No Cotton.
No Leather. 

No Nylon. 
No Rubber.

I knew about rationing during WWII – gas, sugar, butter, meat, rubber, but I didn’t realize that there were actual laws passed about fashion that in effect not only rationed clothes, but mandated style! 

 The impact on the garment industry was so huge that VOGUE magazine even did a feature article on it in 1942.

 Here’s some stuff I learned that appealed to the dry cleaner in me that I think you’ll also find interesting:

 1- In 1942 the War Production Board passed Regulation L-85:

             – rationing all natural fibers,

            – dictating the amount of yardage that could be used in a garment and

            – even placing restrictions on drastic changes in fashion styles!

 This last item was an effort to remove temptation from the path of fashionistas, who might be tempted to buy what they didn’t need just to be stylish!  In fact, the Board deemed it the patriotic duty of every designer to produce fashions that would remain stylish through multiple seasons.

 2- Pant cuffs were banned in order to conserve fabrics.

 3-There were restrictions on the length of skirts and on the fullness of pants and jackets.

 4- These restrictions are what prompted designers to introduce separates, which afforded people the luxury of having more outfits with fewer clothes.  It was the birth of casual wear; an outgrowth of Yankee ingenuity.

 5- Color choices were limited, nylon stocking production was halted (in favor of parachutes), rayon production was geared up (it was used in stockings – see image below) and rubber was no longer available for use in women’s foundation garments (frankly, I think this was probably a blessing in disguise for women across the nation!).

Hi

 This week in anticipation of Memorial Day, I did a little bit of WWII research because I was looking for a special way to mark the 3 PM Moment of Remembrance.   I found a couple of things that I wanted to share with you.

 The first is a link to the Memorial Day Moment of Silence facebook page.  Go here to connect.  Remember, this holiday is more than just a three-day weekend – it’s a time to remember the brave men and women who have served our nation and paid the ultimate price for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy every day.  It is important that we honor them and their gift to us all.

 The second thing is some fascinating stuff on how the war changed the US fashion industry, which I’m sharing with you below. I think you’ll enjoy it too.   As the saying goes, “WHO KNEW?”

I hope you and your family has a wonderful and safe holiday, and don’t forget, we will be closed on both Saturday and Monday in honor of Memorial Day.

Take care.

Patricia, Bake and the Shaffer Cleaners Team

Baking soda is a great all around environmentally benign substitute for anywhere you’re accustomed to using powdered cleansers.  It rinses easily and, while it may require a bit more elbow grease, it is generally up to the task.  Baking soda is also cheaper to buy and certainly worth a try.

 Glass and Mirrors:

Try cleaning the windows in your home with 4 tablespoons of lemon juice mixed with a half gallon of water. If that doesn’t do the trick, you can give rubbing alcohol, witch hazel or vinegar a try. 

Of course you want to avoid using paper towels and newspapers are quite messy.  A better choice is a clean, lint-free rag, an old cotton T-shirt or cloth diaper.­  And a practical tip, courtesy of my mother – never do the windows when the sun is shining on them.

Earth Day is just around the corner, but it really shouldn’t be the only day we are mindful of the importance of trying to be more environmentally friendly.

Taking care in both our personal and business lives to make eco-conscious choices is the only way we can be sure that our children and grandchildren will be able to experience and enjoy the same rich world we grew up in.      

We take great pride in the fact that we have embraced and invested in a wide variety of green initiatives, including our use of the Green Earth Cleaning System and we continue to research new technologies and supplies that will help us become even more effective in our environmental protection efforts.  It requires constant vigilance, but we believe our efforts – both large and small – are important and make a difference.

We wish you a happy Earth Day, and if you want to learn more about some eco-friendly activities for you children – take a look at this Pinterest site:

http://pinterest.com/carrotsrorange/earth-day-activities-for-kids/

Take care,

Patricia, Bake and the Shaffer Team

It’s that time of year.

Spring is here.  The time for the gathering of friends and family is upon us, and getting started on that time honored tradition of Spring-cleaning.  Chances are you’re looking around the house thinking about what might be in need of some special rejuvenating treatment.

We’ve got a few tips for you below about cleaning the decorative fabrics in your home, and remember that we’re specialists in table linens, so if you need help there, feel free to call upon us. It’s become a bit of a tradition for us to share our ‘setting the table’ diagram with you.  Click on the image to access a downloadable version.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Take care,

Patricia, Bake and the

Shaffer Cleaners Team  

table setting guide 4styles

setting_the_table_thanksgiving

According to the Better Business Bureau, you should think about professionally cleaning your draperies every three years or so, and sheer curtains on an annual basis.

As a professional cleaner, I’ll also advise you to clean all your matching pieces together!

In other words, if your draperies ‘match’ your slipcovers or upholstery, it’s in your own best interest to clean them all at the same time; this will keep them looking uniform.

Also, if your draperies have been exposed to direct sunlight, they may have been subjected to sun damage.  The sun has the ability to weaken (burn) the fabric, the same way it can burn your skin.  It can affect the dyes (lightening color) and even weaken the fibers so they cannot withstand the agitation involved in a cleaning process.  Sun damaged draperies are therefore very susceptible to shredding and tearing.

Rug Cleaning

The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends annual cleaning for all carpets and area rugs.  Given the type of use and abuse (kids, pets, spills, shoes, etc.) our floor coverings are subject to, this is generally good advice. 

A final piece of advice – to protect ALL your decorative fabrics from the harmful effects of UV rays from the sun, keep your window blinds closed during the day when you are not at home.

If you have any questions or need our help with the cleaning of your home furnishings, feel free to ask us.  That’s what we’re here for.

The one thing most designers seem to be in sync about for Fall 2013 fashions, is the use of gray as the new black!

It’s a sensible choice as it can be easily paired with virtually any other color and therefore offers a real versatility.

Leather and leather trimmed garments remain in vogue. And while it’s wonderful to be ‘in fashion’ remember the inherent problems that come with leather.

1- it is an animal skin and by its nature MUST have imperfections. (Think about the blemishes, marks, scars, moles and freckles on your own skin, and you’ll see what we mean)

2 – these animal hide blemishes are camouflaged during the tanning and dyeing processes (the same way you conceal your skin blemishes with cosmetics!).

3 – cleaning will often remove the ‘cosmetic’ cover that hides the animal skin’s imperfections.

4 – often the dyes used will bleed, so be forewarned of potential trouble if you buy a light color garment with dark leather trim.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to ask us.

To learn more about what various designers showed and other insider details – go here.