Have you ever looked at your clothing’s tag and noticed a line of random symbols? While most of us just read the size, a tag contains a lot of useful information on the items care. One of the most important being laundry symbols. The information provided in these symbols is actually required by law. And when followed can add years to the life of your favorite clothing and home goods. So make sure to to treat your clothing with care, following our quick guide below.
What are laundry symbols?
In-short, these symbols provide info on the recommended care of the product by the maker. Wash or dry clean? Tumble or hang dry? Your tag will answer these questions and even provide your dry cleaner with important information about the piece. Including what solvent to use, heat, and more. Below we provide a quick guide to help you read your clothes tag.
Why are laundry symbols on the tags?
There have been three major laws passed that effect clothing labels. The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act was passed in 1960 and effect most of the products made today. The other two are The Fur Products Labeling Act (1952) and the Wool Products Labeling Act (1939).
These laws state that an item must include:
Fiber Content of Tag
Country of Origin
Manufacturer
Care Instruction
If you have questions about the care of your clothing, send us a message and we will do our best to help you find the best answer.
School is out, camp is in session, and summer is in full swing. We all know how toasty Atlanta gets this time of year. If you’re like my wife and I you’ve recently taken the opportunity to turn over your closet. This time of year means swapping out boots for sandals, pants for shorts, and coats and sweaters for more summer friendly shirts and blouses. We also recently took our comforter and duvet, cleaned it and switched it out for a much more light-weight, breathable quilt for these next few months.
It’s always nice to shed a few layers for summer. When packing up your winter wear and heavy bedding, it’s important to have your items cleaned before storing them till Fall or Winter. There are a number of frustrating stains that can occur if your clothes aren’t properly treated before they are stored.
A few issues we commonly see come fall, are yellow, oxidized and perspiration stains along with insect damage which often appears as small holes in the fabric of a garment. These problems typically occur on fabrics after cleaning them for the first time at the change of season, especially if stains are left on the garment.
In order to inspect damage, it’s important that all food and beverage stains are removed prior to storage. Using moth crystals or balls or storing clothes in a cedar closet or chest can also be really valuable in combating this issue. A variety of moth proofing finishes including moth bags can be used to prevent insect damage. Ask us on your next order and we can add them to your order.
Perspiration stains often appear as yellow or tan stains, streaks, or rings and are typically found in areas that may become damp with perspiration such as underarms, neck, back, and waistband. These stains have a tendency to oxidize over time so it is important to wash and dry clean your garments regularly, so we can remove the stains while they are still fresh.
Yellow stains are another frequent occurrence that we come across. These stains are caused by contact with juices, beer, soft drinks, tea, coee, or other foods or beverages that contain tannin or sugars. The only method of prevention against these stains is to flush these stained areas with water immediately after contact. This is best accomplished by taking the garment to the cleaner as soon as possible and pointed out the stained area. Once the stain has been left in the fabric for a period of time, it can be very difficult to remove.
Oxidized oil stains are mostly invisible when they first contact a fabric, but they oxidize and yellow with age, heat, and/or exposure to the atmosphere. If the stain is fresh, it can usually be removed by professional spotting chemicals and dry cleaning.
Many stains may appear invisible to the naked eye but they do oxidize over time, making them harder to remove. So the moral to the story is to be sure and send in your garments, bedding, etc. on a regular basis. The sooner we clean the garment and treat the stain, the better the odds are that we’ll be able to remove it. So this summer when you pack up your winter clothes and bedding for the season, don’t forget to send them in for one last cleaning. Then you can breathe easy knowing your items will look good as new when you pull them back out of storage this Fall or Winter.
Kind regards,
Get Ready to Read this Father’s Day
Shopping for Father’s Day can be dicult. From tools to tech toys, some gifts are used over and over again, but thoughtful gifts that match your dad’s interests can make this year’s present a memorable one.
If he enjoys reading, there are options that align with almost every hobby and interest, from advice for hands-on projects to thrilling mysteries and exploration of the challenges many dads face every day, and these picks can provide a reminder of you every time he sits down to read another chapter.
Practical ‘Dadvice’ for Everyday Tasks
From the host of the YouTube channel that went viral, “Dad, How Do I?,” comes a book of the same title that’s part memoir, part inspiration and part DIY advice. Rob Kenney wished he had someone who could teach him the basics – how to tie a tie, jump-start a car, unclog a drain, use tools properly – as well as succeed in life. In this book, he shares his story of overcoming a dicult childhood with an absent father through the strength of faith and family, and oers words of inspiration and hope. In addition, he provides instructions for 50 practical DIY projects, illustrated with helpful line drawings, as well as the occasional dad joke.
A Riveting Race Against Time
“New York Times” bestselling author Linwood Barclay returns with a riveting thriller, “Find You First.” Diagnosed with a terminal illness, tech millionaire Miles Cookson begins a search for the children he’s never known. Somewhere out there, after having been a sperm donor, he has nine unknown kids who might be about to inherit both the good and the bad from him – maybe his fortune, or maybe something much worse. One by one, Cookson’s heirs are vanishing – every trace of them wiped, like they never existed at all.
An Exploration of the Challenges Fathers Face
Growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, Craig Melvin, news anchor of NBC News’ “Today,” had a fraught relationship with his father. Lawrence Melvin was a distant, often absent parent due to his drinking as well as his job working the graveyard shift at a postal facility. A powerful, intimate exploration of fatherhood, addiction and resiliency, “Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father” is the story of their long journey to reconciliation and understanding, as well as an investigation of the challenges facing all dads.
Swimming Safety Tips for Summer
Playing in or around water is one of the joys of summer, but this treasured seasonal pastime comes with some serious risks. Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 14 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As COVID-19 restrictions ease, many families will have informal gatherings and take trips to the beach, increasing the potential for children to have unsupervised access to water. Because of this, it’s important for children to take swimming lessons to learn water safety skills and create safer habits in and around water. As swimming lessons begin across the country, many are being conducted safely with COVID-19 precautions in place.
Protect your family’s safety around water this summer with these tips from the Make a Splash Tour, presented by Phillips 66 and the USA Swimming Foundation.
Designate a Water Watcher and Closely Monitor Children.
Designate a water watcher when you are in, on or around water. Watch all children and adolescents swimming or playing in or around water, even if they know how to swim. Keeping young children or inexperienced swimmers within arm’s length at all times can help ensure you’re able to provide assistance if and when it’s needed.
Wear a Life Jacket.
Anyone participating in any boating, paddling or towed water sports, regardless of swimming ability in pool or open water situations, should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Preschool-aged children (5 years old and younger), who are not protected by touch supervision, in particular, should always wear a life jacket. Swimming aids and water toys – such as water wings, inflatable water wings and rings – are not intended to be life-saving devices.
Learn to Swim.
Research has shown formal swimming lessons reduce the risk of childhood drowning by 88%. Through the annual Make a Splash Tour, the USA Swimming Foundation, with the support of Phillips 66, encourages children’s swim lessons. By equipping your child with the skill of swimming, you’ll open doors to a lifetime of safety, fun, fitness and even employment opportunities.
Swim in Designated Areas and Obey Posted Signs and Flags.
Ropes, buoys and flags in larger bodies of water like lakes or oceans are commonly used to mark o safe swimming areas and provide visual cues about changes in depth, underwater surfaces and currents. Teach children what these signs and markers mean and that they’re in place as safety tools, not toys to play with or float on.
Learn CPR.
If the unthinkable does happen, knowing how to perform CPR allows you to take immediate action, which has been shown to significantly better the outcome for children with submersion injuries. In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, you could save someone’s life. Seconds count; the quicker CPR is started, the better the chances of recovery. There are many places that offer CPR training, including community organizations and nonprofit groups. Remember to keep your certification current once you have completed the initial requirements.
Kid-Friendly Summer Snacking
Summer sun means it’s time for warm-weather fun for kids of all ages, and all that activity and playing calls for snacks and hydration to recharge. Whether your children like to play poolside or take a bicycle adventure through the neighborhood, the right nutrient-dense foods can keep the fun going all day long.
For an option that quenches hunger (and thirst) without sacrificing nutrition, try an assortment of ways to enjoy watermelon. As a refreshing ingredient or standalone treat, watermelon includes just 80 calories and no fat while providing an excellent source of vitamin C (25%) and higher levels of lycopene (12.7 mg per 2-cup serving) – an antioxidant being studied for its role in sun protection – than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. Plus, it’s made of 92% water, meaning it’s a flavorful way to encourage kids to rehydrate during some fun in the sun.
Make watermelon part of a balanced snack plate with this Kids Charcuterie Snack Board including assorted watermelon, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sliced veggies, sliced fruits, crackers, pretzels and more. In addition to the nutritional benefits, the simplicity of this snack means children can help assemble it while showing off their creativity.
Kids Charcuterie Snack Board
• cubed watermelon • watermelon balls, skewered • watermelon wedges • watermelon sticks • flower-shaped watermelon cutouts • peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, halved • ham and cheese pinwheels • sliced veggies, such as cucumbers, carrots, sweet peppers and celery • sliced fruit • pretzels • crackers • small bowl of candy (optional)
Employee Highlight – Melanie Blevins
Client Care Advisor – Team Leader 2 Years of Service
As the Team Leader for Fabricare Center’s Client Care Team, I am motivated to wake up and go to work by the knowledge that, in a small way, I am helping our clients by ensuring that their needs are taken care of, and the quality we present them is the best.
My job entails a little bit of everything. I assist our clients in all aspects of their experience with us, from onboarding, intake, production, to our delivery service.
Having grown up in the northeast I am a huge fan of the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles. When I’m not working I’m baking, reading, watching tv or playing music. I enjoy playing a multitude of instruments including the Piano, Viola, Cello, and Harp and play viola for the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra.
My favorite project on the job has been coming up with ideas to make our clients experience with us more personal with our retention and new client kits.
Relocating to Atlanta and being part of the Fabricare Center team has been so exciting and I am so happy to bring joy to our clients lives.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT – Spring Cleaning
Do you have sweaters and coats that need cleaning before storing for spring and summer?
Let us help!
Our cleaning process removes sugar, oil and perspiration stains that can cause lasting damage to your garments. Even though many of these stains may be invisible, over time these hidden stains will deteriorate fabrics and attract moths (invisible to the naked eye) that feed on the stains and create holes.
