Latest news with #drycleaning
New York Times
02-07-2025
- General
- New York Times
The Met Costume Institute's Former Head of Conservation Taught Us How to Store Clothes
Before you store your heirlooms, be sure to clean them. Insects eat your stains, Paulocik told us. 'It's a source of nutrition for them,' she said. So cleaning your clothes is one of the best defenses against pests. Paulocik has a particular word of advice for anyone storing a wedding gown. Many brides have their wedding gowns dry-cleaned after the ceremony. And because a wedding gown is tricky to clean, a dry cleaner will often end up spot-cleaning it. The problem? White wine stains may not show up for a week. In such cases, the dress will actually develop visible stains after it has been theoretically cleaned. 'It's a good idea if the bride can remember if she spilled anything that might later cause a stain and alert the dry cleaner,' Paulocik told us. Generally, the longer the stain sits, the harder it is to remove, so your best bet is to catch it early. For more information on cleaning unique materials, Paulocik recommends checking the Canadian Conservation Institute's website. It's a treasure trove of detailed information and tips on caring for specific materials, including leather, fur, metals, feathers, and more. And for shorter-term storage, Paulocik said she'd also get rid of any accoutrements from a dry-cleaning sesh. 'The worst kind of plastic bags are the dry-cleaning bags,' she said (more on that later). So take your garment out ASAP. Metal hangers, which are typically used at the dry cleaner, aren't supportive, and they can rust and stain clothes over time. 'I have seen the damage,' Paulocik told us. Similarly, safety pins and straight pins (two other common dry-cleaning tools) can eventually rust. Once your garment is ready for storage, you'll want to decide whether to hang your clothes or store them in a box. Avoid hanging items that may stretch, such as knits, heavily beaded garments, or anything cut on the bias (diagonally with the grain of the fabric). However, some clothes are better off when they're hung. At the Met, the conservators would 'often hang some of the more complex garments because placing them in a box would crush or create damage to the structure of the garment,' Paulocik told us. 'We would custom make interior supports for garments such as Charles James gowns or some of the more contemporary designers like Alexander McQueen. That often involved a cotton twill tape waistband sewn into the garment to take some of the weight off the piece.' If you do decide to hang your clothes, you should avoid storing anything in dry-cleaning bags or garment bags made from PEVA or PVC. 'You don't want PVC near your clothes.' The goal is to avoid anything that's going to break down over the long term. As these 'bad plastics' age, they off-gas plasticizers. While plasticizers make the bags malleable and soft, in time they become 'really oily and greasy.' Instead, consider garment bags made of cotton or muslin, which is breathable but also protects the clothes from light and dust. These bags last forever, Paulocik said. All you need to do is wash them occasionally. Paulocik suggests using a garment bag made from cotton, instead of plastic. This one (from an archival shop Paulocik recommends) comes in several sizes, so it can accommodate everything from christening gowns to wedding dresses. Buy from Hollinger Metal Edge You can also consider Tyvek garment bags, which the Met Costume Institute has occasionally used, according to Paulocik. Tyvek is made from high-density polyethylene, a kind of plastic thought to have a much lower rate of off-gassing than materials like PVC film. Crucially, it keeps water out while allowing vapor to pass. If you do choose to hang your clothes in plastic, check on the bag every six months to make sure it isn't starting to yellow or get sticky (which means the plasticizers are breaking down and migrating to the surface). In addition to avoiding wire hangers, which can warp clothes or rust, avoid wooden hangers. Over time, wooden hangers can off-gas volatile organic compounds, which can eventually weaken a textile or yellow it. Instead, Paulocik recommends using plastic hangers made from either polypropylene or polyethylene. Wire hangers can rust, and wooden hangers can off-gas volatile organic compounds, yellowing garments over time. Paulocik recommends using polypropylene hangers instead. And to add structure, you can wrap hangers with quilt batting or muslin. Buy from Hollinger Metal Edge While you probably won't have a garment that needs to have a waistband sewn in, structured clothes, like suiting and hand bags, may need additional support to maintain their shape over time. You can cover a hanger with quilt batting or muslin to add structure in the shoulder area. Then the hanger is 'kind of customized to the garment,' Paulocik said. If you're hanging a suit, for example, Paulocik also recommends stuffing the arms of the jacket with archival tissue paper to bolster the overall shape. You can essentially make '[a sausage] out of tissue and stick it up the arm,' she said. Don't raid your supply of everyday tissue paper for this task, since it can yellow and deteriorate over time. Many pieces may be better off stored in a box. To do so, before you pack the garment away, Paulocik suggests bolstering it with and wrapping it in acid-free tissue paper. 'Try to avoid folding as much as possible. And, where you have to, support those folds with acid-free tissue,' she said. When you store a garment in a box, Paulocik recommends wrapping it in and bolstering it with acid-free tissue paper. Buy from Hollinger Metal Edge If you don't want to use acid-free tissue, you can alternatively use plain white cotton sheets, as long as they've been washed and are clean. At the museum, Paulocik would also place a clear plastic sleeve on top of the box, with a picture of the object for quick reference. (Labeling an item — perhaps with its history, such as the date the item was used, who wore it, and for what occasion — can be a good idea at home, too. That way, if any descendants discover your box decades later, they'll know what it is.) It may be tempting to put your packed clothes in a cardboard box, especially since cardboard is cheap and breathable. But like other problematic materials, cardboard degrades and becomes acidic, off-gassing organic volatile compounds (which causing yellowing), Paulocik told us. Paulocik instead recommends storing garments in an acid-free box with acid-free tissue paper. You can also use a box made from corrugated polypropylene (sometimes called Coroplast). Such boxes are admittedly expensive, but they're also inert, stable, water-resistant, and dust-proof. Skip the cardboard, which degrades and becomes acidic. Instead, Paulocik recommends packing textiles in acid-free boxes. The Hollinger boxes come in several different sizes. Buy from Hollinger Metal Edge If it seems overwhelming to buy all of the long-term-storage items individually, consider getting Hollinger Metal Edge's Gown/Garment/Textile Preservation Kits. The kits come in several sizes and include everything you need for preservation. (Hollinger's Keepsake and Deep preservation kits are sized for wedding gowns, but there are other boxes designed for christening outfits, uniforms, and quilts.) 'The preservation kits are worth it if people just want everything together,' Paulocik said. Overwhelmed by the prospect of buying the items you need individually? These preservation kits come in multiple sizes, and they include everything you need to store heirloom textiles, from uniforms to wedding gowns. Buy from Hollinger Metal Edge And for anyone who opts to use a preservation company (usually geared toward wedding-gown storage) instead of DIY methods, Paulocik recommends checking on the gown periodically to make sure it's okay. She said she's seen 'too many brides' with horror stories of poorly preserved dresses. The space where you're storing the clothes should be spick-and- span. 'I would clean the area by vacuuming and wiping things down with plain soap and water or Lysol,' Paulocik said. She said she would also avoid using mothballs, which are a pesticide. 'In museums, we monitor the storage areas and place sticky traps to see if any insects are flying around and what species they are,' Paulocik said. And this is something you can also do at home. To catch clothing moths, put traps at head height, and to trap carpet beetles, put them on the floor at the side of the doorway. These two types of critters find textiles particularly alluring. Sticky traps, like the ones from archival-storage-company Hollinger, can help you monitor for pests in the area where you're storing clothing. $29 from Hollinger Metal Edge Humidity and heat are other enemies of long-term storage, so it's important to maintain a good temperature wherever you're storing your clothes. Attics and basements are 'really terrible' for long-term storage, Paulocik said, unless they're climate-controlled. The attic gets too hot and dry, while the basement is too damp and humid — conditions that can accelerate deterioration. People with no other choice sometimes use dehumidifiers to pull out the moisture and fans to circulate the air, Paulocik noted. But 'if your pieces are important,' she said, 'I would store objects in an area of your house that is climate-controlled and then check them periodically. For most people, it's on the main floor in closets or under beds.' While heat can be detrimental to garments, in some cases the cold can be a garment's saving grace. Paulocik told us that the Royal Ontario Museum had big, walk-in freezers. They were often a garment's first stop when it entered the collection, because the cold would kill any potential moths and moth larvae. Paulocik uses this technique for her cashmere sweaters. First, she puts the sweater in a zip-top bag with a little piece of cotton fabric 'to absorb any moisture created when the textile is frozen and thawed.' How long you leave it in the freezer depends on several factors, such as the type of freezer you have (chest freezers tend to be colder) and how many things are in it. 'But usually a week is a good amount of time,' she said. (The technique also works for buggy books!) Wirecutter editor Megan Beauchamp panicked during a carpet beetle infestation and put her wedding dress in the freezer in a zip-top bag. It turns out this wasn't such a terrible idea. Megan Beauchamp/Wirecutter Paulocik's advice was a relief to editor Megan Beauchamp, who recently put her wedding dress in the freezer after a carpet beetle infestation (and a panicked Reddit deep-dive). Yet now the dress has been in there for a month, and she isn't sure what to do next. Paulocik said that Megan should now take her wedding dress out of the freezer and inspect it — especially at the seams — for any dead carpet beetles or their frass (excrement). Then pick them off and have the dress cleaned. 'Carpet beetles are less of an issue with wedding dresses unless there is a proteinaceous component to the gown,' Paulocik noted. She also warned that there are some materials that shouldn't be frozen, such as ivory. Long-term storage should start with a clean garment (remember, insects feast on stains!), as well as a clean, climate-controlled storage area — on one of the main floors of your house (rather than in a basement or an attic). After garments are wrapped in and bolstered with acid-free tissue paper (especially at any folds), most of them can be stored in acid-free boxes or boxes made from corrugated polypropylene. Never store a garment in a regular cardboard box or a plastic dry-cleaning bag, which will degrade over time. And be sure to take out safety pins or straight pins, which can rust or cause stains. You may also want to place a few sticky traps in the storage area, and check them occasionally for signs of pests. And hey, if you do a good enough job now, maybe in a few thousand years your wedding gown will be on display at the Met. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Katie Okamoto. Despite what the care label tells you, skip the dry cleaner and hand-wash your cashmere at home instead. Does that delicate garment have to be dry-cleaned, or can you wash it at home? Check out our roundup of all the fabrics that can skip a trip to the cleaners. After extensive testing, these seven storage bins, boxes, and totes are our favorites for keeping stuff clean and dry, inside or out. What I Cover I'm a writer on the discovery team covering travel products, along with related news, fun facts, and tips. What I Cover I've covered luggage and travel gear for Wirecutter for over a decade. In that time, I've covered various topics related to this coverage and sometimes far afield from it.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Innovations Drive Services Forward, Embracing Digital & Cashless Solutions - Long-term Forecasts to 2029 and 2034
The dry cleaning and laundry services market is set to grow from $119.94 billion in 2024 to $123.63 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 3.1%. By 2029, it's projected to reach $140.26 billion at a CAGR of 3.2%, driven by hospitality and tech advances. Major players include Cintas Corp. and UniFirst Corp. Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services Market Dublin, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services Market Report 2025" report has been added to dry cleaning and laundry services market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $119.94 billion in 2024 to $123.63 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1%. The dry cleaning and laundry services market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $140.26 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to strong economic growth in emerging markets, rapid urbanization, a rise in the number of single person households, and growth in the healthcare services sector. North America was the largest region in the dry-cleaning and laundry services market in 2024. Asia-Pacific was the second largest region in the dry-cleaning and laundry services market. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growth in the hospitality sector, increasing internet penetration, rising franchising opportunity, faster economic growth, busy lifestyles of people and technological advances in the laundry industry. Major trends in the forecast period include investing in digital technologies such as mobile apps to offer on-demand laundry services, offering cashless self-service options such as contactless payments and digital wallets to ease cash management and attract customers, and installing smart laundromats to cut down labor costs, save time and improve operational projected positive impact of a gradual shift in customer spending towards tourism is expected to boost the hospitality sector in the forecast period, thereby driving the market for dry-cleaning and laundry services. To meet the growing demands of tourists, hotels are adopting new business models that allow rooms to be booked multiple times in a single day. This approach is anticipated to increase the frequency of linen changes in hotel rooms, leading to a higher volume of linen to be washed after each change. This evolving business model is likely to generate demand for dry-cleaning and laundry services within the hospitality industry, where hotels prefer utilizing professional launderettes to optimize operational efficiency and maintain high-quality services. Therefore, the expansion of the hospitality industry is poised to propel the dry-cleaning and laundry services anticipated rise in franchising opportunities is expected to drive the future growth of the dry cleaning and laundry services market. Franchising, as a business model, involves an arrangement where a franchisor grants another entity (the franchisee) the right to operate a business using the franchisor's established brand name, products, services, and business system. This franchising model enables established brands to rapidly expand their presence, making dry cleaning and laundry services more accessible to customers across various regions, including underserved areas. The increasing opportunities in franchising are a driving force behind the growth of the dry cleaning and laundry services global adoption of cashless self-service laundries, including coin-operated machines, is on the rise. This growth is primarily driven by the emergence of cards and alternative electronic payment methods, such as RFID contactless credit cards or NFC-enabled mobile wallets. These methods offer a cost-effective alternative to handling cash and are user-friendly. Cashless laundry machines not only provide a solution to the challenges of cash management but also offer enhanced security compared to cash-operated machines, which are susceptible to theft and require vigilant monitoring. For example, companies such as 'Texas Coin and Commercial Laundry' and 'Lone Star Laundromat Services' in Texas, USA have embraced cashless laundry companies in the dry cleaning and laundry services sector are introducing innovative service options. Innovative laundry services encompass new and creative ideas and strategies implemented by laundry businesses to distinguish themselves from competitors. As an illustration, in April 2023, Virgin Australia launched Fly Cleaning, the world's first in-flight dry cleaning service. The introduction of the Fly Cleaning service was part of Virgin Australia's initiative to emphasize its commitment to passenger comfort and convenience. This service enables passengers to have their clothes cleaned while traveling, eliminating the need for post-trip laundry tasks. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 300 Forecast Period 2025 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $123.63 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $140.26 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.2% Regions Covered Global Markets Covered: Type: Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners, Dry-Cleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated), Linen and Uniform Supply Distribution Channel: Offline, Online End-User: Commercial Dry-Cleaning and Laundry Services, Residential Dry-Cleaning and Laundry Services, Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners Subsegments: Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners: Self-Service Laundromats; Automated Dry-Cleaning Machines Dry-Cleaning and Laundry Services (Except Coin-Operated): Full-Service Dry-Cleaning; Wash-and-Fold Services; Specialty Cleaning Linen and Uniform Supply: Linen Rental Services; Uniform Rental and Cleaning Services; Textile Supply for Hospitality and Healthcare Key Companies Mentioned: Cintas Corp Elis SA Aramark UniFirst Corp Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH Other Major and Innovative Companies Downer EDI Limited Johnson Service Group CSC ServiceWorks Holdings Inc. Rentokil Initial Plc Spotless Group Holdings Limited White Tiger Fabricspa The Swiss Laundry The Laundry House UClean Easy Life Laundry Fornet Elephat King Laundry Alsco Pty Limited Karl Chehade Dry-Cleaning For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mysterious boy: Peter Andre tries to go incognito in Australia as he is slammed for 'vile' Instagram post - and bizarrely uses a fake name at the dry cleaner
Peter Andre did his best to go incognito this week as he stepped out to run some errands on the Gold Coast. The Mysterious Girl hitmaker, 52, is in Australia for the premiere of his first feature film, Jafaican, at the Gold Coast Film Festival. Peter was spotted stepping out to drop off some dry cleaning ahead of the auspicious occasion. Dressing casually for the outing, he wore a form-fitting white V-neck T-shirt that showed off the famous tribal-style ink on his bicep. The Aussie-born singer also wore a pair of dark blue tapered jeans and a pair of white Nike sneakers. Wanting to keep his identity under wraps as much as possible, Peter finished his ensemble with a blue New York Yankees baseball cap that was pulled down to his brow. The Mysterious Girl hitmaker, 52, is in Australia for the premiere of his first feature film, Jafaican, at the Gold Coast Film Festival Peter looked all business as he made his way to a Southport dry cleaners to drop off some clothes, possibly his fit for the big premiere. However, keeping the incognito theme going, Peter appeared to use a fake name at the dry cleaners, to avoid potential swooning from staff. He was seen carrying his dry cleaning ticket that appeared to bear the name 'Dean Roberts'. The singer certainly had no shortage of work for staff, walking into the shop with an array of jackets and shirts draped over his arm. Peter's surreptitious outing comes as he was shamed on social media for taking a family trip to SeaWorld during a recent holiday in Abu Dhabi. The reality star shared a snap of his children walking into animal theme park SeaWorld which was met with disapproval from animal lovers. Alongside the post, he wrote: 'We had the best time at @yasisland exploring all the parks. So special to have the whole family together, there truly is something for everyone. We'll definitely be back!' Unimpressed fans wrote: 'SeaWorld, definitely NOT a place for animal lovers'. Dressing casually for the outing, Peter wore a form-fitting white V-neck T-shirt that showed off tribal-style ink on his bicep 'Great photos until you showed SeaWorld, how sad'... 'Promoting cruel, unethical hell holes for animals, such as SeaWorld. Vile. Way to go @peterandre'. 'I'm so sad to see you visiting SeaWorld, the cruelty around these 'entertainment' parks are obvious and you could use your platform to help end the suffering endured by highly intelligent mammals. Very disappointing.' 'Definitely a no from me, poor sea creatures belong in their natural habitat.' However some of Pete's followers were quick to praise the snaps, writing: 'Beautiful family; We were here in Feb... it was the best holiday 'Beautiful photos, looks like a great place to visit. Wonderful memories made with your family; It was such a great destination, we went last summer and loved it 'Home last Wednesday from my first visit to Abu Dhabi - had the best holiday - gutted I never saw you and your gorgeous family. Great photos.' The Abu Dhabi Seaworld was the first in its history to be free of orcas, after the US-based park stopped breeding the whales in 2016, in the wake of growing backlash, and instead predominantly houses dolphins and seals. The first killer whale was born in a SeaWorld park in 1985. Since then, 30 have been born in the parks, including the first-ever births through artificial insemination. He was seen carrying his dry cleaning ticket that appeared to bear the name Dean Roberts as Peter's preferred pseudonym Peter also recently faced backlash after sharing the trailer for Jafaican. The singer stars as Gary Buckle in the crime-comedy, a con artist pretending to be a Jamaican gangster. Gary, also known as Gazza, must master Jamaican culture in 21 days in order to execute a fraud in London and Jamaica and earn the £35,000 he needs to pay for his grandmother's care. The trailer made one fan question: 'Did I wake up in 1998?!' 'Peter Andre starring as the lead character of a film called JAFAICAN where he's pretending to be a Jamaican and wearing a dreadlock wig is not something I was expecting to see in the year of our Lord 2025 but here we are...' 'There's a movie coming out with Peter Andre in a dreadlock wig pretending to be Jamaican. Is this really what we're doing in 2025?,' another offered. However the trailer didn't receive all negative comments after other social media users shared their excitement ahead of the film's release. One excited fans penned: 'Peter that looks amazing can't wait to see this brilliant'; 'Oh yes!!!! looking forward to this @peterandre can't wait'. 'I wish I could have watched this being filmed'. The world premiere of Jafaican kicks off on Friday night at the Gold Coast Film Festival, which runs until May 11.
