How to have an Easy Fall Clean-up

There is a natural instinct that kicks into gear in the fall, the one that gets the ‘ole “cave” ready for cozy winter nights. Can you feel it? It is the urge to purge! Now is the time (before the snow hits) to pull all the clutter out of your closets and get deep, deep into those corners.

Here are 4 tips that will help make your fall cleanup a breeze:

1. Don’t Do it Alone! Recruit family members and housemates to pitch in and clear out the spaces. Look into hiring a professional organiser to help get you sorted. They can spare you a lot of time, headache (and heartache) for a painless decluttering process.
2. Do One Room at a Time and Finish Each to Completion. Don’t move on to the next space before the other is done Having too many closets and rooms half started will be more chaotic and you risk being left with a bigger mess than you started with.
3. Be Prepared to Get Rid Of Stuff. It has been shown again and again that having more stuff does not increase happiness. In fact, the opposite may be true! So be ruthless with the things you find in the back of those closets. Get a friend or sibling to watch over the process and help keep you rational in your purge. Be kind to yourself and put things back in your closets tidy and clean - why hold onto a tuxedo that won’t be wearable next time you need one? Suits should be dry cleaned at least annually for a longer life.
4. Make Your Life Easier Where You Can. Life is busy and there are only so many leisure hours in a week. Maybe this means you hire that home organiser, or add housekeeping services into your budget, or have your dry cleaning delivered to your door. Indulge in some help and keep your space clear and inviting.

With a tidy space, you will likely increase in motivation and productivity to get things done. Get your home in tip top shape, just in time also for the holiday party season!!

5 Great Tips for Sweater Storage

The weather is heating up, and for many people, that means it’s finally time to store sweaters until next winter. Our dry cleaning services are available for any delicate fabrics you’re pulling out for the summer – but now is also a great time to send us your winter coats and sweaters.

1. Clean items before storage

The proper technique for storing fabric always starts with a good dry cleaning. This will remove any debris, including oils from skin, so that your fabric is in the best condition before it goes into storage. While your fabric items are stored for several months, any leftover oils from your skin while you were folding them up, as well as any stains or dirt that weren’t entirely removed before winter ended, will settle into the fabric. Even if you only wore it once, it’s still a good idea to get the piece dry cleaned. The environment can leave behind dust and other debris that are just as harmful.

2. Store your sweaters in a cool, dry place that avoids direct sunlight

Damp patches and wetness could eventually lead to the formation of mildew, and sticky or soiled wool is a heavy attractant for moths and other insects. Ensuring that your sweaters remain dry, but protected from sunlight, throughout their storage period is crucial to keeping them looking their best.

3. Use a good method for storage

There are many methods for storing off-season gear once it has been dry cleaned. Many people like vacuum sealing, because it saves space and ensures that dust does not get near your clothing. However, vacuum sealing can put undue pressure on special features, like embroidered designs, causing them to look less attractive when they are removed later in the year. Clear plastic totes with lids that seal tightly are a great solution; clothing is easy to identify and they tend to stack together for easy storage.

4. Hang a sweater so it doesn't stretch out or get shoulder bumps

If you don’t have room for clear plastic totes to storage your sweaters or prefer to hang the sweater in your closet, fold your sweater in half, place the hanger hook in the armpit, and fold the waist and sleeves over the hanger for a stretch-free hang.

5. Use only natural substance to enhance storage

One thing that many people ask us, if anything, they should add to their stored items, to keep away pests and keep them smelling great. Mothballs have been shown to be less desirable than they once were. Effective odorless products are available, many based on natural substances such as lavender, rosemary, or cloves. As long as your clothes have been dry cleaned before storage, and are stored in an air-tight container, you may not even need to add anything.

By the time winter rolls around, it’s always a joy to pull out your favourite cozy sweater, and find it perfectly dry cleaned and ready to wear when the cooler weather comes around again. And by dry cleaning your sweater, you’ll ensure that it lasts for many more years to come.

Come see us at the 2016 National Home Show!

Let us show you the most convenient way to do your dry cleaning and use our app to order dry cleaning pickup and delivery that saves you time and fits your busy lifestyle. 

Discover North America's Largest Home and Garden Event. The co-location of two world class events, Canada Blooms the largest flower and garden festival and the National Home Show. 

Come by booth #3316 to say hello and enter our draw for exciting prizes. We have our interactive displays and and special home show deals and exclusive offers for show attendees! 

See you there!

Our booth hours are:

Thursday, Mar. 17: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday, Mar. 18: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Saturday, Mar. 19: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday, Mar. 20: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

For more information about the National Home Show, click here.

6 things you can stop doing in 2016!

6 things you can stop doing in 2016!

Everyone makes resolutions at the start of the new year, but keeping these resolutions past the first month can be tough.  Instead, let’s look at things we should stop doing in 2016 that could improve our life!

1)    Maintaining a gluten-free diet

Only about 1% of the population has celiac disease, a disease in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food.
For the rest of us, a lecturer from Yale University says, the gluten-free choice is neither healthier nor cheaper.

2)     Doing sit-ups

Many in the world of fitness say that sit-ups can put you in risk for back injuries. The repetitive motion can put force on spinal discs and consequently, nerves according to a professor of spine biomechanics.
Fitness experts instead recommend trying crunches, modified sit-ups using exercise balls or — even better — the plank pose.

3)      Drinking diet soda

Turning to Diet Soda for help losing weight? It may be time to think again. A study found the amount of diet soda consumed by study participants was closely associated with escalating stomach fat over time. It’s part of a growing body of evidence that drinks previously viewed as guilt-free may have negative consequences after all.
Scientists still aren’t sure exactly why low-calorie drinks may result in weight gain, but the study’s senior author told that the results are especially acute for those who are already overweight.

4)     Reducing coffee consumption

The caffeinated beverage could protect you against certain skin cancers — and the more you drink, the better, a study earlier this year found. Coffee addicts may experience the greatest protection, since participants who drank four cups a day or more had a 20% lower risk of malignant melanoma.
Don’t run to Starbucks or Tim Horton's just yet, though. Researchers caution that the results are only preliminary. But combined with reports that coffee may help with risks of liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and more, it may be enough for a java justification, if you need one.
 
5)    Buying pricey vitamins

Nearly half of North American adults take a dietary supplement but most healthy adults don’t really need it.  A balanced diet and regular exercise are better alternatives and are all one needs. Consult with your doctor before taking any vitamins. 

6)     Going to your dry cleaners

With Exclusive Dry Cleaners, we’re making it easy and convenient for you to get dry cleaning done in Toronto. Get quality dry cleaning delivered to you. Seamless billing safely onto your credit card with receipts sent to your inbox.
Everyone can use a little bit of extra time to enjoy life.  

Need help with the Wardrobe Changeover from Summer to Fall?

Here’s 7 questions to inspire your closet cleaning of epic proportions: 

1. Does this fit me?
2. Have I worn this in the last 12 months?
3. How likely I will ever wear this again?
4. Is this currently in style, and/or does this still accurately represent my style?
5. If this is damaged in any way (e.g., piling, rips, stains, missing buttons, etc.), will I actually get this repaired to wear again?
6. If I was shopping right now, would I buy this?
7. And most importantly: Do I feel good wearing this?

We can freshen your clothes ready for the new fall and get those alternations done at Exclusive Dry Cleaners - Toronto's Best Dry Cleaner Guaranteed with Free Pickup & Delivery!

Want to be a Stain Fighting Super Hero?

Surprisingly all you need is to use straight from the bottle, club soda. It is a great emergency spot cleaner and stain remover. Use club soda, lemon juice, baking soda, and salt as you all-purpose stain remover. 

Just apply it with a clean, damp cloth and you will be fighting stains in no time! POW! BAM!