dirt and odour which can destroy fabrics, stitching and other components that ensure product longevity. With the right care and outdoor cleaning solutions, your adventure wear can last for more than just one season. Correct maintenance can go a long way, but sometimes it’s important to leave it with the professionals. In this blog, we explain why Pride Dry Cleaning’s outdoor cleaning solutions and tips can allow you to keep having fun, cost effective adventures for many seasons to come. Backpack care It’s no doubt that after a weekend away camping, your backpack isn’t going to smell like fresh linen and flowers. That odour is likely a mix of sweat, dirt, food crumbs and other debris, which will shorten the life span of your bag. Talk to our team to discuss ways to ensure that your backpack and hiking bags are clean and odour free. Tent care If you’re a serious camper, you can expect your tent to have mud, grime and dust splattered throughout. Typically, you might spot clean and give the tent a quick spray with the hose but if you want to maintain the quality of your camping equipment, it’s important to give it some extra care. It’s essential to clean and re-proof your tent immediately after each camping trip and every few months, even if you are not using it, to ensure there aren’t any small tears in the fabrics or dirt build-ups in the zips. These build ups can often be the cause of hard-to-remove stains. Sleeping bag care Time to dust the cobwebs off your trusty sleeping bag for another camping expedition? Most people take their sleeping bags for granted and expect the performance levels to remain the same without any maintenance. Over time, however, the inside of the sleeping bag can become compacted with dirt which minimises the insulation levels. It’s important to be careful when handling your sleeping equipment in the washing machine as it can apply stress onto the fabrics and seams and the process can rip the bag and break down natural oils in the insulation. Our team can offer just the right outdoor cleaning solution to help in these circumstances. We can ensure your sleeping bag doesn’t lose its high-quality protection properties. Our team is happy to also reproof your items ready for your next adventure. Footwear care Hiking boots and shoes are often the toughest to clean, as they get the dirtiest from repeated use. It’s important to take good care of your boots so they can ensure your safety on the trail and last longer.
Hiking boots should be cleaned after every camping trip as small dirt and dust particles can creep their way into the fabric fibres and break down the shoe materials. It is important to check all surfaces of the shoes when cleaning as particles of sand, gravel and dirt can creep into the holes and be harmful to the leather and adhesives. Your hiking boots are designed to be tough and take the rugged punishment they receive but if they are exposed to wet weather and dirt and left uncared for, they can break down quicker – so it’s important to do what you can to look after them. So, if you love adventuring, but hate trying to clean your outdoor gear, leave it to us – we’ve got you covered.  It’s a brand-new year which means a fresh start for everyone and the perfect time to start taking care of your linen. There is no better feeling than going into the New Year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated with fresh linen sheets and our team can help make it happen. Linen is just as simple to look after as any other bedding material. But, anyone who has slept in linen sheets will understand what the fuss is all about. Breathable, sustainable, and eco-friendly is the easiest way to summarise the benefits of linen. The material gets more durable after each wash making it a sustainable long lifespan material. Every time linen is used and washed, the fabric becomes softer. It's these structural properties that ensure it will always retain its shape. What is linen?Linen is a strong textile material made from the fibres of the flax plant. It is known for its fabric characteristics including its high moisture absorbency. This is especially beneficial for Australian summers and will help keep you warm in the winter. Linen material is many times stronger than cotton which results in faster drying time. It also has hypo-allergen properties which is perfect for people with sensitive skin and allergies. Hypo-allergen properties act as a natural antiseptic, reduce inflammation, and kill bacteria. Why taking care of your linen is important? Linen is infamous for its wrinkly appearance so it is important to know how to take care of your linen to ensure you can get the most out of it. The high-quality fabric itself is sturdy on its own so it is easy to care for. However, it is still important to take care of your linen garments.
Still not sure how to take care of your linen bedding and sheets? Here are some tips and tricks to ensure linen stays fresh and retains quality over time: Washing and drying linen Linen fabric is one of a kind as it gets more luminous and softer each time it is used. And with each wash this effect is a luxurious result that occurs with time. Like fine wine, it gets better over time. Linen fabrics are usually not pre washed so it is important to always wash your sheets before the first use. This helps preserve and prolong the fabric’s lifespan. When washing your linen, it is best to use a warm and gentle machine wash and to avoid using harsh detergents or bleach as these substances will damage the material fibres. Air drying your linen sheets on the clothesline will allow your them to breathe and tumble drying is to be avoided at all costs as it can strip the natural fibres within the material. Usage We recommend changing and washing your sheets regularly, roughly about once a week to ensure your sheets are fresh and clean. The material is strong and durable however it is made from natural and sustainable fabrics, so it is best to avoid anything with sharp edges and hooks to prevent tearing. While most fabrics are easy to wash and take care of at home, unique fabrics like linen may require more care to retain its appearance and prolong its lifespan. Professional dry cleaning and ironing services can ensure that your linen sheets keep their colour, quality, and durability. Have you got a whole bunch of linen in need of some love at home? Contact our team below and send your linen our way so we can help you to maintain that fresh feeling all year round.  Is it your first time dry cleaning? If so, we understand it can seem a little daunting. That’s why we have pulled together a helpful step by step guide to prepare you for your first visit. If you follow this guide, you’ll be walking with pride to get your dry cleaning needs sorted in no time! DO - Examine your clothes and everyday item labels before dry-cleaningThe first step to consider before bringing your items in is whether they’re safe to be dry cleaned. If they are marked ‘do not dry clean’ then clearly our cleaning processes are not suitable. If the clothing tag is marked ‘delicate’ it’s best handled by the team at Pride Dry Cleaning. Clothes and other materials made from leather, suede, velvet, rayon, or fur are also best left in our hands, as they need special attention using professional cleaning techniques. Cotton, linen, polyester, silk, and wool fabrics are all considered safe to wash in your regular machine. But that’s not to say you can’t drop them off with other more delicate fabrics – we’re happy to launder these garments, too. You can learn more about how to decipher items in need of dry cleaning assistance here. DON’T - Try to remove your stains at homeIt’s happened to the best of us, you’re out at lunch with your friends wearing a brand-new outfit and notice a stain on your clothes. We understand the temptation to remove the stain yourself, but the possibility of making the mess worse is more likely. By trying to get rid of the stain yourself, you may be pushing the stain into the fabric, which makes our job more difficult – it’s sometimes even impossible to remove these stains. If you see a stain, don’t touch it! Bring it into us as soon as you can and we’ll determine the best way to remove it. DO - Tell us about any stains or wear or tear when dropping off your dry cleaningAlways let us know about any stains or wear or tear when dropping off your order to ensure your clothes and any other items are protected against further damage. If we are aware of the condition of your clothes prior to cleaning, we will be able to put the right solution in place to get the job done – without causing any further damage. Additionally, we also provide alteration and repair services. Our friendly staff are happy to help, so if you would like us to tidy up any wear or tear on your items, just let us know. DON’T - Be afraid to make special requestsWhether you are bringing in your clothing items for the first or tenth time, don’t be afraid to speak up and make any specific requests. We want you to feel your best, as well as look your best, and walk away with pride – so let us know if you’d like us to handle your items in a particular way. Plus, if we know about any delicate or embellished fabrics, we can achieve the best results and deliver a better service.
At the end of the day, our dry cleaning services are here to help with your everyday dry cleaning needs. So, if this is your first time dry cleaning, don’t hesitate any longer. Let it be your new year’s resolution to come by, talk to our team and try out dry cleaning – we look forward to seeing you. |
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February 2022
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